Al Michaels
This Boy Ain’t So Bad
(Brisk)
★★★★★
It’s not often that a debut comes along which is capable of making such an immediate impact, but This Boy Ain’t So Bad certainly could be one of them. This four-track EP marks the beginning of a brand new solo project from singer/double bass player Alan O’Donnell from The Inteli-Gents.
All four songs are original compositions and, although they retain their rock’n’roll roots, there’s a lot more going on and – if it’s not a dirty word – they all have mainstream appeal.
The title track starts off with a guitar twang and a rockabilly beat that’s instantly catchy then Al’s smooth vocal style makes an appearance and we are into an instantly memorable chorus within the first minute. By the time we reach the end, the song has delivered the type of warm sense of wellbeing that tracks such as Richard Younger’s Handful Of Girls and Ravenna & The Magnetics Turning Tide delivered a few decades back. This might be another case of leading with the best song but the next cut, Mister Lonely, is equally powerful. This time it’s a straight-up heartstring twanger, a sweet-sounding but swaggering tune with strong lyrical content.
A Genuinely Joyful Listen
Over on the B-side you could be forgiven for expecting the strongest material has already been presented but then the sublime Spirit Of You appears. Get this on the radio and we’d defy anyone not let their foot tap and their soul soar. That might sound like overblown waffle but this really is something special. Fine Time To Come finishes things off nicely in a mellow mood, but that hint of social realism across all the lyrics boots any hint of sentimentality firmly into touch.
There doesn’t appear to be any desire to be held down by genre confines here and the EP simply seems driven by an overriding desire to create well-crafted songs with rich melodies and some vibrant vocal harmonies.
This is undeniably rockin’ throughout but it’s also packed to the brim with catchy hooks and a genuinely joyful listen.
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Words By Craig Brackenridge
