Wildhearts News It looks like the two promised Wildhearts albums this year might well both be covers albums, the title for the first album is "Stop Us If You've Heard This One Before Vol 1" and the tracklisting is as follows.... Unsung (Helmet) The World Comes Tumblin' (The Distillers) Understanding Jane (The Icicle Works) Waiting Room (Fugazi) Geez Louise (The Unband) Ice Hockey Hair (Super Furry Animals) Rocket 69 (The Lee Harvey Oswald Band) Possum Kingdom (Toadies) Rearrange You (Baby Chaos) Pep Talk (The Descendents) Battleship Chains (Georgia Satellites) Carmelita (Warren Zevon) The album gets a digital release on the 19th of May, and will be released on Cd sometime during the summer. There are a number of tracks up on the Wildhearts MySpace page. Wildhearts livethis year ? Confirmed so far are Bulldog Bash (headlining), Download and Hard Rock Hell (headlining) which takes place over the first weekend in December, anyone fancy a metal weekend at Pontins ?

Album Review : The Works - The Wildhearts**** This is a Warner Music 3cd compilation featuring the first half of The Wildhearts career, it includes about half of the albums "Earth Vs. The Wildhearts" and "P.H.U.Q", and some more stuff from the previous compiliation/b-side albums "Fishing For Luckies" and "Don't Be Happy....Just Worry." So why would you buy it ? Well, for a triple cd it's a pretty fair price, Amazon was selling for £13, you get 45 tracks to listen so if you think you might like The Wildhearts because you've heard the odd song or two, this would be a fair introduction to the band. I've got it because I very rarely buy singles, roughly a third of the 45 tracks are songs that have rarely been released elsewhere so for a Wildhearts completist it's a good buy. If you already own some of the more obscure Wildhearts back catalogue releases, you might well want to compare tracklistings before shelling out on this one. It is a real shame though that the sleeve insert contains no information whatsoever on the band, as Dante Bonutto is credited on the sleeve surely a writer with his depth of knowledge of the British metal scene could have put together a short bio of the band ? Or maybe it's just to save money. Oddly, nearly all the writing credits as listed on the sleeve liner are made out to Walls ? Who is he then ? I thought ginger was the main writer, assisted by CJ and the others. Perhaps this is due to legal problems, do The Wildhearts no longer own their own songs ? It wouldn't really surprise me.

Album Review : Market Harbour - Ginger**** For Fans Of - The Wildhearts, John Lennon, So what do you do when the doctor tells you that you've got to clean up your act or die ? In Ginger's case it appears that new found sobriety has turned the Wildhearts frontman into the most productive bloke in rock. He now has his own record label, the past year has seen new albums from Ginger and The Wildhearts, tours, a dvd recording, numerous contributions to various side projects and other Wildhearts associated projects (God Damn Whores etc) and this year we are being promised two Wildhearts albums as well as this solo project. Just imagine if Ginger and the boys hadn't smoked / drunk / sniffed / injected their earlier career into oblivion ? What a legacy this man would be leaving. Enough dwelling on the past though because this is the best, most accomplished solo album that Ginger has released so far. I suppose Ginger has always been a prolific writer, the amount of "b-sides" and various studio tracks which were uncovered to provide material for contract fulfilling album releases testifies to that, and on Market Harbour ginger gives us 21 tracks, they're not all full length songs mind, so I'd not quite call this a double album. Ginger's solo style has mellowed a little since last year's Yoni, Market Harbour doesn't contain much in the way of mosh inducing, foot stomping anthems a la The Wildhearts (although Josser Bank and Attentionette are good and lively), but is does hold a lot of very good music. MH shows Ginger in a more thoughtful, more introspective, more adult mode than he has shown in the past. Songs like Casino Bay, House Of Moths and How Hard Can You Make It are Ginger at his most reflective, his lyrics dwelling on lost loves and possibilities. There is some fabulous songwriting here, almost Lennon-esque in places. Ginger has a muscial sense of humour and displays his broad muscial tastes when blending In My Room (The Beach Boys) to the end of I Knew You (An Amnesis) whch follows from the riotous Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy mash up on Yoni, which is then followed by the quirky and charming You And Me (That's What I Want) with its child sung chorus. Couple Trouble is to and bit minutes of Ginger singing, or is that John Lennon again, with a doo wop chorus, A Malibu Chronicle is just a wonderful AOR rock song, fantastic. I think that Market Harbour stands well above all of Ginger's previous solo releases, this third album (or 4th if you count the singles collection A Break In The Weather) is a fine album, it is beatifully written, played and sung. I will admit that it took me quite a few listens to really appreciate Market Harbour, but it is an album well worth persevering with, it is an album with rewarding depth, maturity and richness.

