IV Thieves reviewed

IV Thieves
If We Can’t Escape My Pretty
(New West)

Noel Gallagher’s endorsement doesn’t buy you very much these days; you almost have to question the past-his-prime Brit’s wisdom.

He has championed The Redwalls, Kings Of Leon, The Stands, Proud Mary, and The Hiss, which tells you little else than he likes young guitar rockers in the vein of . . . his own band. IV Thieves obviously have no control over who does or doesn’t think they’re the cat’s pajamas, but it’s not as if they aren’t playing into anyone’s hands. “Higher,” for all intents and purposes, is a rewrite of either an Oasis or Stereophonics tune. “You Can’t Love What You Don’t Understand” splashes a dirty guitar riff under Nic Armstrong’s falsetto, and bridges into a chorus reminiscent of a leaner Cooper Temple Clause. Some chintzy piano (“Lay Me Back Down”) and tribal by-way-of-Bon Jovi drums (“Have Pity”) give a sense of coked-up classic rock indulgence, adding the bland mix some character. Chris Smith’s production keeps the band sounding arena huge and ultra-anthemic, but he can’t make them originals — IV Thieves’ biggest problem.

4

— Steve Forstneger

Click herehttp://newwestrecords.com/nicarmstrong/media/brokenmouthblues_big.qtl
to stream “Broken Mouth Blues.”

Category: Spins, Weekly