The Dead Daisies – ‘Light ‘Em Up’

Hard Rock

The Dead Daisies Pty/SPV

Release date – September 6th 2024

Review By Smudge Smith

The Dead Daisies have a policy of whoever is around at any one time they jump on board then when their respective band or careers become busy, they step off the ride. I suppose it makes it interesting. I mean there’s a marked difference between singers Glenn Hughes and John Corabi but you do get is fine well-crafted rock n roll no matter who is involved. I’ve seen them live with Corabi and they were phenomenal. It feels as if this record has been given a whole shot of AC/DC as a template because the songs rock like bastards – low down and dirty and perfectly suited to Corabi’s sleazy rasp.

Opener and new single ‘Light ‘Em Up’ starts with an encouraging bluesy riff and their off on a rocker that has that Aussie meat n potatoes sweat n beer in its DNA and pisses all over anything Airbourne have ever done. ‘Times Are Changing’ – forget Bob Dylan this is all new and Corabi tells you about it alright then we get the nasty boogie of ‘I Wanna Be Your Bitch’ which is a proper throwback to the hedonistic 80’s. It was only a matter of time before we got Michael Devin’s bass to introduce the serious ‘I’m Gonna Ride’ which gets the head nodding then we get some nasty blues on ‘Back To Zero’ that also has psychy Beatles type backing vocals. It’s back to the dumb ass rock n roll on ‘Way Back Home’. The Dead Daisies are kind of renowned for their covers and they have chosen an absolute corker with one of my all-time fave songs, ‘Take A Long Line’ originally by Aussie rockers The Angels they follow that with a corker of their own, the sleazy ‘My Way And The Highway’.

Had enough of all that snot nosed down in the gutter rock n roll well sit back and relax for the beautiful southern roll of ‘Love That’ll Never Be’ which is right out of the Allman Brothers song book and oh boy does Aldrich channel that inner Duane Allman with a beautiful fluid soulful solo over some warm acoustic and Hammond organ. Absolutely stunning and sure to be a live winner. Final cut is the moody bluesy ‘Take My Soul’ and a wonderful way to catch your breath until they crank it up and Aldrich brings out the slide and we’re off to the races.

What have The Dead Daisies done? Only produced what I would call their career defining record. It’s chock full of energy, class songs and performances but it’s not sterile, it’s warm and groovy and rocks like a bastard with a real live feel. Corabi is on top form vocally and the rhythm section just lock in allowing Aldrich free reign.

Track list –

1 – Light ‘Em Up

2 – Times Are Changing

3 – I Wanna Be Your Bitch

4 – I’m Gonna Ride

5 – Back To Zero

6 – Way Back Home

7 – Take A Long Line

8 – My Way And The Highway

9 – Love That’ll Never Be

10 – Take My Soul