Starting with a funky tale of searching love in “Can't Find That Thing”, Poppy opens the door to a rockin' party. Other welcome guests include “Baby's Comin' Home”, a straight ahead 12 bar blues rock that gives Tevis Maloney a couple of chances to really wail on his guitar. Later, “Be My Girl” comes along to lighten the mood. This track is almost poppy (ha!) as it rolls along with its great melodic chorus. Hiding under the coats in the bedroom, “Obsession” has a dirty, slinky rhythm starting on just guitar, which broods under Poppy's growling vocal. Something of a slow burner, the drums don't come in until the second verse and the track builds to a powerful bridge filled with smoking harmonica. The languid pace of this track adds a restrained dark strength to the sexy subject matter.
One highlight of the CD must be “Mr Boss Man”, the story of working for an unappreciative moron. At some point, everyone, barring the self-employed (and anyone working for our own Head Bluesbunny), must have wanted to shout the song’s hook of “kiss my ***king ass” at their boss.
A couple of times on this CD I was reminded of the Kinsey Report (the band, not the sexual survey) in terms of sound and style for Poppy and the Usual Suspects are a high octane rock band with their roots firmly in the blues. Well written songs with some very singable choruses frame great guitar solos from Tevis Maloney while Poppy blows a mean harmonica as well as belting out some powerful vocals with all the tracks being built upon a solid and muscular rhythm section provided by 'Porkchop' and 'Mighty Mouse' (no really – that's what they are called on the cover!).
After having reviewed another very lacklustre blues/rock band, Poppy & the Usual Suspects renewed my faith that there was still life in the genre. Come and join the party!