The Sleeveens! A band from Nashville and Dublin singing about being Born On A Saturday Night? That alone should make any self-respecting bar and venue sit up straight.
It’s a statement song on an impressive second full-length that, on early judgment, feels like an even better overall record than the debut. Maybe that’s because the first one felt like it had been a long time coming, with Give My Regards To The Dancing Girls already played to death on my end. Believe me, I tried to wear it out, yet somehow still love that song! But with National Anthem, I arrived with a fresh pair of ears.
That helps when the record comes out swinging with two instant winners, If I Was A Casual and I Was Born On A Saturday Night. They’re such uncomplicated fun you can probably sing along halfway through the first spin. The third song keeps the momentum going with another punk rocker that gives the album a proper kickstart.
There’s jangly power pop in My Pretend Boyfriend, though power pub might be closer, because that pub rock spirit runs right through this band. Then comes The Rat, still the biggest hit from the critically acclaimed and still underrated The Walkmen. The middle stretch eases off a little before Cowboy Queen gets the punk rock ’n’ roll pulse going again.
Hearing Stephan Murphy’s well-worn, soulful voice howl “you know I’m gonna rock n roll forever” is life-affirming stuff. High Babies, Low Babies shows off the range in that voice and how he makes you believe every word. The back end of National Anthem brings throwback late ’70s punk on Six Counties Punk, 100 seconds of punk rock perfection with Long Black Summer, and a closing plea in the title track to “Burn your fuckin’ country in the name of love” that should land warmly in plenty of places across the globe and is destined to become a sing along staple at live shows.
Anyone who fell for the first Sleeveens record will have plenty to love here too. Still, what really stands out is the quality of the songwriting and the conviction in the passionate delivery. LP out now on Goner Records.