Review of The Soft Explosions's CD "Ride Between The Eyes"

The Soft Explosions: Ride Between The Eyes

From the same rock family tree as Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and The Brian Jonestown Massacre come The Soft Explosions, a New York four-piece rock'n'roll combo in the classic Stones mould. Originally released in the States back in 2004 this single hijacks the imagery of Easy Rider and The Wild One and packages it conveniently in to radio-friendly three minute bursts. Just like BRMC did on their first album a couple of years beforehand.

A lack of originality is not the only problem for The Soft Explosions; the romanticised freedom of a chopper out on the open road doesn't translate well to the corresponding UK experience (namely limited geography, clogged up motorways and caravan-infested b-roads). Such cerebral concerns do little to reduce the inherent catchiness of the songs and producer Paul Q. Kolderie's finely tweaked delivery.

If 'Ride Between The Eyes' is marred by lapses in to rock cliché ("Always lost, no time to waste, got ships to sail and highs to place.") then it's a pleasant surprise that other tracks benefit from occasional glints of more recent music history. 'Desert's Gold' takes its cues from The Stone Roses' 'Elephant Stone' with Nicky Kolund laying down a Reni-esque rhythm and guitarist Irina Yalkowsky's licks dancing in the sky.

The CD version also contains Reverberate (Let It All Start), more orthodox classic rock with a hint of Ash's 'Shining Light', and the apparently obligatory acoustic ballad 'Keep All That's Love'.

This is clearly not a dud but remains a short, shallow high.

• www.thesoftexplosions.com

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