New blood: the new rock 'n' roll volume 2.

New Blood is the second 'ART ROCKER' compilation, sadly we haven't heard the first. This Cd is fucking good. Buy it.

ART ROCKER are London based rock & roll mormons. They pump out their weekly email newsletter as well as running their own Artrocker club nights which feature many of the bands on this comp and their peers.

In a nut shell they are most righteous promoters of the 'new rock 'n' roll'. A label that I don't think is the smartest but we'll let that lie for the moment as the folk at ART ROCKER were good enough to send a Cd around the world for us to review.

And here we are just 6 months later with just that, a review. For a definition of the new rock 'n' roll think the Hives, the Datsuns, the D4 & the Von Blondies etc. These bands have been riding the wave of rock & roll revivalism that swept the UK in the wake of the White Stripes V2 signing and subsequent emergence at the great White Hopes of rock for the 21st century and beyond.

Except as the lengthy (read very lengthy with no photos) liner notes attest one half of ART ROCKER does not even like the White Stripes !! They even go on to compare them with the Strokes as if such a comparison is even conceivable.

I don't dislike the Strokes they are good, very good in fact, definitely as good as any band on this comp though sadly neither they or the White Stripes are on this disk. It's just that around here the White Stripes are beyond compare. Lyrics, licks, foot stomping rhythms, and the most beautiful lo-fi production ever.

Anyway back to the Cd. Although neither the White Stripes or the Strokes are on here don't despair as there isn't a dud track anywhere. Believe me you will dig this shit.

The other intriguing thing about this Cd (for us insular Kiwis) is that this is pretty much the scene that people in the Uk or New York would think the "D" bands are from. Whereas 'on to it' Kiwi's will see the Datsuns & D4 as contemporaries of the bands in the various Frisbee/Fastfood/Rockstar/Kato & Stink Magnetic scenes around the country.

Which ever way you look at it both bands stand out on here. Maybe it's the accents and the energy. Maybe it's the production too and maybe even it could be the motherfucking lyrics. The Hives are probably the most well known group on here and they don't disappoint either.

The first track to get the repeat treatment was Vue's 'Do you think of him still?' which has a superb riff, great lyrics and delivery. The crazy rhythm and almost rap like (in a non wigger type of way) style of the vocals on Mcluskeys' 'Who you know" is very original and we give big points for originality around here.

If I can be critical maybe the production does kind of sound a little bit the sameish which can make some of the bands sound a little similar but not in too much of a generic way

I better mention 'kranked up real high' by the Divine Brown cause that's a great way to be. What else? Oh yeah the first track. 'Temptation Island' by Love is Laughter is right up there as is the Flaming Sideburn 'Street Survivor'. Basically this Cd is ALL good and you should buy it. You can try ordering this from your local record store otherwise drop them a line at www.artrocker.com

New Blood contains tracks from the following bands:

LOVE AS LAUGHTER
THE DATSUNS
THE FLAMING SIDEBURNS
THE DIVINE BROWN
THE PATTERN
SPEED KILLERS
(INTERNATIONAL) NOISE CONSPIRACY
THE HOTWIRES
THE VON BLONDIES
THE BEATINGS
TEN BENSON
THE D4
THE HIVES
YEAH YEAH YEAHS
VUE
BEACH BUGGY
THE MOONEY SUZUKI
THE PARKINSONS
MCLUSKY
THE CATHETERS
LOS NACHOS AND THE MODEY LEMON.