The Godfathers
A Big Bad Beautiful Noise
(Metropolis)
The Godfathers were always a bit of an oddball. The scrappy UK quintet came too late to make the original punk scene, but were a few years early to jump in during its early ‘90s resurgence, Nevertheless, the band caused a moderate stir when it hit the scene in the mid ‘80s—its sound a hybrid of classic punk and rock ‘n’ roll, tinged with dashes of R&B and power pop, plus the low atonal vocals of Peter Coyne. The band’s most noteworthy achievement was its angst-ridden anthem “Birth, School, Work, Death.” The 1988 first-pumper was unlike anything else at the time, combining social commentary with an infectious, chain-gang chorus and some sleazy guitar licks for an unstoppable combo.
Now some three decades later, just Coyne remains, and this latest version of The Godfathers shows no sign of letting up on this, A Big Bad Beautiful Noise. The title track crashes out of the gate with a barn-storming garage-rock riff, and comes complete with some kitschy sirens and hand claps. The single “You Don’t Love Me” is pure power pop, with big hooks and a driving beat, showcasing Coyne’s normally stoic vocals in a shinier light. “Defibrillator” nods to the band’s punk past with a ceaseless refrain and pounding guitars, while “She’s Mine” is a tasteful, ballad with a loungey feel, making for a nice change of pace.
I’m still not sure how I feel about a classic cult band carrying on with just one original member in tow, but A Big Bad Beautiful Noise is a stunner nonetheless, and still sounds like nothing else out there, even some 30 years after the fact.
