Album Review: Neverland Ranch Davidians - "Neverland Ranch Davidians"

 

Well I think we can certainly agree on one thing - these L.A. scuzzballs have definitely picked one of the coolest band names we've seen at Nite Songs for a while. The Neverland Ranch Davidians have been picking up a fair bit of good press across the board with this album so we thought that we'd stick our heads in to see what the fuss is all about.

I have to be honest, the first impressions weren't exactly promising - opening track The Gospel is a drony four minute instrumental which seems to basically consist of a three note Kyuss riff being recycled over and again and could really have been done at being kept to just a minute or two. However, the scuzzy Danko Jones rock 'n' roll of Rat Patrol kicks this one into gear properly with its fuzzed up guitar sound and hyperactive vocals getting this one going properly. Fat Back conjures up the weird image of James Brown jamming with Mudhoney with its funky rhythms and grungy guitar sound - an odd mix but it definitely works.

One thing that becomes clear quite quickly is that this is one hell of a sonically schizophrenic band - Aqua Velveteen goes into early Queens of the Stone Age territory with its woozy lurching riff before Liquor Store is a frenetic slice of garage punk which swings this one completely in the opposite direction. Solid Monkey sounds like a really evil version of Vintage Trouble before Butts In My Beer goes into almost psychobilly territory, Boys Don't Cry swaggers through on a lurching leering riff and Hen House sounds like a soul power Stooges. Stigmata might just be the strongest track on here with its sinister woozy guitar riff and preacher man vocals before the political anger of Knee On My Neck sounds like the White Stripes being chased and run down by an 18 wheeler truck and the call and response r'n'b soulfulness of I Believe To My Soul close the album off in good style. 

Neverland Ranch Davidians definitely deserve credit for serving up a varied album here - this debut swings all over the shop taking in influences from seemingly anywhere and everywhere and it makes for a captivating listen. It's probably more one for Nite Songs readers who lean towards the scuzzy grungy end of the stuff we cover here but there's no denying its scope and ambition. With a bit of added experience under their belt, there's no telling what NLD could be capable of going forward.

Bandcamp Link

NITE SONGS RATING: 🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌑🌑 (8/10)

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