Album Review : The Wildhearts - The Wildhearts***** The Wildhearts this time around are Ginger and CJ with Scott Sorry and Ritch Battersby, and on the evidence of this album it is the best line-up since the original one. Although The Wildhearts had a chart single or two from the last album (...Must Be Destroyed), I think it's fair to say that a lot of the band's fan (myself included) thought that album was just a touch too light, too much powerpop and not enough rock. For those wanting rock then, this self titled album is full of it, it rocks, it riffs, it pounds, and it's full of glorious melodies to boot. The ten track album kicks off with pounding drums, noisy guitars and growled vocals on Rooting For The Bad Guy, a nine minute epic. For me, it's actually a little too long, they could have trimmed a little of the gubbins in the middle, but it's still good. The Sweetest Song is firmly in old school Wildhearts territory, fierce vocals and rattling guitar followed by a melodic chorus and a series of powerpop na na na's to sing along to. CJ and Ginger had previously stated their intention to take this album back to the older heavier sounding Wildhearts, and they have certainly done that, they have also managed to retain the more melodic and poppy elements that have infused their output in the past few years, it is a really good blend of the two Wildhearts styles. Lyrically, Ginger has moved into the realm of politics on This Revolution Will Be Televised and The New Flash, serious Wildhearts, here's a new departure. On other songs though he treads more familiar lyrical turf, but with more vehemence and vitriol, the misogynistic lyrics for The Sweetest Song and Destroy All Monsters make for unpleasant reading. I really don't think there's a weak song on this album, some are heavier (Destroy All Monsters), some are more poppy (She's All That), but they are all really good. This eponymously titled album is the album that Endless Nameless should have been, great songs, wonderful melodies, big hooks and riffs, its classic Wildhearts. This is a great album from one of the most underrated British bands, on the strength of this, The Wildhearts deserve a second chance at big success.

Gig Review - The Wildhearts, Sign, GU Medicine @ Leeds Rio's 02/05/07***** Here we go again, tickets say doors 7pm, obviously this is Rio's whether in Bradford or Leeds so the doors remain firmly shut until well after the advertised time. This new Rio's is in an arcade though, so in winter when you have to queue because of a lack of organisation by the organisers, at least you won't be standing out in the rain, hurrah. We troop off to the Templars, where in 2 minutes flat I have been offered a fight by a septegenarian drinker who has taken objection to my 'Wildhearts fucked my radio' t-shirt, he explains that if he was twenty years younger he would have chinned me for wearing it, and that if his daughter were present, she would have chinned me as well. Splendid, two threats of violence and they come from a seventy year old and a woman. I decline both offers and thank the aged thug for his calm and pleasent manner. Finally inside Rio, which is in the old Heaven & Hell nightclub, is much nicer than the old Bradford venue. It doesn't smell, the toilets are actually quite alright, they have more than two barstaff working, indeed I count 8, the carpet is identifiably a carpet and not just a strange, black, sticky coating (there are rumours that the 'carpet' at Bradford Rio growled at the builders who were trying to take it up). First on stage are South Yorkshire lads GU Medicine, and they kick up a right old noise playing down and dirty metal with Lee Medicine's whisky and fags vocals grwling along. They sound a little like The Wildhearts at their very heaviest, I thought they were tremendous, with big powerful riffs and good songs, a good start to the evening. Next up are Icelander's Sign, and in keeping with tonights theme of four piece hard rock bands, they are a four piece hard rock band. Sign come across like a harder, better version of Him, complete with a stunningly good looking frontman. Singer and guitarist Zolberg, skinny and face painted with little dangly nipple piercings, fairly writhes and gyrates with his instrument, he's got star quality and sex appeal in spades. Sign are tight and well practised, and they only make one mistake in their set, playing Skid Row's Youth Gone Wild, why a mistake, well, as such a well known and well written rock song it did show that Sign could just tighten up their own songwriting a little. This is the first time I have seen or heard of Sign and they were very good. (In joke for Emily, regarding your question the other night - Arnarr G, the guitarist of this band, or the singer) And so to the current version of The Wildhearts, which sees Ginger and CJ joined by Scott Sorry on bass and Ritch Battersby on drums. I've got to say that this is the best line up of the band for years, they sound like they have been playing together for ever. Tonight is a Wildhearts greatest hits package, or considering the band's career, the greatest hits that should have been but never were. I didn't take notes obviously, I was through the best part of a gallon of beer and bouncing around like a very bouncy thing indeed. Every song is a winner, Vanilla Radio, I Want To Go (Where The People Go), OCD, Caffiene Bomb, the best rock songwriter of his generation and his band perform a faultless set of heavy, melodic rock. Ginger rabbits on in between tracks, moaning about how long the days seem now that he's clean of drugs and booze, waffling on about W.A.S.P. (who played the opening gig at this venue last week), asking the crowd whether they prefer this Rio or the old one (this one!), it's all good fun stuff. They play two or three tracks from the new album, and in good humour Ginger berates those who claim not to have bought it. The slightly overlong Rooting For The Bad Guy and The Sweetest Song get an airing. It's another great Wildhearts gig, the time seems to fly past, everyone has a great time (except for the bloke next to me, you with the glasses and power metal perm, look mate, if you don't like getting jostled at the front, piss off to the back alright ? It's the front of a rock crowd, people are not going to stand still just so you can take pictures on your mobile phone), the band play a great selection from their back catalogue and ably demonstrate that whether it's on cd or live, they are still Britain's best hard rock band. G.U. Medicine MySpace Sign MySpace The Wildhearts MySpace

