Constant Velocity
Muttonhead (Miscellaneous Music)
The American 3-piece band, Constant Velocity, have recorded this album live in the studio, giving it an authentic, if sometimes dull sound. When good, they come across like a mixture of the Pogues and Tom Waits, unfortunately when not good they sound like a tired Stereophonics. Opening track ‘From The McLean Co. Lockup’ is as good as any track with the lyric “Allow me to pontificate” should be, and brings to mind the ragged rock of the 2 Gallants. The third song ‘Kelly’, with the chorus of “Kelly don’t like the country, no Sir”, is a country style romp that Kenny Rogers would be proud of. The next song ‘ Disorder’ is the lyrical highlight of the album, with lines such as “microscopic scratch on your car” and “your cd’s have become misaligned, like someone trying to break your mind” leading up the chorus of “you find the disorder embarrassing”. Track 5 sounds like a combination of Neil Young and Tom Waits playing over a samba style beat, and is only really memorable for the oft repeated line “nice truck, asshole”. The remaining three tracks don’t offer much, and although ok in their own right, sound like watered down versions of the opening 5 songs. Constant Velocity are a band with much promise, and ‘Muttonhead’ is a fine debut album, which they should go on and better with further releases.
Bryan Jessiman
