posted 2008-08-18
HUNDRED MILLION MARTIANS are not newcomers, they started playing in 1996 and have 2 full length albums behind them. I only knew their previous effort “Solid Rock Planet” (2004) and as much as I could feel the band’s potential in it, I couldn’t get really into this album.
“Marseille” (God knows why they chose the name of this Southern French city as a title!) is a different thing, believe me! As soon as it starts with “New Year’s Eve”, the progress they made hits you right in the face! The band sounds tighter and seems to have found their identity through their catchy pop rock’n’roll tunes like “Backseat Of Your Soul” or “Life Ain’t That Bad Girl”.
The songs and vocals on this record bring a name to my mind: KEVIN K! Indeed, the musical direction and atmosphere of this CD are very close to the world of the world travelling rock’n’roller from New York.
HUNDRED MILLION MARTIANS even have Michael Monroe (on harmonica and saxophone) as a guest on three songs! So that’s no big surprise to find HANOI ROCKS influences (“Passed”, “Across The Street” or “UC/BC” which also has a good dose of T-REX in its guitar riff…) as well. You can also find melancholy on this album in songs like “Hideaway”, “Take Back The Time” or “Another Reason Why”.
The band now has better songs and a way better production, if only they could get better art-works!... But this should not prevent you to buy one of the best albums in this genre I’ve listened to this year./Laurent.
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