The Quireboys

The way things are going with them Boys, one cannot help but assume that The Quireboys must be one of the most prolific rock bands around, not only still going strong after all these years but going stronger all the time. The new album is no exception – once again an exquisite packaging holds not only one but four stonking albums!

Hot on the heels of Beautiful Curse and Blackeyed Sons, new album St. Cecilia and the Gypsy Soul once again sports a ‘Mexican Day Of The Dead’ themed sleeve, plus photos of religious artefacts in the inner foldout sleeve.
DISC 1 features ten spanking-new tracks all recorded in the isolated wilderness of Sweden’s Klippan, but far from being bleak the songs are a wonderful mixture of the usual and much-loved Quireboys trademark sound, plus a distinct harkening back to folk-rock and Spanish gypsy-sounds, incorporating mandolin and even a cello… and a few other sonic surprises.

Opener ‘Gracie B’ reminds straight away that here is a band that knows how to blast out some good-time grooves big time – it’s dead catchy and perfectly uplifting. Cheerfully and folky tunes dominate ‘Land Of My Father’, and the arrangement has an infectious chorus.
Title song ‘St. Cecilia and the Gypsy Soul’ does what the band does so very well, and that’s playing good-time rock ‘n’ roll that has frontman Spike belting out the anthem-like chorus like hell – complemented by killer riffs courtesy of Guy Griffin and Paul Guerin, and penetrating keys courtesy of Keith Weir, plus guest musician (make that mixing guru) Martin Eklund.

My personal favourite is ‘The Promise’, a beautifully mellow rock-ballad composition interspersed with truly enticing mandolin chords and dreamy strings.
Guy Griffin takes over main vocals on ‘Can’t Hide It Anymore’ and does a fine job indeed. There’s a distinct 60’s vibe to the song, it’s folky yet with a pop edge, and it sounds fookin’ great!

‘Out Of Your Mind’ sees our man Spike in best blooze-rock form, crooning along to some honky-tonk piano. In contrast, ‘The Hurting Kind’ is more in the classic rock vein and oh so pleasantly harmonious, and we are treated to some great riff solos. Next track ‘Adaline’ with its country-rock roots is another winner, while the thoughtful arrangement of ‘The Best Are Not Forgotten’ once again makes brilliant use of mandolin strings in what is a more restrained output. Closing track ‘Why Did It Take So Long’ is altogether a more sombre song, stripped down yet heartfelt in its structure.

Almost too good to be true, there are three bonus discs included in the set: the first is the band’s acclaimed acoustic output Halfpenny Dancer’, and the other two bonus discs consist of Halfpenny Dancer Live-Part 1 and Halfpenny Dancer Live-Part 2. Listen and you will be reminded of just how electrifying this band is live.

St. Cecilia and the Gypsy Soul is an album as dead cool as it sounds, and you’d be a fool not to sell your soul to this one!