Description
Debut album from Neal X ( Sigue Sigue Sputnik / Marc Almond Band)
1. Atlantic Surf
2. Born to Rock ‘n’ Roll
3. Hotel Pelirocco
4. Jayne Mansfield
5. Brand New Cadillac
6. Badfinger Twang
7. Good Lovin’
8. Love Missile F1-11
9. Dirty
10. A Little Bitty Bit Of Your Sweet Sweet Love
11. Pussy Whipper
12. Dirty Little Lowlife
13. Selfie
14. I’m Going Home
joshua macala (verified owner) –
If there was ever an appropriate name for an album title it is The Montecristos "Born To Rock ‘n’ Roll". The music here just demonstrates that fact with each and every song. While the first song is instrumental, there are eventually vocals and the style is that of rock ‘n’ roll with horns which I still don’t feel has a proper genre name but it reminds me of a cross between Bruce Springsteen and River City Rebels. This is never a bad thing because it’s been such a long time since I’ve heard something this good.
There are bits of punk in here as well and that comes out on songs like "Hotel Pelirocco" which combines the raw, wild passion of Elvis Presley with Brian Setzer, so yes, rockabilly in some ways also. Overall though, the vibe of these songs is just a lot of fun and in good spirits. They aren’t angry or really rebelling against something, but rather just going out and having a good time. Party anthems is what Andrew WK might think of them as, though they don’t have the same problems as Andrew WK (his songs all tend to run together for me)
After a cover of "Good Lovin" (originally by the Young Rascals) there is a song with female backing vocals about being dirty and all I can think of is Talk Sick Brats and "Dirty" Jeff Smith. Though this does remind me of other friends of mine as well, just because of the style in which it is presented and how for all of the music I listen to I just don’t seem to hear music like this nearly enough. As seems to come with the territory, there are also a number of killer guitar riffs in here and I will never tire of them.
So if you’re looking for a high energy blast of punk ‘n’ roll then I must highly recommend this album to you. Albums like this are like finding needles in a haystack and whether you think of the hay as being other bands in this genre but not as good or simply bands not in the same line of rock ‘n’ roll, this is something truly special and you should be living it up right now.
SC Hardy (verified owner) –
For those not ‘in the know’ The Montecristos are the band fronted by former Sigue Sigue Sputnik guitarist Neal ‘X’ Whitmore and before you start curling your lip just cool your boots and LISTEN… ‘Born to Rock ‘n’ Roll’ is, in many ways, the album Sigue Sigue Sputnik should always have made but it is also substantially more. It’s probably the most instantly accessible album I’ve heard for quite a while.
I’m not going to review the whole album track-by-track but I’ll highlight a few things. The titular ‘Born to Rock ‘n’ Roll’ and the feel-good, breezy ‘Good Lovin” rub shoulders with established classics like ‘Brand New Cadillac’ (featuring a surprisingly fitting guest lead vocal from Marc Almond) and reworkings of Sputnik’s own ‘Jayne Mansfield’ and ‘Love Missile F1-11’. Two instrumentals, ‘Atlantic Surf’ (Neal channels The Chantays) and ‘Badfinger Twang’ are strong enough not to seem like padding. ‘Dirty Little Lowlife’ is probably the closest the album comes to visiting out-and-out Sputnik territory and is nicely dark. ‘#Selfie’ is very traditional sleazy rock ‘n’ roll but with a nicely tongue in cheek modern touch…
Ditch any received wisdom about the Sputnik myth and visit ‘Born to Rock ‘n’ Roll’ – a legend in waiting.
rockjock (verified owner) –
Impossible to write a review of this without mentioning Sigue Sigue Sputnik, which in some ways is a shame. Neal X, amongst other projects, has for years been nurturing his love of surf, whisky, cigars & rockabilly which he eventually evolved into The Montecristos. The album was crowdfunded exceeding the target in next to no time. Musically nodding to the past with hints of Dick Dale, Eddie Cochrane & a host of other influences I probably haven’t even noticed yet this album oozes the rock & roll spirit it’s meant to. The 2 (actually there’s 3) reworked SSS songs give a bit of an insight to that bands songs being simple rock & roll disguised behind the gadgetry & effects they used, not so on this album. Double bass, horns & guitar are the order of the day along with a real drummer. Born to Rock & Roll? know what? I think I was & this’ll get me started off nicely….more please?
Michael barone (verified owner) –
The montecristos!!! Debut album excellent born to rock n roll !!! I only just started listening to this album and I liked it straight away !!! Neil x guitarist and lead singer is very good , I saw him at shepherds Bush as a support band for marc almond velvet trail last show 1st of May 2015 !!! I got his autograph after the marc almond show but I wished I got him to sign this new CD of the montecristos !!!! Checkout this album and see them live on tour !!! Thanks Neil x for autograph !!! Good luck with your band /