WES HOLLYWOOD
Playing Favourites (Net Wt. Records)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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So how much do you like the early Elvis stuff? No, not that Elvis--the English Elvis. If Mr. Costello and the Attractions attracted you, then so will Wes Hollywood. His own attraction for the Attractions verges on idolatry, but it's all in good fun, and it's good. And fun.

The Wes Hollywood Show is billed as a trio, featuring Mr. Hollywood himself on guitars and vocals, Patrrick Thornbury on bass, and Jason Styx on drums. That's the billing now, but if they aren't an official quartet real soon, then something's very wrong--because there's no way this album works as well as it does without the sound of keyboardist Matt Waters on piano, B-3, and especially that distinctive bubbling boil of the mighty Farfisa Compact.

Amazing as it might seem after all these years, these guys still find something new in that wave that crashed ashore over twenty years ago. The songs are tight and well crafted, played with the right mix of anger and enthusiasm. The tracks were all laid down in a two-week period, keeping the sound fresh and clean. They didn't think about it too hard, and you won't have to either. Play it, party with it, dance to it. It's good. And fun.

Track List:

Solid Action * Somebody New * Queen Of Wicker Park * Funny Little Walk * Kissing In The Rain * This Was Your Life * Miles Away * Big Reward * Neighborhood Watch * Heartaches Are History * Lucky Day * Does Sunday Get You Down?

© 2000 - Shaun Dale