The Radiators From Space - Trouble Pilgrim (2011)

When great bands break up they almost always promise a reunion down the road but it seldom happens. Luckily, this time it has and The Radiators (From Space) are back with a long awaited 3rd album. Make no mistake, this isn t a remix or a greatest hits collection this is ALL NEW MUSIC. Almost all the original band is back and while they have formally dropped from Space from their name this is the real deal and a worthy follow up to the classic Ghosttown. The new music is penned and sung by Phil Chevron and Pete Holidai. Former fans, fans of the Pogues and fans of the 60s music will all find something to love here. This album manages to pay homage to a very diverse decade of music. There are songs here that capture the 60s from pop, bandstand kind of songs, British Invasion era harmonies, fantastic guitar work and even the poke-a-finger-in-the-eye-of-conventional-wisdom tunes like the timely Huguenot, which calls out the current anti immigrant sentiment in way too many countries. The songs that really epitomized the 60s spoke out against social injustice and ultimately ended wars, segregation and other wrongs that were accepted by conventional wisdom . Joe Strummer and Second Avenue sound like dance on the beach kind of songs but have way more to say than the usual dance song. The Dark at the Top of the Stairs has a more brooding later 60s feel. A Package From Home is an antiwar song from a mother s point of view. As someone who intentionally lives a rural lifestyle, I can t help but love Hinterland but you will find your own favorites here. Every song bustles with the enthusiasm of a young garage band but with the musicianship of band that has been around awhile. The best of all worlds. Don t even think about it buy this album! This one that will be on my playlist for a very long time. It belongs on yours too --fanrealm.com

Reunions of this sort (first album in 28 years!) often boil down to unconvincing attempts to reconstruct past glories and relive spent youth. Thankfully, The Radiators (original members Rapid, Chevron and Holidai augmented by Johnny Bonnie on drums and bassist Jesse Booth) avoid this trap, turning in a sparkling, energized collection of 14 fresh tracks exuding more passion and energy than bands half their age. The songs are each written by either Chevron or Holidai, and they handle most of the vocals, leaving original singer Rapid to his mood-altering keyboards.

A lip-curling Iggy snarl lifts the Kinks-ish The Concierge , and there s enervating guitar riffing on the exuberant Second Avenue . Their respectful tribute to Joe Strummer also gives a sonic nod to their own earlier disaffected power-punk and is awash with contemporary political references. Delicious Beatle-ish harmonies spice up the cool and chart friendly Heaven , a trick delivered with even greater panache on She Says I m A Loser . But Holidai s vocals ore often irritatingly low on Words , while We Are Beautiful leans towards the brash, discordant side of the punk-pop canon. Chevron s The Dark At The Top Of The Stairs is a gem though, his Dylanesque lyrics about life, death and one man s place in the universe even more chilling when delivered in his no-frills vocal style. The Radiators were the first true Irish punk band, and with most current rock acts unwilling to confront the broad political realities of today, they may well turn out to be our last. Individually and collectively they have the confidence and the wit to keep all their feet on planet rock while keeping tongues in cheeks as required. The boys ore back in town; resistance is futile indeed.