The Mutts: UK-rock opposition to Yank-tedium

In the world hell-bent on achieving Americanisation - so that our Yank cousins can feel at home anywhere they go with full compliment of brands like McD’s, Starbucks, Gap, et al - it is impossible to escape the real global village [as predicted in the 1960s] due to cyber-connectivity and getting all else - homogenized. And, within it, it is getting so tedious…

The Mutts try to redress the balance taking you back to were Brits were their own musicians and not trying to copy the latest trends from across the pond. Therefore, from the opening track on the debut disc ‘Life In Dirt’, The Mutts get into a gear that aim to provide feelgood vibe, enough air-guitaring and some head-banging but the domestic style.

This quartet mainly continues the tradition of Brit-rockers that weren’t afraid to be different, a counterpart to the American sound; basically taking the British blues-boom of the ‘revolutionary’ decade and then handled by bands such as The Stones, The Small Faces, Dr Feelgood and Thin Lizzy, to name but a several, The Mutts are not purists to be adverse to a bit of Southern-rock on ‘Stranded’, or a bit of punky influences at other times.

Chris Murtagh’s vocal is blues-rich and sonorous, powerful and apparently handling the duty with ease of, let’s say, Paul Rodgers in his prime 1970s days. All over the tracks guitar deliver impressive solos, bass is pumping at times as if Sam Burgess is auditioning for Red Hot Chili Peppers, drums keep the beat steady like a devil’s disciple. Although today’s rock figures strive to sell their souls to ‘Old Nick’, The Mutts are concerned with dropping tunes that make you feel like standing on a crossroad between pre-1974 and punks with echoes of The Ramones, MC5 and The Stooges also clearly evident.

Still, 11 tracks of blues-rocking [not to be mixed with classic variety] by The Mutts will not change the face of music - as anybody could anymore - but it can provide hours of great fun of true-Brit rocking that avoids gimmicks, make-up, masks or any other hype tools.

Formed in 2001 in Brighton, where they now reside, The Mutts have just returned from a EU-tour for a date at Glastonbury Festival: they’ll also be promoting this album with their own headlining dates.

‘Life In Dirt’, during these several scorching days - it was like a breeze of fresh air!

8/10
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Tour dates:

14 July - Hanbury Ballroom, Brighton (DJ Session)
16 July - Guilfest, Guilford
21 July - The Montague Arms, New Cross, London [Wolfgang Bop night]
22 July - Portland Arms, Cambridge
23 July - Charlatan, Ghent, Belgium [Ghent Festival]
30 July - Tapestry Festival, Cornwall