3 out of 5

Label: Kapow!

Producer: Alleged Gunmen

A review I read elsewhere for this album (the only reference I could find to it, actually) compared the group unfavorably to The Clash.  And yes, the general recording flavor – murky, reverby – and lead George Navarro’s vocals are totally Clash-ish.  I don’t think the band would deny the influence whatsoever, and they even pursue it with some elements (the gang vocals, for example).  When the connection was confirmed by this review (because I definitely thought it as well), I started tuning into the lyrics a bit and initially was bothered by how similar things were starting to seem, as the bits I grabbed spoke of revolution and fighting.  But I was judging prematurely, which I’ll explain in a moment.  So maybe because I’m not a Clash fan, maybe ’cause I don’t listen to their albums… I ended up not caring that Alleged Gunmen’s sound might be ripped from a classic, and I listened to the album no less than 5 or 6 times in a row with a smile on my face.  It’s nothing new, but it’s energetic and enjoyable.

SO.  That all being admitted or spoken to, let’s review what is digable about this album: The recording.  Perhaps benefiting from modern recording abilities, the record sounds pretty sick.  Drenched in reverb, the guitar has the dusty, strummy feel but the bass and drums are pitched perfectly, and I find the drumming here more interesting than The Clash (sue me) because it feels more organic, playing around and through the songs instead of just finding a beat.  The bass, similarly, pops along to a separate but ingrained tune, not just following a guitar line.  Now to the lyrics – they’re nothing special.  And wisely, I think, Navarro’s vocals are played down in the mix.  His style matches the music, but his voice isn’t strong enough to be up front, so the moments that percolate through (those shouts of revolution) are all we really need to get the vibe.  What was fun to realize is that – okay, well, what sort of bothered me about The Clash and prevented me from getting in to them is that they were a bit too political for me.  Like, fine, they’re “punk” and all, but I hate feeling like if I’m not fighting for a cause that I don’t deserve to listen to your music, and that’s sort of the vibe the band has always given me.  I just don’t connect with their material.  Gunmen, on the other hand – look at that cover art of a gunfighter.  Ponder on the band’s name, and song titles  like “Showdown at Sundown.”  …This is a fucking Western soundtrack with modern influences, and reading / listening to the lyrics confirms it.  They drop modern references, but otherwise, it’s all about showdowns and drawing yer gun, and then that whole dusty, shambling workman vibe makes even MORE sense.

I enjoy it.  Quite a bit.  The whole album blends together a bit, but in such a way that it doesn’t just become background noise.  Totally inoffensive, just enough grit in its teeth to matter, “Return to Zero” is fun, and though the influences are apparent, I feel the band comes by it honestly.