UK blues rockers Stone Thieves release first full album ‘Good at Bad Decisions’

Album review by Phil M.

Having been formed in London in 2012, the band hail from St Albans in Hertfordshire, and more specifically the celebrated live music venue The Horn. The band have plying their bluesy southern sound extensively, initially supporting bands such as Ocean Colour Scene, Cast and Proud Mary, and more recently headlining their own shows.

They’ve released a couple of EPs, ‘Brush Off the Rust’ which came out in 2014 and ‘The Church of the Medicine Man’ which followed in 2019 before starting work on this, their new album in 2021. Unfortunately, and as was the case with so many bands, the global pandemic hit after only the basic tracks had been put down. Undeterred, the band launched Shabby Road Studios and finally completed the record.

The album kicks off with the stomping beat of ‘Riverbank’, distorted slide guitar and Hammond are the order of the day, the sound is full with an epic chorus full of backing vocals. The title track follows, listening to this I would not have credited this to a British band, the sound is so American in style and intensely catchy, but none the worse for that.

Mid-tempo ‘Dusty City Blues’ is up next, starting with distorted guitar and Fender Rhodes. The chorus is set over the band and brass backing and there’s a nice bluesy guitar solo too.

‘Easy Down the Line’ has a nice laid-back feel with harmonies that come right out of The Eagles playbook, and there’s nice piano work filling out the sound. There’s a good deal of Tom Petty influence in the strummy ‘Test of Faith’ and the Black Crowes with acoustic and slide guitars reminding me of ‘She Talks to Angels’ in ‘Wears a Sting’.

‘Stubborn Man’ is the first single with a well-shot video accompanying the release. The track kicks off in strange fashion with a drum machine bringing in a gritty guitar sound, though normal service is quickly returned. The track is more upbeat with a good catchy chorus and nice slide work in the solo, the track fairly rocks along.

‘Nobody Wins’ moves along nicely, again with a great sound supported by the Fender Rhodes and the drum-less ‘RB2, Lambeth’ is a ballad with harmonica work complimenting the vocals. ‘One More for the Road’ wraps the album up in a slower style, more like the last dance at the end of the night, though I was hoping for a good rocker to bow out with.

With their blend of American influences, the Stone Thieves are easy to listen to with catchy songs. This is a good, strong album from a band that are surely destined for greater things.

Personnel

Aaron Gardner – Guitars/Vocals

Tom Reynolds – Bass

Mike Pearson – Guitar

Paul Archbold – Drums

Mike Ross – Keyboards

Jess Hayes – Backing Vocals

Track Listing

1. Riverbank
2. Good At Bad Decisions
3. Dust City Blues
4. Easy Down the Line
5. Test of Faith
6. Wears a Sting
7. Stubborn Man
8. Nobody Wins
9. RB2, Lambeth
10. Blow My Blues Away
11. One More for the Road