With a fitting title, “Savages,” The Gay Blades’ second album takes no reservations. Out last month, the new album produced by Dean Baltulonis (The Hold Steady, Lissy Trullie, Goes Cube) is a natural progression for lead singer/guitarist James Dean Wells (AKA Clark Westfield) and drummer Quinn English (AKA Puppy Mills) to something of deeper substance since their last album, “Ghosts,” and for good reason, too. Within the two years between their first and second albums, the duo from the East Coast toured relentlessly and dealt with the untimely passing of Wells’ brother Ian Savage Wells, whom the album is named after.
For a two-piece group, though, not only do Wells and English compensate musically, but they also have some pretty catchy tunes. Wrought with a range of emotions, this album shows off a variety of levels not present on their previous work. From the sexy, strutting song “Mick Jagger” to the lonely cry of “Why Winter In Detroit?” to the desperate and cynical “November Fight Song,” the album’s tracks take a series of emotional turns, one right after the other.
Overall, the upbeat collection of new songs is a definite treasure from The Gay Blades and shows some great leaps and bounds in the songwriting department. For more info on “Savages” and to sample tracks from the album visit http://www.myspace.com/gayblades.
