Three Aussie hard rockers from Adelaide, you know what they’re going to sound like, right? well, no, not this time actually, the sound of those (mostly) Scottish émigrés is conspicuous by its absence on Tracer El Pistolero. Released in 2013 El Pistolero is a damn fine-looking beast of an LP, the worn edges and Mexican folk art approach of the cover – gotta love skulls, pistols and roses, add in the chunky cardboard cover, the sugar skulls artwork on the inner sleeve and the fact I picked up a very limited edition red vinyl and copy and … I … oop … aaaahhh! (smokes post-coital cigarette).
Formed from the ashes of a blues band by the horribly precocious trio, El Pistolero is the sound of some hungry young rockers who have come fully of age to the sounds of Audioslave, QOTSA, and Soundgarden, there is an interesting grunge filter applied to their all-out rock assault here. That and a damn cool dusty-booted cowboy vibe, tales of revenge and repentance beyond the law. I’m not making this up you know, try this!
I’d like to look like them too. I really enjoy ‘El Pistolero’, which is one of three tracks tagged as being part of ‘Suite Del Desperado’ and as well as a great bass heavy sound has opening lines I love, ‘In a seedy bar is Saragossa / I saw the devil only closer’, death, revenge and a blazing shoot-out follow, rather inevitably, but thrillingly for Mr Pistolero himself.
Tracer have a really good sound, but my criticism would be that they stick too closely to it at times and the listener is left scanning the tracks for differences, the blistering guitar solo in ‘Lady Killer’, the exhilarating full-on mania of, umm, ‘Manic For Ya’, the totally excellent Doors-play-spaghetti-Western of ‘Until The War Is Won’ and the filthy ZZ Top-esque riff of ‘Wolf In Cheap Clothes’. Kevin Shirley’s production throughout is, as you’d expect, rather excellent too, deep without being too muddy.
Overall, El Pistolero is a really good, confident, modern hard rock LP by a band whose next album is out damn soon and I might have a chance of seeing play next month, it’s not up there in classic territory yet though, there’s a filler or two present, but the good stuff bodes very well indeed for their future.
597 Down.
You get those Limited Edition Lego Packs going let me know. I’m buying.
I’ll be a millionaire by Christmas, possibly.
If you do, don’t forget the little ones. I’d be happy to be your limo driver/hired gun.
You can be my hired goon. I’ve always wanted one of those.
Excellent. I’ll develop a Brooklyn accent, buy a fedora and some brass knuckles.
That red vinyl and the packaging look sweet.
The band sounds awesome. Michael Rhodes plays bass on that track. He is the go to guy in Nashville for an awesome bass sound. I have never heard him play a stoner rock style, but I really dug it.
Glad you like ’em. I think they’re really promising. The bass sounds mountainous on this little beauty.
I too like the sounds of wolf in cheap clothes, especially if it’s driven by a filthy riff!
Nothing bad in this world has ever started with a filthy riff. As my grandma always used to say.
As embroidered on the family coat of arms, yes?
Just underneath ‘Kill Em All’.
Great song title, ‘Wolf in cheap/sheep clothes’.
Good to see you supporting the Aussie music industry too. In fact, I’m sure you are supporting Aussies wherever they are playing at present…?
I know they’re a really promising band.
My love for all things Aussie stems from my bromance with/for David Pocock – what a man. Oh, and you of course.
This is right up my street! Great sounds … and art. Nice!
Really like the pics here, too. Sold!
I should team up with the label and offer limited edition Lego packs. I think the artwork on El Pistolero is excellent, they really pulled out all the stops for this.
It really does look great (obviously a limited edition Lego pack would enhance it, though). Really like this lot a fair bit. Some really good vibes here …
I found a live clip of “Wolf In Cheap Clothes”… and will check show listings. Nice feature, Joe. I like the artwork too.
Fab artwork!
It is isn’t it? They really made a nice job of this LP.
Love the pics
Thank you, that’s kind
Whoaaaaa…. yesssss….