BLACK HALOS Alive Without Control - 2005 CD, Punky & sleazy Glam with a sneer
Format: CD Condition: New Year of Release: 2005 Cat. No.: 10 Label: Century Media
Vancouver's dirty white boys, the Black Halos, return after a four-year recording sabbatical with a reconstructed line-up (that now counts guitarist Adam Becvare and bassist Denyss McKnight) and what is arguably their strongest record, 'Alive Without Control'.
Although they've eased off of the punk influences a bit in favor of glam, frontman Billy Hopeless still gets paid to bow at the altar of the Dead Boys' Stiv Bators and Johnny Thunders. Worshipers of aggressive rock & roll will relish in 'Alive Without Control'.
The production of Jack Endino is as constant as it is scuzzy on nicotine-stained juggernauts like "Last Call at the Toothless Saloon" and "Broken." The latter is one of several tunes that enforce Hopeless' aforementioned influences, and if the Halos show poor judgment in covers, mauling Tom Petty's "I Need to Know," the band does succeed when it changes gears, making the heartfelt ballad "Mirrorman" a pleasant diversion among the sneering chaos.
~ Review by John D. Luerssen, Rovi
TRACK LISTING:
1 Three Sheets To The Wind 2 Last Call At The Toothless Saloon 3 Alive Without Control 4 Darkest Corners 5 Mirrorman 6 Studio Suffering 7 Third World U.S.A. 8 Tight 9 Broken 10 Exit Stagefright 11 Burning Trash 12 Unchanged 13 I Need To Know
