Album Review: The Sweet Things - "Brown Leather"

 

And so the Nite Songs odyssey officially comes full circle. You may remember that when we first started this webzine off way back in July 2020, the first album we reviewed was the Sweet Things' debut In Borrowed Shoes On Borrowed Time and now, just under two years later, the follow-up is out and in our review pile. So let's dive in, shall we?

Those who remember those early days of this 'zine might recall that these New York rockers' debut was a prime slice of Dolls-meets-Stones swagger and it's clear from when the title track (which owes a definite nod to imperial years Quireboys) kicks in that it's very much business as usual on this one although countrified former single Ya Know I Don't Mind shows a gentler side to their output before Ride It Home kicks things back up a gear, kind of like the Dolls covering the Stones' Rip This Joint.

Keep It Movin' reminds me of great lost '80s Sunset Strip rockers the Joneses with its glammed up take on the cowpunk formula before Ain't Got Enough Room (In My Heart) pretty much urges you to dig out the lighter and wave it aloft, a big epic ballad which reminds me of a countrified version of the old Throbs classic Honey Child - it could've been an overblown mess but the Sweet Things keep it just low key enough to make it an album highlight.

Cold Feet goes full on into a glorious halfway house between the Faces and Give Out But Don't Give Up era Primal Scream with its tinkling piano and wall of horns. And a killer chorus hook just to make sure before Familiar Face drags us into full-on Hank Williams style honky tonk country with its wistful bar room tale. It Hurts Me Too swaps the saloon for the bayou with some swaggering harmonica soaked blues rock before Mentholated Blues cracks out a prime slice of Dollsy swagger leaving the gentle countrified blues of Problematic Life and the lonesome steel guitar led instrumental Ride The River to send this one home.

Brown Leather does what every great second album should by taking the best bits of the Sweet Things' debut and building on them to create something genuinely great. It reminds me a bit of cult garage rock legends the Chesterfield Kings in that it's unafraid of taking pretty much any sort of type of music on but brings it all back home with a sweet way with a tune and hook that'll have you cueing it straight up for another listen once you've finished. Highly recommended.

NITE SONGS RATING: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑 (9/10)

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