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Release date: January 2003
1. Steamroller
2. I Call It The Night
3. The Snitch
4. This Ladies Sounds
5. Afterburn
6. She Makes The Devil Look
Good (3.5 MB)
7. Midnight Glory
8. The Law Won't Stop Her
9. Like A Hurricane
10. Ahh... Shoot!
11. Come Get It
More info about Wiseguy:
Presspage
Homepage
Review:
Review taken from Rock
E-Zine:
This could easily be the shortest CD review ever, since it can be done
in exactly three words: Rock, And, Roll. No one will be pleased with that
however, so some more info will be necessary. Wiseguy consists of four
guys from Rotterdam, Netherlands, who play, like I said, Rock and Roll.
(And that’s about the sleaziest kind of Rock possible, so that Elvis-costume
can stay in the closet, you freak!) The bio describes them as AC/DC combined
with New Bomb Turks, and I would like to add Gluecifer to that. Most of
the songs chug along in a midtempo pace, with the exceptions usually a
bit slower. The vocals are shared between two of the band members, and
they complement each other well. One of them has a voice that’s
almost as sleazy as the band’s music, while the other sounds somewhat
gruffer. On three of the songs, ‘The Snitch’, ‘Afterburn’
and ‘Midnight Glory’, the band gets a little help from their
friends from The Travoltas, who readily lent out their keyboard player
Skokie. He spices up those songs a lot with his play, making them my favorites.
The lyrics deal mostly with women and drugs (The bass player calls himself
Joe Caine, nudge nudge) to go along with the R&R. The layout of the
album looks great, with trains and steam engines being the general theme.
Another job well done by Holland’s own Stardumb Records. -- Jasper
Review taken from Punk
International:
My first impression of Wiseguy told me that they are the Dutch counterpart
to Italy's Peawees. It makes sense, because both bands appealed to the
same good sense of the guys over at Stardumb Records. This is the kind
of old-fashioned rock and roll with a punk rock backbone best personified
on the American continent by Nice Guy Records' own Fonzarellies. Whereas
the Peawees and the Fonzarellies create a fun, vibrant atmosphere with
their version of this rock, Wiseguy brings a dose of obnoxiousness. They
add a filth rock persona to "Burning the Tracks", and while
it's still an upbeat album, it's less inviting than it could have been.
Guitar virtuosity is where a lot of the appeal is, aside from the requisite
solid vocals and and lyrics. Wiseguy's attitude and confidence make them
difficult to disagree with. Nevertheless, I can't help but feel mostly
indifference. As fun as this album is as a whole, it lacks individual
outstanding songs. The first song, "Steamroller" is the best.
The second, "I Call it the Night" is pretty good too. From there,
it slowly gets less interesting, but never quite irritating. If they can
raise their calibre just a little on their next release, I think they'll
have something worth getting really excited about.
Review taken from S.C.A.B.
Punkzine:
Let it be known that Wiseguy rocks. Rocks! There's a number of things
about this band that I dislike -- mainly it's the "high art"
profile that they kept on this release's cover too (and, c'mon, admit
it, something about their looks is curious). But, homeboy, this debut
album rocks much harder than their previous Stardumb 7". It's advertised
as AC/DC and Hellacopters meet Turbonegro, and they got it right! This
is surely riding the Hard Rock RevivalTM wave, it's sleazy, roaring and
huge, it's Electric Frankenstein at its best points, but it doesn't suck
(as much) as some of these hardrockers can. Eleven tracks, a few of which
are truly great. My recommendations, at least for people who have the
stomach for a Dutch band sounding Scandinavian. Yo, fire it up, daddy-o!
-- Nikola 'Ketchup'
Review taken from Inside Knowledge #7/2003:
This is a surprising release from the Stardumb factory, because the guys
from Wiseguy are not playing the punk rock we are more or less used to
hear from this label. No; this album sounds much more Rock and Roll than
Punk. Started in 1995, these guys grew out to real rock and roll heroes.
With the eleven songs on this release they put Rotterdam (NL) on the international
map. So if you like Rock make sure to check out these guys, but also when
you like punk music check them because they have the right attitude. --
- Carel Groenen
Review taken from Long Gone Loser #8/2003:
Garage rock comes as a bit of a change to what we'd normally expect from
the Stardumb camp and some are scared of change but I'm welcoming it with
open arms. Wiseguy hail from the Netherlands and have been cast from the
same mold as The D4, the New Bomb Turks, the Devil Dogs and The Datsuns.
Kick ass rock and roll that packs one helluva punch and knocks you out
for the count. Eleven songs in all and 11 songs you need to bless your
ears with. Hmmm, I think these guys need to be subjected to one of our
interviews. Definitely a worthy addition to your collection and the only
thing that's missing is a
song about "rock'n'roll motherfuckers from hell". Oh, and I
love the western theme they have going. Makes me wanna start a bar fight
in the local saloon and ride off into the sunset.
Dutch:
Review taken from Cult
Online:
Deze cd is zeker een aanrader voor iedereen die van punkrock houdt. De
muziek is onhollands lekker en is een mooie mix van punk en rock en roll.
De elf nummers zijn lekker vlot gespeeld. Er is niet echt een liedje dat
met kop en schouders boven de rest uitspringt. Alle liedjes hebben ongeveer
dezelfde sound en de cd luistert lekker weg. De cd zelf ziet er ook mooi
uit; een soort van oude Amerikaanse westernstijl. Je zou daarop afgaand
niet denken dat het hier een punkrockband uit Rotterdam betreft. En zeker
niet
dat het hun debuut cd betreft. Maar niets is minder waar. Dit is een super
cd voor iedereen die van snelle rock en roll houdt.
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