I Walk The Line - www.iwalktheline.org
Desolation Street (released 2007)
Gearhead Records - www.gearheadrecords.com
In an obvious nod to Johnny Cash, the band takes their name from the well known country track that JC documented on his way to the straight and narrow. The band cited the name as an interpretation of their own sound and music, and I think as a reference to some of their influences, JC being one of them. The band is a combination of a couple of bands, Manifesto Jukebox and Wasted, Hussieskunk being a huge fan of the former. And while the band draws their name from JC, he is of little influence, I Walk The Line are by no means a country or punktry outfit. Instead the band focus on loud pulse pounding rhythmic punk rock with flecks of garage rock and driving organ-based melodies. It's surprising how much the organ takes part in every track, it's not often that you run into organ rock around the punk genre any more. I suppose that the garage rock influences dictate just the right amount of the organ in each track. I've read comparisons to the Clash for I Walk The Line, really who can be compared to the Clash, but I think that the comparison is valid, but only once or twice. Particularly, one can here some early 80s Clash influence on "Where Strangers Meet", which is a bouncy rocker, enough so to make one wanna dance, but additionally the random acts of vocals pops in and out of the breaks within the track, that brings to mind Joe Strummer and his excitement about every song the Clash played. With twelve tracks on the disc, you're getting a good shot in the arm from the band, especially since the average song length is above three minutes. The fivesome has been together since 2003, and this is their second release. I really do enjoy everything associated with Manifesto Jukebox, so fans of their should already know about I Walk The Line. In fact, just about everything that Combat Rock Industry (the band's European label) touches, is gold in my book. This album is licensed to Gearhead for US distribution, but easily I Walk The Line fits perfectly in the line of bands that includes garage rockers The Spunks and Bob Burns And The Breakups. I find myself thinking about these tracks and thinking brotherhood rock or something along the line of Irish infused punk rock, not for the particular sound, more for the comraderie that the music brings. Fans of rootsy, rocking n roll will really dig I Walk The Line... Especially while listening to "Ghost On A Tightrope" with an ice cold beer. -MG |
