Nite Songs

  And so the countdown continues. Ten more today as we move into the Top 40 (cue up the old TOTP chart rundown theme should you feel so inclined) *** 40.      THE MUDD CLUB - "Bottle Blonde" From Kansas via Machnylleth, the Mudd Club blasted out of nowhere to come up with one of the better debut albums of 2021. No-nonsense two minute knucklehead garage-punk, it's the way the group attack the songs on  Bottle Blonde  with such sheer carefree abandon in the best X-Ray Spex/Adverts/Television Personalities style that makes this album a winner. *** 39.     STEVE CONTE - "Bronx Cheer" Conte's first solo album in seven years was a triumphant comeback from the guy with an impressively varied repertoire taking in everything from full throttle punk to laid back smoky blues jams. The guy deserves credit for putting together something this varied when it would have been very easy to just stick with a safe option and Bronx Cheer  is an excellent listen. ...

  Now into their second decade as a band and their fourth album, it's quite easy to be sceptical about the Pretty Reckless if you're unfamiliar with them. Let's face it, when you encounter a rock band fronted by a former Hollywood actress who appears to be posing on the album cover as a biker girl who's just realised that crucial five minutes after setting off out for the day that she forgot to put her trousers on this morning, you can't help but think "Oh aye, really?..." That is until the opening title track promptly smacks you up the side of the head with a glorious riff which practically invites you to headbang along and Taylor Momsen (for it is she)'s supremely tuneful purr-turned-snarl vocals at which you think "Ah, fair enough, I may have been a bit harsh, I do apologise..." It's nothing you won't have heard before and the lyrics are pure 18 & Life  era Skid Row but there's something about it that undeniably hits that b...