The Masonics - Royal & Ancient - 2007

This LP, Royal and Ancient, is a mix of surf attitude, a fondness for '60s Britbeat before everyone's hair started toward the collar and garage punk dumbness. Now, don't take dumbness as a diss... some of the greatest records ever made have been dumb or made by dummies. So what kinda dolt-jolt is this? You dig Leave My Kitten Alone? Gone wild to early Kinks rekkids? Well, you're gonna git down to this LP for sure.

Do Thee Headcoats, The Milkshakes, The Clique,The Delmonas, The Kaisers or The Wildebeests mean anything to you? Well, the members The Masonics all served time in at least one of those bands. If you loved 'em, then you could probably argue that The Masonics are a supergroup of the Brit rock'n'roll scene. Either way, these cats have cut some serious stone. LP opener, Don't Talk To Me is a frazzled rabble-rouser which ticks ALL the right boxes. At times, it sounds like it's about to fall down drunk... but between... man, it's tighter than Booker T & The MGs.

The band switch between sweaty beat club to torch-song... garage torch-song I should add... there's no Celine or Whitney influence here... unless, by some fluke they've all had childhood sweethearts by the same name. Either way, Chicken Bomb, Shig-Shag, Call Me Deceiver all do exactly what they say on the tin. I've been lucky enough to have been given the long-player on both CD and vinyl, and to be honest, the vinyl pressing is a lot tougher. Maybe it's just the format... but if you wanna get the most outta this cut, then The Masonics 12 incher needs to find a home between your sleeves.

Get it: HERE