Golden Earring... indeed! This band needs no
introduction. Golden Earring has been going strong now for 51 years.
(2012) Tits 'n Ass marks the release of their 25th studio album. No less
than 9 years it took them to come with a new release, but it is a piece
of art. Not that it will top timeless classics such as "Moontan" or
"Cut," but it is an album with all the key ingredients for a classic
rock album. Cast aside the tacky title and the horrid cover art... it is
time for a spin!
"Tits'n Ass" proves to be the working space of a band that almost
seamlessly follows each others ideas, creating some brilliant rock
tunes. The album sounds inspired and driven with Hay and Kooymans
delivering the goods as is. Containing powerful grooving bass and drums,
slick melodies, and driving guitars. Barry Hay is gifted with a hoarse
voice and typical sound that is the binding factor on their albums. It
is because of the vocal interaction between Kooymans and Hay, as well as
the bass and drum interaction, of Gerritsen and Zuiderwijk, that Golden
Earring sounds exactly as they in Bonded by blood.
Don't expect new renditions of "Radar Love" or "Twilight Zone." This Dutch quartet is way too stubborn to repeat itself.
Instead, the band has come up with 14 timeless rock songs which are
drenched in blood and sweat. Loud, roaring and inspired. Driven
performances like in the opening hammer "Identical," or the Dutch upbeat
hit single "Still Got My Keys To My First Cadillac" stand out as usual.
Blues rocker "My Little Time Bomb," the gloomy "Just In Time" and
"Acrobats and Clowns" feature ingredients from the past in a carefully
crafted modern sound. It is the sound which also shot through mind on
the band's predecessor "Millbrook U.S.A."
Humming twin guitars, riffs thick as mud with a sizzling southern
undertone, the ghost of 38 Special is present, thanks to the
collaboration with American instrumentalist Frank Carillo. It is his
mark upon songs which elevates the overall sound on "Avenue of Broken
Dreams," "Over the Cliff and into the Deep Blue" or "Flowers in the
Mud." A mark that is reminiscent to Mellencamp or the Riverdogs. Or even
too stay closer to the band, the mark of Barry Hay. His solo album
"Victory of Bad Taste" (1987) also featured this southern overhaul, and
to me is one of the best rock albums recorded in The Netherlands. It is
the vibe present on "Tits 'n Ass' as well.
Perhaps there's not as many classics on the album as one might expect
after 9 years of composing, but there is a certain buzz inflicting the
band with tremendous passion and pleasure on this album. A live feel in
studio, the way Golden Earring is at their very best. A vibe, if you
like...
"What Do I Know About Love," and "This Love" are the typical Golden
Earring ballads, but lack the passion songs like "Going to the Run" or
"Another 45 Miles" had. Composed rather safe, too much in the vein of
those tunes.
Now rocking steady for 51 years (2012) , Golden Earring has again
crafted an album which is slick as it is hard knuckled, bold and raw as
it is polished. Not always bearing the mark of a masterpiece, it
certainly fits in their extensive catalogue. And if it fits in the
catalogue of half a century of rock music and rock history, it will
certainly fit in your CD/LP collection! (Edwin van Hoof, May 22, 2012,
unratedmagazine.com)
Tits ‘N Ass is available as a limited edition of 1000 individually numbered copies on translucent red coloured vinyl. This 2LP is housed in a gatefold sleeve and includes an insert with lyrics. (Music On Vinyl)
George Kooymans - Guitar, Vocals
Barry Hay - Vocals
Rinus Gerritsen - Bass, Keyboards
Casar Zuiderwijk - Drums
&
Frank Carillo - Slide Guitar,Rhythm Guitar
Jan Rooymans - Keyboards, Backing Vocals
Pandit Dinesh - Percussion (Track 7)
Pearl Jozefzoon - Backing Vocals (Track 5, 8)
Ruth Zang - Backing Vocals (Track 5, 8)