THE HEAVY
Great Vengance and Furious Fire
(Counter)
In a live setting, this English quintet probably throws a good party, and inspires many embarrassing dirty dance moves. But their debut album is meticulously ragged and slightly confusing once the band sets aside the er, heavy blooze-trash in favor of a Brit-rap effort ("Girl" which is not without its charms); dirgey psychedelia ("Who Needs Sunshine?"); or just flat-out apes influences ("Dazed and Confused" and "Gimme Some Lovin'" both make a showing). Singer Swaby boasts a respectable falsetto, and the band's done all the right homework. Yet Vengance is only serviceable, not remarkable -- neither as silly as Jon Spencer's limited efforts (thankfully), nor as authentic-sounding as The White Stripes. And no, The Typing Monkey never thought we'd have to type that.
Reference materials: Give The Heavy a chance, this is only The Typing Monkey's opinion after all. But if you like modern junkyard funk and trash-blues, Chow Nasty deserves your attention.
Bonus links!
For a quick history lesson on a rock & roll colossus, read this short essay on Bo Diddley's Black Gladiator. Then click here and hear it for yourself. The Heavy is just one of many standing on Mr. Diddley's shoulders.
