Cork-based Talking Waves are Jonathon ‘JR’ Russell (vocals) and Joey Weidner (guitars), who’ve teamed up with Wayne Sheehy – who doubles as producer and one-man rhythm section – for an album that aims to revitalise classic blues-rock. Opener ‘Lonely’ is a nourishing slice of tasty AOR, with a chunky guitar solo, and at times feels like Hall & Oates.
Russell’s voice is wonderfully sturdy; he’s particularly impressive when he lets his hair down on the funkified ‘Good Times’ and the stonking title track, both of which show the band loosening up and stretching out to good effect. The shuffling ‘Hold On’ sets funky grooves against silky female backing vocals, while ‘Don’t Wanna Do This Anymore’ glides effortlessly along, with touches of Knopfler-esque guitar.
For ‘Better Man’, they slip into a more thoughtful, acoustic-based groove, while ’Dark Star’ is a seductive slice of west coast guitar-pop. There’s more of the same on the laidback ‘Let It All Wash Away’, which has echoes of George Harrison.
For those too young to remember ’70s Americana, Talking Waves are what the best of it sounded like. On this fine debut, they bring together the best aspects of the Doobie Brothers, Boz Scaggs and Lynyrd Skynyrd – with more contemporary acts like Chris Isaak and the Black Keys also in the mix. It makes for a compelling listen.
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