Any band that covers Wham! with a straight face can't be all bad, right?
Yes, the new album from Urge Overkill, their first in a decade, opens with a run at "Freedom" from the late George Michael's old group. And King Roeser and Nash Kato sell it, they really do. Who knew that a decent number was lurking under what was fluffy pop back then? But, hey, lots of Oui is just as good as that cover.
This one, out tomorrow via Omnivore Recordings, reveals a duo every bit as punchy as the band lots of us looked to for cool in the Nineties. "A Necessary Evil" is spry and clever, while "Follow My Shadow" snaps and surges with really wicked energy. Most of Oui is tight and direct, making this sound like the sort of record you can imagine Cheap Trick would/should be making these days. That's not a knock on Robin and crew, but that Nash and King sound hungrier, still eager to imbue their lean-mean machine-rock with real oomph.
And while "Forgiven" finds the duo working up a sort of approximation of late Seventies Stones, Urge Overkill are, always, intent on mastering their own unique brand of straight forward hard rock. It's a brand that's proven its longevity, even if some of the ironic wit of their earlier material has been jettisoned in favor of straight-faced rock. This is all pretty decent stuff, requiring nothing more than a willingness to listen and rock out. That makes Oui nearly an anomaly in 2022's market-place of music, and a release with real throwback charms about it.
Oui is out on Friday, February 11 via Omnivore Recordings.
More details on Urge Overkill via their official site.
[Photo: Mike White]