So, guess what comes out today on CD? The new Tiger Army album. WOOHOO!! Want to hear a song from their new album to wet your appetite? If you click here you can!!
For you Tiger Army fans who want to know if it’s worth buying, or for those of you thinking to yourself “Who the hell is Tiger Army?!” you may find this review helpful:
Tiger Army - III: Ghost Tigers Rise
Hellcat Records (0457-2)
Here is an album which almost didn’t get made. During the writing of songs for the record, Tiger Army’s drummer Fred Hell was shot four times by burglars as they entered his home. In the words of vocalist Nick 13; “He literally has a bullet in his brain, which the surgeons informed us posed less of a danger than would an attempt to remove it”. Hell’s recovery was impressive, but determined as the band were to continue with the album, he simply wasn’t recovered enough to fulfil drum stool duties, opting instead to write and coach the drum parts, bringing in Mike Fasano, Tiger Army’s long-standing drum tech to rattle out their trademark gunshot rhythms.
Underdog status well and truly confirmed then, the title Ghost Tigers Rise is a typically blunt declaration to the world: Tiger Army will not lie down, and will not give up.
Psychobilly, that greaser offshoot of traditional rockabilly and rock and roll, with it’s dogged revivalism and fifties-throwback stylings, never really took off in the States when it was big all across Europe twenty years ago. For the new millenium’s American alterna-teens though, always searching for the next cartoon-exaggerated trend to jump on, psychobilly provides a handy set of ideals, fashions, and music, with a pre-packed ‘us against the world’ gang mentality. It’s perfect for commoditisation and sale, and Tim Armstrong’s Hellcat Records has risen to the challenge, signing up the Necromantix, the Horrorpops, and many more… but Tiger Army are the label’s great white hope, spearheading the Punks vs Psychos tour as it zigzags across America.
The first couple of tracks on Ghost Tigers Rise live up to this ‘next big trend’ ideal, all fists-in-the-air choruses and chanted refrains… acting as a perfect introduction for newcomers to Tiger Army’s world of plucked upright bass, pop song structures, and jagged punk-like guitar riffs. It’s an infectious sound, the Munsters being kidnapped by the Clash. It’s all style and no content though, fun while it lasts but instantly forgettable.
As the album progresses however, signs of life start to appear. There’s more to Tiger Army than leading a fashion bandwagon, and once they’ve hooked an audience with those cheesy first tracks, the truth starts to come out. There’s more rockabilly on show here than psychobilly, more country than gothic, and more Buddy Holly and the Crickets than the UK Subs.
By the time track nine is reached (Through the Darkness), Tiger Army have well and truly dropped all pretension to being punks, replacing the attitude and the anger with sweet, soft melody, ’50s rock and roll basslines and subtle guitar work which wouldn’t be out of place on a Shadows record. It’s a revelation, and shows a band reaching maturity without abandoning their muse. The historical influences are at the forefront as the album climaxes, with The Long Road letting their country and western influences show, and not a greased-up motorbike in sight.
Ghost Tigers Rise is a pretty impressive achievement, and a bold album to release at this stage in Tiger Army’s career. Whilst the baying American public are expecting them to act as gang leaders for the next big punk-influenced movement, they have returned to the roots of their sound, handing us a restrained and thoughtful record.
It caught me by surprise, and I’m glad it did. I have a new-found respect for Tiger Army, and I have a feeling I’m not going to be the only one.
Source: Alternative Nation
Related posts:
- Ghost Tigers Rise
- Tiger Army update
- New Tiger Army album on June 5!
- Holy music scene news, Batman!!
- Punks VS. Psychos Tour II
Digg | 
Stumble it! | 
Del.icio.us