THE STRUTS: Young & Dangerous (ROCK): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

Four years after an "Everybody Wants" that had propelled them into the limelight, the British band The Struts took their time to offer us a recording sequel that we were eagerly awaiting. At the same time, this delay is not surprising: the challenge of confirming the immense hopes born in 2014 was a big one for Spiller, Slack & Cie. Considered as the next generation of English rock and the heir to both Queen and the Rolling Stones, the Derby quartet had the pressure to live up to their stated ambitions.

With Luke Spiller playing more and more on his resemblances with Freddie Mercury both physically and vocally, the British launch their new opus on bases that trample on all forms of reticence or anxiety. The singer's vocals confirm that he is a real phenomenon with an impressive charisma, capable of showing power, finesse and theatricality. Addo Slack leads the boat in the shadows with a succession of catchy riffs and solos as discreet as they are effective. Finally, the rhythmic pair shows a great technical richness and an unstoppable groove to offer solid and dynamic foundations at the same time. Apart from 'Fire (Part.1)' and 'Ashes (Part.2)', all the tracks revolve around the three-minute to concentrate their flawless efficiency coupled with a variety that keeps the attention captive from start to finish.

Winks to the Legends are legion without ever crossing the border of plagiarism. Think of the Rolling Stones with a riff here ('Primadonna Like Me') or a disco-rock there ('Who Am I?') that can remind us of 'Miss You' ('Some Girls' - 1978) or Rod Stewart's 'Da Ya Think I'm Sexy? If Queen's shadow is always discreet but present, it's more obvious on a 'Bulletproof Baby' mixing pop and hip-hop, on a 'Tatler Magazine' where it mixes with the Beatles', or on an ambitious 'Ashes (Part.2). Another British legend, The Who hovers on 'In Love With A Camera' which denounces the narcissism of today's society. But all this represents only slight touches of influences in an ensemble with an assumed and asserted identity, but without forgetting to vary the pleasures. It's a pity that there's a little bit of a slowdown at the end of the album, in particular with the FM pop-hip-hop of 'I Do It So Well' or the remix of 'Body Talks' covered as a duet with Kesha.

Apart from these little mistakes, "Young & Dangerous" confirms the hopes of its predecessor. The Struts assert themselves as the heirs of British rock legends and as the best of what these bands have been able to offer over the last decades, a perfect balance between excess and seduction. - Official website

THE STRUTS

YOUNG & DANGEROUS

A&M

ROCK