Wildhearts Press Release The Wildhearts are set to release their new self-titled album on the 23rd April. Released on Round Records and featuring Ginger, CJ, Ritch Battersby and Scott Sorry, it promises to be a riff-stormer of a record. In Ginger's words "We are really proud of this album. It marks what honestly feels like a fresh start in what has been an up-and-down career for the band. Gone are the drugs and alcohol problems. There is a focus and determined spirit in the band now, which we think we have captured perfectly on this album. The melodies are still there, the big choruses are still there, but the mammoth guitar riffs are back and heavier than ever. We're excited to have you along for this fresh new stage in the on-going legacy that is The Wildhearts." The tracklist is as follows: 1. Rooting For The Bad Guy 2. The Sweetest Song 3. The Revolution Will Be Televised 4. The New Flesh 5. Slaughtered Authors 6. The Hard Way 7. Inner City Overture 8. Bi Polar Baby 9. She's All That 10. Destroy All Monsters The album will be preceded by a download only single: 'The Sweetest Song', released on the 9th April, from online shops including iTunes - check the website for links as we get them. Ginger has confirmed that this is a one song taster, but (for any completionists out there) the version that will appear on this exclusive download will not appear on the album, nor will it be released in any format again.

Album Review : Yoni - Ginger**** First off, what's a Yoni then ? Wiki entry here. Right, well that's rock stars for you, I suppose calling it fanny would only have confused the Americans. Ginger, when on form, is one of the greatest rock song writers we Brits have been blessed with, he seems to effortlessly create catchy rhythms and riffs, sing-a-long melodies, anthems and choruses, he's really good. You know there's a but coming, but, I think he writes better music when he has someone else to write with, and let's be frank, the someone else's have to be The Wildhearts. That's not to say that Ginger can't write decent solo material, and I like almost of all his solo output, but on the numerous albums put out by various Ginger side projects (Silver Ginger 5, Clam Abuse, Supershit666 etc) there are hardly any songs that really compare with the best material he has created for The Wildhearts. Ginger also seems to suffer a bit from lengthy writing, it's as if he doesn't quite know when to stop, there are a couple of tracks on this 12 track album that would be better with a bit of editing, Smile In Denial and the overly long Jake spring to mind. A few of the other 5 minute plus songs would have been punchier with a little trimmed off. That said, and as I said earlier, Ginger writes a good song. Yoni is a more mature album in the most part than Valor Del Corazon was, it fairly drips with well constructed melodies and smooth, AOR tunes. Highlights for me would be When She Comes, Wendy You're Killing Me, Why Can't You Just Be Normal All The Time and the spot the tune happy time mix up of Can't Drink You Pretty. It is a good album, lacking the thrust of The Wildhearts, but still good music. It's probably too far along in Ginger's career for this to have any large scale impact, but there are some tunes on here that deserve to reach a wider audience.

The Wacky World Of The Wildhearts I hear that the US leg of the forthcoming Wildhearts tour has been cancelled, because 'someone' in the Wildhearts set-up forgot to get the band their American visas, doh. So so far we have cancellations in the US and no tickets printed for the UK shows, it all sounds fairly normal for a Wildhearts tour.

Gig After Gig After Motherfucking Gig 02/05/07: Bradford, Rios - The Wildhearts 03/05/07: Sheffield, Corporation - The Wildhearts 04/05/07: Manchester, Academy - The Wildhearts 05/05/07: Nottingham Rockcity - The Wildhearts Work allowing, I can make Braford, Manchester or Notts, who's coming ? There is a full tour, but these are the closest gigs.

Album Review : We Are The Lucky 13 - The God Damn Whores**** The God Damn Whores are Random Jon Poole's side project (or one of many perhaps), according to the sleeve notes, Jon played bass, lead and drums on the album, sang all the vocals, wrote all the songs and produced the album, so he's either a genius or nobody wants to play with him ? Jesting aside, Lucky 13 is a pretty decent album, as with everything involving any of the (numerous) ex-Wildhearts*, this has a sort of Wildhearts feel to it, most of the songs would fit Ginger's voice, there some big CJ style riffs and some fairly well written songs. *With the exception of Strapping Young Lad. There are twelve tracks on the album, oh no, there's 13, that's right, there's a hidden track after the last song. Why on earth do bands bother with 'hidden' tracks these days ? It used to be great fun to leave an album running silently after the last track only to find a new song suddenly booming out minutes later, but in the mp3 age, you can see how long a track is, anyway, I digress. Random Jon has put out a pretty decent rock album, quirky minute long tracks aside (of which there are a handful on the album) it is a solid, riff laden effort with good guitar parts and nicely catchy riffs. I still don't think he has the greatest of voices, but the vocals sound much better on the album than they did live. I think if you're a fan of The Wildhearts, or just a lover of solid rock and roll, you'll find quite a lot to like on Lucky 13.