There’s been a lot of ‘Filth’ flying about recently, as The City Kids don’t care to act tentatively when promoting their work. Their social pages have dispensed a daily feature with various personalities as ‘cover’ stars, who you try your best to identify. An eye catching way to get noticed and an unashamedly brilliant manoeuvre. A band taking their name from the Lemmy composition, they certainly live up to the lyrics ‘City kids don’t lay down, we don’t call so cheap, better get some more of that’. If you have already been subjected to their audacious blend of sleazy punk live, then you will recognise a few on the album as they have been regulars on recent set lists. Keeping busy during lockdown writing new material, lead man J. J Watt concluded that this is more of a collective blast from the band, than the brilliant debut album ‘Things That Never Were’, which was mainly demos amassed over the years. This time it’s been done differently, ‘Filth’ is the result of a very loud jam session, that encapsulates the spontaneous and unpolished ritziness, that we adore about The City Kids.
The sound of Berty Burton’s rumbling bass is initially shared with hearing the band checking the levels. Left in the mix, it gives the title track ‘Filth’ authenticity from the off. The rasping of J.J and soulful guitar of Dennis Post soon create a passionate and moody storm, it’s a fine opener that sets the precedent. ‘Alone’ is just as strong, with roaring pace and continues the rousing approach. The vocals are less ragged, the guitar licks are interwoven with finesse and the melody hangs in the smoke filled air. A favourite on the road ‘It Should Have Been You’ lightens the feel with more chant and harmonies. Again, it’s in the rapid and nonstop ‘Kids’ style, that usually sees us bouncing around venues up and down the country. Sleazy and delightfully innocent, ‘Heartbreak’ is a sweet serenade, before the pounding force that is ’Scars’. Punk by design and having unrelenting stomping, there is no comparison. One of the standout tracks for me as Dave Sanders’ drums are just formidable.
’Self Righteous’ rolls along and like several tracks on ‘Filth’, it’s aimed at certain parties. ‘You Wanna’ is a pop punk creation, totally entertaining with the essence of ‘The Wildhearts’. It’s scratchy, raw and seductive to the core. With a chime of an intro ‘Something Faster’ is actually slower and has a melancholy tone. Winding and meandering the song is delivered with deliberate grace and the screeching guitar solo, is a superb interlude. ‘Ghosts’ comes in with all guns blazing and still manages to hold a melodic stance, with Dennis providing vocals on this one. Rapturous and finely executed right up to the last chords, it’s a smooth precursor to the final track ‘Yesterday’. The collaborating pieces are put together and entangled for this demonstration on how to produce a streetwise ballad of swagger.
I realised at a festival last year, when the overseas bands were still grounded, that the UK has such a wondrous selection of homegrown sleaze, even if the band does include a loveable Dane on occasion. These Easy Street orphans, are among those that head that list. The talented Mr Watt and crew have pulled off a notable winner with ‘Filth’ and with the added help of such reprobates as Pip Sampson (Ex South Of Salem), Hoss Thompson (Thirteen Stars), Frank Meyer (Streetwalkin Cheetahs) and a choir of fans and family, not to mention the illustrious Dave Draper and Andy Brook on board, it’s impossible not to feel happy and proud for these guys.
‘Filth’ encapsulates the spontaneous and unpolished ritziness, that we adore about The City Kids’.
HIGHLIGHTS – Filth, It Should Have Been You, Scars, Ghosts.
The album drops on 25th November, but you can pre-order HERE, important to know that the first 100 editions contain a bonus disc ‘Filth Coda’ which features four bonus tracks.
Track Listing – 1: FILTH 2: ALONE 3: IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN YOU 4: HEARTBREAK 5: SCARS 6: SELF-RIGHTEOUS 7: SOMETHING FASTER 8: YOU WANNA? 9: GHOSTS 10: YESTERDAY
The City Kids are – JJ WATT – VOCALS/LEAD GUITARS. DENNIS POST – GUITARS/VOCALS. BERTY BURTON – BASS/VOCALS. DAVE SANDERS – DRUMS/VOCALS
DISCOGRAPHY: THINGS THAT NEVER WERE (2020). SHIT THAT WE LIKE (2020). RATS – EP (2021). THE CITY KIDS – EP (2021). FILTH (2022)
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The launch show (Where the album will be played in its entirety) is on the 26th November in Nottingham at Ye Olde Salutation Inn, see poster below –
