That Handsome Devil: A City Dressed In Dynamite

That Handsome Devil
A City Dressed In Dynamite
LGM Entertainment
2008-08-05

Not to be confused with Morrissey, The Smiths or anything remotely associated with that pop style, That Handsome Devil recalls a jazzier, urban-influenced Squirrel Nut Zippers. From the opening scat of “Damn Door” which sounds like jazz, rap, lounge and rock mixed together, the band are an acquired taste. “Winter Green” is a leaner pop tune but still seems like a novelty song or something that was left on the cutting room floor for the soundtrack to Pulp Fiction. Fortunately the tune sounds a bit like Tom Waits, so it does work far better as does “Cry” and the boogie influenced “Rob the Prez-O-Dent” that resembles a clinically insane Primus. But being kooky doesn’t make an album great, but “Viva Discordia” is pretty damn nutty. And good. But “Mexico” is not very memorable.

RATING 6 / 10