Album Review: Old Dog New Tricks - Propeller Palms

Waterford’s Propeller Palms have been flying the flag for honest, no-nonsense rock and soul for some time now. In particular, their incendiary live shows have earned them a reputation as a serious force. Infused with raw passion and fine musical chops, on Old Dog, New Tricks the six-piece line-up is augmented by a punchy brass section. The results are a heady brew of classic rock, Memphis soul and a touch of the E Street Band’s street gang sensibility.For good measure, they also branch out into Americana and country folk.

The album kicks off nicely with ‘Liberty’, a bluesy rocker in the Bob Seger vein – frontman Paul Butler’s strong, urgent vocals raging over the guitars and rhythm section. ‘You Will Never Know’ recalls John Mellencamp in his ‘Pink Houses’ phase, with a touch of Steve Earle in the mix, while ‘A Lot On My Mind’ is early ZZ Top meets The Allman Brothers.

Elsewhere, with hints of John Prine in the finger-picked guitar style and lyrical construction, ‘Right Around Now’ is a protest song for the times, railing against everything from homelessness and The X Factor to global warming. ‘Without A Care In The World’ boasts a ragged country-folk sound that has echoes of Hothouse Flowers and Waterboys, while ‘Welcome’ is a heady brew of ’70s rock, complete with Jethro Tull-style flute. In contrast, they go all funky and soulful on ‘Look My Way’: Thin Lizzy’s ‘Johnny The Fox’ meets The Average White Band’s ‘Pick Up The Pieces’.

Old Dog, New Tricks sounds like a live album, and was undoubtedly recorded in that fashion. Overall, it’s a fine statement of intent.