Review: Tuk Smith & The Restless Hearts – Rogue To Redemption
Gypsy Road Records (August 30th 2024)
Reviewer: Chris O’Connor
What do you get when you fuse the melodic Hard Rock sheen of Thin Lizzy, to the raging Power Pop sensibilities of Cheap Trick and Jellyfish, and the loose-hipped swagger of Aerosmith? You get this glorious band. Ex-Biters frontman Tuk Smith is back with his sophomore studio album. Having released his debut ‘Ballad Of A Misspent Youth’ on MRG in 2022, and then parting with the label a year later, Tuk has now founded his own label Gypsy Road Records, to release his albums on henceforth.
In case you’re unfamiliar with the band, the lineup is: Tuk Smith (vocals/guitar), Tobin Dale (guitars), Matthew Curtis (bass), and Nigel Dupree (drums). There is something gloriously debauched about The Restless Hearts, a wonderfully ‘untogether tightness’ that marks them as true red-blooded Rawk ‘n’ Rollers, there is nothing forced or artificial here, just pure-hearted rock rebellion – and in these days of manufactured Pop-Pap, it’s hugely refreshing.
‘Rogue To Redemption’ is also a short, sharp shock of a record, not even hitting the 35 minute mark, this it never outstays its welcome, not even for a minute. As soon as opener ‘Take The Long Way’ erupts out of your speakers – you are transported to rock ‘n’ roll nirvana (no, not the band), the chorus is huge … it’s Pop Rock perfection. ‘Glorybound’ is nearly as good, a veritable slice of joyous abandon, you can’t help but sing along lustily – if you don’t, then honestly there is something wrong with you!
‘End Of An Era’ has a wistfulness to it, a melancholy for years gone by, and its glorious for that very reason. ‘Still A Dreamer’ is a lilting affair, a mix of ‘70’s UK glam and prime Thin Lizzy, and praise doesn’t come higher than that. ‘Little Renegade’ is a more Pop Punk Rock affair, the sort of thing you might hear in a US coming of age comedy (think the classic ‘American Pie’ type films), it’s another huge singalong number that is endlessly uplifting.
‘Blood On The Stage’ reminds me of classic Jellyfish, another huge compliment, it has a slow-building verse that builds to another cool-as chorus, simply timeless. ‘Lost Boy’ is another uplifting Pop Rock track, there is an undeniable Cheap Trick feel (probably due to the sequenced keyboard towards the start), it’s a brilliant romp throughout. ‘Down The Road’ reminds me of vintage Mott The Hoople or maybe even ‘70’s David Bowie – now that can never be a bad thing can it?
The title track is a perfectly foot-stamping rocker with a wonderful chorus, and an undeniable riff and groove! Finally, the aptly titled album coda ‘When The Party’s Over’ is yet another ‘70’s Glam/Glitter anthem, all big hooks and swinging rhythms – joyously free and easy … and that’s yer lot! ‘Rogue To Redemption’ is simply a f***ing great album in every way that counts, and as a result, will easily be in my top ten albums of 2024. You know what you need to do … buy or f*** off and die!
Tracklist:
01 Take the Long Way
02 Glorybound
03 End of an Era
04 Still a Dreamer
05 Little Renegade
06 Lost Boy
07 Blood On the Stage
08 Rogue to Redemption
09 When the Party’s Over
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