Shady Rock & Rollers. Watts

If rock and roll were a church, Watts would be its high priests. In Shady Rock & Rollers all that rock is, comes together in ten songs or ten commandments of the rock scripture. "It's how I want my rock and roll", to quote the opening song's main message.

Watts, a band from Boston and part of the Rum Bar family, simply does everything right on its new album. There's not a riff on Shady Rock & Rollers that will not ring one bell or another. Whether The Rolling Stones, ZZ Top or both in one song, you will hear traces come by. That could turn one off, but when songs are as good as e.g. 'Breaking Glass', where everything in rock from the early 70s right up to the 90s comes together, one can only (rock and) roll over and surrender.

What also comes together on the album is U.S. rock and U.K. (glam)rock. Traces of Slade and T. Rex can be found while Watts cranks out a typical U.S. rock riff. Melodically the album is incredibly strong. Most of the songs are of the kind that invite to sing along to. Whether in the pub, at home or at a live show, this is going to work all the way.

There's only, and an incredibly small, downside to Shady Rock & Rollers. So many songs have already been released as singles over quite some time. It may well be that the album's release was held up by the pandemic of course. I reviewed 'Seventeen' e.g. over a year ago. It also seems years, I'll admit. Even in times of Corona time flies ever faster it seems.

My view on 'Seventeen' hasn't changed. The men of Watts, just like me, are hardly permitted to look at a 17 year olds any longer. That doesn't mean 'Seventeen' is a bad song. The mix of glam- and punkrock is so excellent. Does it get any better than this? I sincerely doubt it. Excitement caught in music is what this song is. The Rolling Stones at the time of 'Some Girls', the fast rock songs on the album, and then add horns. This is the real, real rock thing alright! (And just to remember and pay tribute to Ian Stewart, I add some rock and roll piano in my mind and it fits so well.)

Shady Rock & Roller is an album that deserves global recognition. This kind of rock and roll proves, to quote the singer of that rock band that won the Eurovision Songcontest: "rock and roll is not dead". In the case of the winner I'm still not convinced, in the case of Watts 100%. The singles promised so much, the actual album shows even more than I'd ever expected. Just listen to 'Shocking Pink' and you'll know what I mean. Anyone who loves rock and roll should get this album asap.

Finally, I am the only one who recognises Jacob Dylan's voice on this record? It isn't, but the resemblance at times is uncanny, e.g. in the beautiful 'When The Party Ends'.

Wout de Natris

You can listen to and order Shady Rock & Rollers here:

https://watts.bandcamp.com/album/shady-rock-rollers

or listen to our Spotify Playlist to find out what we are writing about:

https://open.spotify.com/user/glazu53/playlist/6R9FgPd2btrMuMaIrYeCh6?si=KI6LzLaAS5K-wsez5oSO2g