Originally Posted on February 3, 2016 by clunkmag in MusicReviews // 0 Comments


 

Out Now Via Cargo Records

Out Now Via Cargo Records

 


Rating: 8/10


By Dale Platt

What do you get when you throw a seasoned rock musician and a Russian poet in the same together? Well, in the case of Guy Bailey (formerly of The Quireboys) and Irina D, apparently it’s a classic rock project brimming with not only a dash of arthouse and psychedelic, but a complete reinvention of lyrical delivery to boot. Known as Thirsty, the band saw their eponymous debut release backed by the expertise of Rolling Stones’ producer Chris Kimsey.

Possessing all of the hallmarks of the bygone era back in the 60’s, there is an endless array of great moments where Guy Bailey really delivers something sensational. Keeping to the beautiful simplicity of the genre with ten tracks all registering at 3 minutes or less, Bailey provides the perfect musical backdrop to Irina D’s lyrics. Of course, Bailey himself provides the majority of vocals on the album, and his earthy tones only further the artistic talents that are on show throughout the album.

To highlight the nature of the songwriting on offer, ‘Flawless’ tells the story of a diamond heist which took place at the Cannes Film Festival back in 2013, not to mention it serves up a classic Stones feel. The variety of topics which are covered are pretty astounding, with tracks like ‘Sniper’ conveying an entirely different set of emotions – a track which takes inspiration from the life of a Russian sniper who killed over 300 enemy fighters during World War Two. Even without considering all of the individual stories behind the tracks, there is quite simply an endless supply of pure quality of offer. Tracks such as ‘Libertine’ and ’10, 7 And Possibly 6′ are further highlights of a fine album with so much to offer in such a great many ways. If there was one track which captures all of what is great about Thirsty, it would probably have to be ‘God Bless America’ with all of its soaring momentum. Not to mention that the track revolves around the story of JFK’s sister and the lobotomy that was forced upon her by the family, underlining the scope and ambition that drives this album forward.

To see such quality present through an entire album is already a rarity, but to see it backed by clever invention and a renewed sense of artistry is something of a revelation. The appeal lies both in a more conventional sense with its status as a solid classic rock record, but Thirsty offers so much in the way of distinctive creativity that it undeniably leaves a lasting impression.

 

Read the original Clunk Magazine post here: http://clunkmag.com/2016/02/03/music-review-thirsty-thirsty/