ELECTRIC BOYS – And Them Boys Done Swang
- by Matt Coe
- Posted on 15-06-2011
Many may remember this Swedish psychedelic hard rock group with a strong blues-based groove from their debut album and hit single “All Lips ‘N Hips” that in 1989 received heavy American MTV video rotation. Three albums and numerous tours occurred in five years, but sadly the members went their separate ways during the alternative music explosion of the mid 90’s. After 4 years in Hanoi Rocks, vocalist/ guitarist Conny Bloom and bassist Andy Christell thought 2009 would be the right time for the Electric Boys to restart – as all 4 original members (polished off with guitarist Franco Santunione and drummer Nidas Sigevall) come back with their fourth studio platter.
“And Them Boys Done Swang” aren’t reinventing the music wheel with these 12 songs. You’ll get material like “Ten Thousand Times Goodbye” that would make Lennon/ McCartney proud with its psychedelic guitars, and fun thick grooves with Def Leppard-like hooks like “The House Is Rockin’” and an Aerosmith-horn filled arrangement with “Rollin’ Down The Road”. Conny’s voice slithers and snakes around with the addictive hard rock stance, firmly entrenched in the 70’s glam rock ethos. I love the jam solo aspect that closes “A Mother Of A Love Story”, one of the best energetic closing numbers I’ve heard on a hard rock album in quite some time – and another favorite would be the hypnotically driven “Father Popcorn’s Magic Oysters” with obvious trippy guitars and chords that mirror the wild lyrics.
You can tell care and craft went into this album- The Electric Boys are not merely content to rest on past accomplishments and just throw together songs for the sake of putting out product. “And Them Boys Done Swang” lives up to its title – they fire their brand of music on all cylinders and its another sure winner for the veterans in 2011.