Another brilliant solo album by a punk 'n' roll legend!
You must already have heard of CJ Wildheart. He formed the band The Wildhearts with ex-The Quireboys guitarist Ginger Wildheart back in 1989. CJ is now a solo artist, releasing his first solo album in 2007. He has since released several more albums, with the latest ‘SLOTS‘ his sixth, following 2023’s ‘SPLIT‘. Demonstrating CJ’s relentless energy, hard work and commitment to the DIY punk ethos that has defined his career over decades, ‘SLOTS‘ tells the story of the gambles taken in life.
CJ says “Slots is the album I thought I’d never finish. To say I’ve had quite an emotional year is an understatement. I was thrown off course a little, but I found my mojo again and just got stuck in, and this is the result. I like this album a lot and for me that is half the battle. I would stop if I started painting by numbers, I like that I’ve kept true to my punk ‘n’ roll roots, and the 10 songs on here show this loud and clear. Again, I’ve worked with my long-time producer and friend Dave Draper (Terrorvision, They Fell From The Sky) and with Jason Bowld (Bullet For My Valentine) who is on drums, as he has been for last 5 solo albums. I hope you embrace these tunes.”
First on the album is ‘Another Big Mistake’. CJ’s voice is raspy and husky. The tune is upbeat and is very easy to dance along to. The guitar is striking and pronounced. He sings about making mistakes, as everyone makes mistakes, we’re only human!
Second on the album is ‘Beg’, another one to dance along to. The guitar and drums start this melodious song off perfectly.
Third on the album is ‘The Baddest Girl In The World’. CJ is true to his roots as the punk rock heart of The Wildhearts, and delivers a dynamic performance, with his signature blend of thunderous guitar grooves, relentless riffs, and unforgettable hooks. He sings about being attracted to bad girls who are racing through his mind!
Fourth song on the album is ‘Coma’. CJ gets political about how the people of this country are being comatosed, how frustrating it is, and how our lives are being taken away. Next on the album is ‘The Kids’, another infectious song. CJ is positive about the next generation; “The kids are better than you, forget about the past.”
Sixth on the album is ‘In The City’. This song is a cover of The Jam‘s 1977 top 40 hit. CJ’s version is much heavier and even more upbeat than the original. The bass is very pronounced at the start of the song.
Seventh on the album is ‘Bent’. This is the heaviest song on the album, with fast lyrics in parts. CJ’s raspy, heavy voice augments its style perfectly. Next on the album is ‘You Got The Best Part Of Me’, another catchy tune – CJ sings a punky love song about how he shows the best of himself to those he loves.
Ninth is the title track of the album, ‘SLOTS’. This song is another heavy one, with rapid fire lyrics. At the beginning and end of the song are spoken word sections, including “We’ll take the dice out of your head, drugs out of your body.”
Final song on the album ‘I Don’t Know What It Is’ starts with a whistle! CJ sings about an attractive woman, saying “I don’t know what it is, but you got it”. The track ends with clapping and cheering.
CJ Wildheart is onto a winner with this optimistic and buoyant collection of punk ‘n’ roll bangers!
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