Chavis Records
www.asphaltvalentine.com
www.myspace.com/asphaltvalentine2
Review: Craig Hartranft, 09.30.2009
From America to England to Sweden to Spain, the hard sleaze rock that made the Sunset Strip famous is rebounding around the world. American upstarts from Georgia, Asphalt Valentine, throw their hat into the ring with their hard charging debut Strip Rock Roll. Their swaggering sweaty rock sounds like a blend of Buckcherry and Crue, or maybe Velvet Revolver with balls. Strong riffs, melodies and choruses with hooks, and ambitious, sometimes bluesy, fret work infect this disc for a savvy robust sound. Songs like Never Lose It, Its Not Me, or Strip Rock Roll are rip roaring dynamos of hard rock. Better, this band can actually write a good song and play well. Agreed, this genre of rock is not rocket science, but you still need the goods to pull it off or you'll sound like the other 300 band in LA in 1989 who never made it. This will be the rub for Asphalt Valentine. They certainly have the chops and bravado for the party. However, Strip Rock Roll has a subtle undercurrent monotony which makes the whole album blend together if your ears don't keep their wits about them. Otherwise, Strip Rock Roll from Asphalt Valentine is some kickass rock and a worthy addition to the sleaze revival.
Strip Rock Roll from Asphalt Valentine is some sweaty and swaggering kickass rock, a worthy addition to the sleaze rock revival.
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