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Demo Review
The Bad Robots Demo
Article written by
Kev O - Apr 11, 2006
The press release describes London-based three-piece The Bad Robots as “…an energetic mix of flat out rock and ska, combining the power of The Clash with the appeal of The Police…”; elsewhere it mentions jazz. Now when I see the word jazz I want to reach for my ear muffs; The Police, my revolver; The Clash, well that’s something to live up to.
Thankfully, jazz and The Police take a back seat to the sort of scruff/ska/rock/punk mix that seems so prevalent these days. Nothing wrong with that and the three tracks on display suggest that The Bad Robots have something to offer alongside other street-skankers. I’ve Had Enough (“At the start it was fun/But now you’re taking the piss”) is rough-ready mix of energetic old skool punk/new wave with a heavy dollop of pop vocal/harmonies, and a ref is probably more The Members than The Police. Used to Being Useless has a juxtaposed bubbling/jerky rhythm and sounds like The Jam in bondage trousers. Warning: contains bass solo alert ;). Security has a steady skanking beat and Wobble-y bass, a sneery vocal (haven’t heard “traaaaaace-aaaaaaaahhh” for ages), all chopped up with ska-rock breaks. Ferget yer paranoid androids (and metal mickeys), check out The Bad Robots (new chips on the block).
It just goes to show that you shouldn’t pay attention to press releases.