Drunk Tank Pink

Shame already displayed plenty of ambition and a penchant for drama on Songs of Praise, but theyre twice as potent on Drunk Tank Pink. Though its named for the color used to subdue violently inebriated prisoners, theres little soothing about the bands second album; in fact, by comparison, their debut sounds almost staid. Following Songs of Praises success, Shame found new ways to tear things up. Guitarist Sean Coyle-Smith got into Nigerian highlife music, ESG, and Talking Heads, while vocalist Charlie Steen used the highs and lows that followed their whirlwind fame as fodder for his lyrics. Its a combustive combination, and James Fords production makes it all the more explosive. From the huge guitars and huger harmonies of Alphabet, Shame sound unstoppable on Drunk Tank Pink, yet they also find new ways to channel that energy. Nigel Hitter is a masterful exercise in tension and release, with the rhythm section holding it down while Steen dominates the track as he howls Im burning at both ends! Any time the album threatens to become remotely predictable, Shame changes gears. Born in Luton contrasts dense passages that flirt with math rock and wide-open brooding, while the spoken-word verses and free-flowing instrumentation of Snow Day underscore how much theyve pushed themselves since the Songs of Praise days. Though they put on a good show of being cooler-than-cool punks on shout-along standouts like Water in the Well, Drunk Tank Pink reveals that Shame are idealists and romantics at heart. They let the pain surface beautifully on Humans lush blend of yearning and mourning, and reach for the clouds on the slow motion grandeur of Station Wagon. Even in more restrained moments like these, Shame never lose their momentum on Drunk Tank Pink, an often thrilling snapshot of a band headed for great things -- and quickly. ~ Heather Phares

初作『Songs Of Praise』が絶大な評価を獲得して〈フジロック〉出演も果たし、アイドルズやフォンテインズDCと並ぶ存在感を誇る南ロンドンの雄が堂々の2作目を完成。ジェイムズ・フォードをプロデュースに迎え、ポスト・パンクのエッジーな美意識にパワフルさも兼ね備えて作品世界を骨太にスケールアップしている。威勢のいい冒頭の"Alphabet"から轟音で昇天するラストの"Station Wagon"まで熱気の漲りまくった痛快作!
bounce (C)轟ひろみ