Celebrity Freekshow - The Struts - Ice Pick Records.
Review by Archie Hahn (Rock Music Monthly). *****

The Band.
DAVE "VAN" STRUT...........DRUMS
ARTHUR STRUT...............RHYTHM GUITARS/B.Vox
JIMMY "TWINKLE" PRICE......LEAD VOCALS
BARRY FISHBONE.............BASS
"THE CORNER"...............LEAD GUITARS

The Brothers 'Strut', Dave and Arthur, and fellow 'Strutters' have now accomplished something that most of us thought highly improbable, namely to produce a body of work that remains consistant throughout, without floundering towards an easier, more pedestrian route. The Struts have refelected on their inner turmoil, creating a dark, introspective, yet, accessible piece of work. Dave Van Strut's almost 'metronome' tempos and 'consistant' rhythmic hypnosis, anchors Barry Fishbone's relentless throbbing bass tones, achieving a metrical backdrop which holds all the pieces together.

This is the baseline, the spine, for 'Celebrity Freekshow', but it's zenith is James Price, whose raw, passionate vocals nail the mother to the Cathedral door. This now creates a platform, and an opportunity for vocal dominance on the topline. And with almost harrowing beauty, 'Twinkle' cries out "...Don't try to bring me back from the void I'm too far gone..." 'Too Far Gone'.
The Corner races his guitar triplets, like an unforgiving concert recital by an x-con, just released from jail after having been proved innocent of a crime he hadn't committed employing fret scales with bleeding fingers that feel no pain against a red velvet bedspread that is soaked with tears falling wanking to the floor. And the ending is good too.

It's a sound that pitches The Struts into an ever more adult musical realm. 'American Idol' punches through the hi-fi with a venomous irony punctuated by a sneering, pungent punchline, punishing the punter with an almost Bad Company on acid guitar, and 'Billy Idol' friendly chorus. But how many will be fooled, cajoled, misled or overwhelmed by the lyrical ambiguity that so often underlies the surface accessibilty of 'Celebrity Freekshow'? The answer 'may' be found in 'Dumbin' Me Down'.

With the lyrical roughage of 'A Little Bitta Love', (perhaps another,'not so subliminal' nod to Paul Rodgers), and it's poetic references to a love affair with Beelzebub, 'Dumbin' Me Down' offers us an alternative zephyr, it is the one track on CFS that is its xenolith. Without losing any tension, but by somehow marrying melodic simplicity, consistant with 'Who Wants To Be A Billionaire' and the heavily Billy Gibbon's influenced 'Night In The City'.

Polly Shinterds skillful production carefully steers a course from the musical tour de force/rock opera theatre and raison d-e-tre, 'Celebrity Freek Show' to melonconic, inventive, proto-punk 'Ego-Maniac', with it's every boy-outsider rock 'n' roll fantasy and pop culture conflict between testosterone brag and poor boy neurosis.

Though hard, basic rock remains The Struts default position, CFS showcases all their creative deviations. Listening to these songs could save you thousands of pounds/dollars in therapy, and great rock and roll is just a bonus.

Archie Hahn.