Strange Generation - Dirty Americans > Reviews > My Generation

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Average
Lyrics	Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Not applicable
Value for Money	Excellent

Advantages:	Some great old style rock music
Disadvantages:	Nothing especially new

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

The city of Detroit has given us a decent range of rock music over the years, from the glamour and spectacle of Kiss to the stripped down raw rock of the White stripes. In recent years, however, the city has lost its way a little, giving us the rap-rock rubbish that are Kid Rock and Eminem.

There's been something of a return to old style rock music in recent years as well. The Darkness have a very glam rock sound and very 1970s spandex outfits. Velvet Revolver have taken us back to the late 1980s and early 1990s era Guns and Roses whilst both Def Leppard and Bon Jovi are still going strong. Even much of today's so called "emo" is pretty much just old style rock.

Surprisingly, given how many of the biggest rock acts have made it in the United States and then crossed the Atlantic, it is the European market that got to know of Dirty Americans first. They were unable to get an American record deal, meaning that we've had the benefit of "Strange Generation" in Europe since March 2004, whereas they only got a release in their home market on March 2005. Believe me, I do not use the word "benefit" lightly.

There's a driving riff to "No Rest" which sounds a little like a heavier version of the Strokes. The vocals have quite a raw feel, more akin to the glam rock era and the combination provides a pretty straight out rock number, but with a bouncy edge, not too dissimilar to Terrorvision.

"Car Crash" keeps the Terrorvision similarity coming, as the opening vocals sound like "Dog Chewed the Handle". The sound is similar to Terrorvision as well, with a driving guitar riff, although the vocals and guitar solo are more like a heavier edge Shark Island.

The first and, as far as I know, only single from the album and the song that first got me into the band is "Strange Generation". It's got a driving, blues edged guitar riff that drags you through the song and sounds a little like Velvet Revolver, but with more Glam Rock style vocals. It sounds a lot like any stadium rock band from the 1980s and 1990s, especially during the chorus, but it's pulled off with such style that you can't help but love it.

There's a stripped down guitar riff on "Burn You Down" that sounds a lot like Velvet Revolver again, although the riff itself sounds like it was borrowed from Lenny Kravitz. The chorus, however, gets a more 1970s rock feel and could have been inspired by The Doors or Blue Oyster Cult. Generally, though, it's a full on blues tinged rock track that grabs hold of you.

"Time in Space" has a quieter intro, being a little more down tempo and slightly darker in tone. However, it soon expands into another great rock number and it's another along the lines of Velvet Revolver, maybe even more so thanks to the darker edge.

Every rock band has to have a ballad and "Give it Up" is Dirty Americans' first attempt. It's a huge stadium rock ballad with a slight blues tinged edge and there's another huge Velvet Revolver comparison to be made, although the vocals aren't quite as good.

There's perhaps a little more of a Doors influence on "Dead Man", as the song has a very trippy feel and it's a slightly more down tempo track. When it does start rocking out, there's a more stripped down feel to the song and it's vaguely reminiscent of a lighter version of Soundgarden's "Black Hole Sun" in parts.

There's a similar influence on "Control", although with a little more of a blues edge that puts it more towards sounding like Queens of the Stone Age in the verses, but the chorus kicks off and sounds more like Terrorvision.

Since the first play of this album, "Deep End" has been my favourite track. It's an acoustic number with a kind of country edge to it, a bit like a faster version of Jon Bon Jovi's "Blaze of Glory" material, although with a far more jaunty and upbeat attitude. This is the kind of song that the Jayhawks could quite happily have done, with a catchy guitar riff and a sing along chorus.

There's a more stripped down and straight forward rock sound to "Way to Go" which sounds a lot like Queens of the Stone Age on the chorus and more of a stadium rocker on the chorus.

This is a theme continued with "Light-Headed", a straight out driving rock track with a blues influence and an instantly recognisable guitar riff. There's a cross between Velvet Revolver again, but with a little more of a Strokes style edge, although the chorus is a great example of stadium rock.

It's back to the stoner sound of Queens of the Stone Age for "Chico", although the vocals are pretty much standard rock fare. There's a nod towards a more stadium rock style on the chorus with an almost Extreme sounding harmony in parts on the bridge, but all covered in the down and dirty blues rock guitar riff that promises to stick in your head for a while.

Reluctantly the album ends with "We Were Young", another largely acoustic number and a little down tempo again, although not quite a ballad. There's a very simple sound to it and this one is rock music taken down to its bare essentials for the most part. It sounds very much like a rock song as performed for MTV Unplugged and there's again a slight country edge that would make it suitable as a Jayhawks number, although not as obviously so as "Deep End".

When considering buying an album like this, the question you need to ask yourself is whether you like any kind of rock music. If the answer to that question is "Yes", then you need to own a copy of this album. Given that comparable sound, this album can stand right next to Velvet Revolver's "Contraband" as one of the finest rock albums of 2004 and, indeed, of any other year and I suspect that as the US catches on the Dirty Americans in 2005 that you'll be hearing a lot more from them.

If you like Velvet Revolver's "Contraband", you're going to love this album as well. If, like me, you're a Terrorvision fan mourning the loss of that great band, you may find yourself enjoying this; it's not quite as bouncy or as fun as they are, but it's superbly performed basic rock music such as they did so well. There's a slight stoner influence that may attract Queens of the Stone Age fans as well, although it's perhaps a little too straight out rock for their tastes but you may find these guys an adequate replacement for your favourite band now they've departed. If you're into modern day "emo", this should be on your play list as well. Jimmy Eat World fans should look away from their favourites for a minute and check this album out.

It's not a rock album that tried to do anything clever. Sure, there's a couple of sneaky Jayhawks sounding numbers that get in, and there's a heavy appreciation of rock's past successes here, but it's largely rock by numbers. Winning Lottery numbers, that is! You can hardly call yourself a fan of decent rock music without owning a copy of this album.

It's still a relatively new album, so it's tough to find cheaply, at £10.99 from Play.com and £9.42 from the Amazon Marketplace. But there are nearly 50 minutes of top class rock music on "Strange Generation", along with the video for the title track on the enhanced version, which makes it virtually priceless and still tremendous value even at these prices. It's an album that virtually demands to be put on the stereo now that summer is here and blasted through window, be they of the house or the car. You'll get a lot of attention that way, as everyone's going to want to know what it is and envy you until they have they're own copy.

Move over Kid Rock and Eminem, the old style straight up rock sound of Detroit is coming back!