Yahoo! Music Album Review

Released on 09/10/06
Label: V2

After the so-called New Rock Revolution capitulated to the counter-revolutionary surge of all things angular, the chances of the class of '02 having anything left to offer would appear both improbable and rather laughable. Indeed, if any band was to fall from grace courtesy of the onslaught of cheesewire guitars and jerking rhythms, then The Datsuns were surely it. Their sophomore effort, "Outta Sight/Outta Mind", was a self-conscious effort designed to align themselves to the musical greats, with former Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones drafted in on knob-twidding duties. But the end result was more crock than rock. So, adieu The Datsuns, no?

Well, not quite because no one was expecting this. Free of the shackles of fad and fashion, The Datsuns have wisely stopped playing to the gallery and decided to please themselves. In the main, it's a strategy that's paid off well as "Smoke And Mirrors" is an album that surprises as much as it delights. Having rediscovered their mojo, the new, improved slimline version of The Datsuns slam the pedal to the metal with the flab-free gonzo rock of "Who Are You Stamping Your Foot For?", a track that springs from the traps with all the verve of a demented greyhound.

Augmented by the kind of snaking keyboards that characterised '80s garage fetishists The Fuzztones, The Datsuns are having a hoot and it shows. "System Overload" is two-and-a-half minutes of gloriously daft stop-start riffing while "Waiting For Your Time To Come" manages to fit in Eastern inflections amongst the six-string ramalama. Elsewhere, the twin spectres of AC/DC and The Black Crowes make their presence felt on the metallic delta blues of "All Aboard" and "Maximum Heartbreak" and the feeling of mindless fun and beery knees-ups is inescapable. Unlike the ham-fisted efforts of Jet, The Datsuns do their do with a twinkle in their eye and a sly, knowing smile.

However, the wheels do come decidedly off The Datsuns' rockin' wagon before they reach their final destination. "Emperor's New Clothes" is way too in thrall to the Young brothers to convince entirely while the eight minute trawl of "Too Little Fire" - complete with portentious intro, a huge build-up and a gospel choir - is a gospel choir too far. Nonetheless, "Smoke And Mirrors" is a short, sharp blast of snotty fun that suggests the party is not over yet.

    by Julian Marszalek