The Glitterati - 'Are You One Of Us'
If you miss the days of good hair metal when bands such as Bon Jovi, Guns and Roses and Aerosmith simply rocked, then it's time to rejoice.
The Glitterati take everything good from 80/90s pop punk and heavy rock genres, then add a modern layer of sound that makes you want to grab your hairbrush, dust off the air guitar and rock out your living room.
'Are You One Of Us', doesn't get off to the best of starts, 'Right From The Start' uses repetitive indie beats mixed with some thumping guitars and a chorus you'd expect from any of today's manufactured rock bands. My suggestion, skip this song! You certainly shouldn't let it cloud your judgement of The Glitterati, they are much better than this track.
'Fucks Me Up' is, by far, a superior example of what makes this band a fun, rocking adventure, while 'Can't Say No' is the first of a stream of tracks that show where their talent lies, filled with catchy hooks and sing along melodies. A melodic booming baseline, courtesy of bassist Baz Morrison and drummer Billy James supports the wailing guitars of John Emsley and Gaff and really strengthens the mix, making songs such as 'Overnight Superstar' really stand out.
They slow things down with 'Too Many Girls' and 'Shanty' which are treated to a deeper and dirtier sound and really showcase Paul Gautry's voice. 'Lola It's Over' closes the album by trading on the pop rock vibes of the last few years with a light start before bringing up the guitars in the chorus.
The Glitterati will appeal to those who love the vibe of the pure rock of the past as well as those who enjoy the commercial heavy rock of today. The quintet have produced catchy tunes with the depth of sound and hooks you expect of a band destined for continued success.