Those Dirty Words  - Sitting Pretty EP

  Formed as a kind of supergroup from the best talent in the Northwest in 2010 Those Dirty Words have been stirring up more and more attention with their exciting and explosive live shows. They have trekked the length of the UK and ventured into Eastern Europe as well as sharing stages with the likes of The Quireboys, Waltari, and Jettblack, all the time garnering more and more praise and fans. Their shows whip up much excitement but can the band transfer their impressive live energy and sound into recorded music, a step that many struggle with. Before they venture out on tour once more in July, their Sitting Pretty EP has the answer and the task of whetting the appetite of their existing fans and bringing in more to their gigs.

     The EP is a four track blast of strong wholesome rock ‘n’ roll, with no pretensions, no indulgent meanderings, just extremely satisfying and enjoyable rock as it should always be. The quintet from Clitheroe, Lancashire base their sounds on inviting earthy riffs and pulsating driving rhythms flavoured with guitar solos that seduce and tease. Devil’s Disguise opens the release with a straight forward slice of hard rock, no frills, no spills, just in the face rock music. From the very start notice is given that the guitars of Ricky Blenk and Mark Duckworth are to be savoured. The vocals ofPops (Paul Tierney) are neatly controlled but expressive and never delving into the higher octane screeches that many feel the need to deliver. A great solid start though as the EP evolves it is the weakest of the quartet of tracks which shows how great the other tracks are.

     Up next the stunning Crash & Burn raises the game, individually and as a unit the band excels. The drums ofTom Rice driving firmly alongside the solid bass pulses from Jimmy Swan makingthe perfect frame for the fluent guitars to play with a guitar solo to bathe in at one point. Pops, also front man for Wasted Angels, elevates his delivery with a seemingly more confident and flowing attack and the track simply ripples with quality.

     Those Dirty Words move into some bluesy rock ‘n’ roll next with Overdrive and move the level up once again. The song might not be particularly innovative but with the grooving guitars wrapped around the impressive drum beats, it is eager and rampant, as the best rock songs always are. With addictive riffs, hooks and rolling drums it is easy to see why live they are so popular and yes they have translated that live feeling here and to the whole package. Final track is What Do You Do and after the previous two songs it has an uphill task to rival them, It does fail but it is still a great enjoyable and pleasing piece of rock. As before the guitar solos are a joy and the band are flawless as they create a driving track that leaves one breathless, the EP as a whole leaving the listener gasping for air from its intense energy.

     The Sitting Pretty EP is impressive with no real negatives within it. Possibly the bass in production could have been lifted slightly as to hear the quality as at times one has to strain to here the cool bass lines within the songs, but it does not truly cause any detriment to the overall quality. It could not be said that Those Dirty Words areparticularly groundbreaking but they certainly are at the forefront of what seems like a new wind in the sails of UK rock music and listening to the EP there is a sense that a totally distinct sound to the band is merely a few songs away. As mentioned the band is touring from July so the advice is find the nearest gig to go and enjoy and get this EP as a warm up and delicious taster, for details go to   http://www.thosedirtywords.com/