Album Review: Cowtown - Dudes vs. Bad Dudes
- Written by Ben Gibson
So who the hell are Cowtown? Truth be told I'd never heard of them. Worse still, I'm struggling to find the proper way to describe them. They're too weird to be pop, too chilled to be metal, too much fun to be punk. Oh, I have it. They're awesome.
It's a sad state of affairs when a band this talented are virtually unheard of. You're unlikely to find many other reviews of their brilliant third album Dudes vs. Bad Dudes. “I thought about it for a minute/I went along with the sit-u-a-tion” snaps lead singer/guitarist Jon Nash in barnstorming opener 'I've Heard Enough'. Sounding like David Byrne's cheery English cousin, Nash's impassioned, twitchy vocals and jagged fretwork make him sound like a man without a second to lose.
But where the Heads' front man sounded agitated, Nash sounds like he's having the time of his life. Almost like he can't wait to get to the next line. His enthusiasm is evidently infectious, as only one track here passes the 4 minute mark. As a result even the weakest songs don't outstay their welcome , most are overflowing with musical ideas.
So many tracks here are miniature musical gems: the groovy bass powered 'S.Y.P.H' is a psychedelic swamp of swirly riffing, 'Animals' is a catchy children's song that would feel right at home on the weirder parts of The Beatles' White Album, while dance/rock hybrid 'Nightbeats' sounds like what the Klaxons would write, if they had more imagination.
Special praise must go to keyboardist Hilary Knott, who is not only one-half of Cowtown's infectious rhythm section along with drummer David Shields, but also contributes with a multitude of weird and wonderful sound effects. Her relentless creativity adds a sense of fun on top of Nash and Shields' versatile, energetic playing. It's the extra cherry on top, so to speak. It's this sense of playfulness that set Cowtown apart from the legions of struggling bands.
As an album it falls just a little short of greatness. There are plenty of great songs here, even the repetitive “Panasonic Youth” has enough going on to avoid being filler. Still, the tracks lack a fluidity needed to make the record feel like a complete work of art.
But that's also part of its charm. Dudes vs. Bad Dudes is an exploration of musical ideas. They've let their imaginations run wild and have emerged with one of the most inventive albums of the year. You could also complain about a lack of lyrical depth, but even that seems beside the point for a self-confessed “party band”: like criticising a cartoon for not being politically relevant. I defy you to sit through Dudes vs. Bad Dudes without a smile on your face. About as entertaining an album you're likely to find this side of the millennium.
Dudes VS Bad Dudes is released on April 20 via Audacious Art Experiment records and will be available to buy from here.