Recorded Music Reviews

Waysted - The Harsh Reality

Waysted formed way back in 1983, and included Pete Way (bassist with UFO) and Fin, who most around these parts will know for his work at the recently revived Gander. Now, most will know that Fin loved his rock music, and many will also know the he was the voice behind the soundtrack to 'The Office', as it was his vocals used on the classic 'Handbags And Gladrags'. After many years apart, the band reformed in 2003, releasing 'Back From The Dead' which received a 4-star review in Classic Rock Magazine as well as reaching No.27 in their Album of the Year chart for 2005. Since then the band have seen the release of an 'unofficial bootleg' album, and last year an official live album 'Organised Chaos' was recorded at The Barfly in Glasgow. Now a new Waysted album, 'Harsh Reality' is out with a line-up of Pete Way, Fin, Chris George and Paul Haslin, and an extensive tour is planned for 2008.

So, that's the all-too-brief band biog done; how are this band of rockers sounding? Well, when it comes to heavy rock I find there's a fine line between the (at times) cool, authentic and totally believable classic seventies sound, and the naff, pompous hair-rock of the eighties. Many great artists went totally tits-up in the eighties, and heavy rock suffered more than most. We're in 2007 now, there can really be no excuse for ANY band sounding like Poison or Twisted Sister any more, and thank fuck Waysted don't. Not that the album is free of eighties influences; many of these choruses have that sing-a-long feel of Kiss or Bon Jovi, and throughout these eleven songs the sound teeters on a knife edge between these two decades, thankfully staying mostly on the right side.

From the opening riff of 'Propoganda' the album lays its cards firmly on the table. The hand stays the same through the first five tracks, using the simple formula of heavy riffs, memorable choruses, and Fin's gravel-soaked vocals soaring like fellow Scot, Rod Stewart (if he was a rocker not a mod). Four of these first five songs are decent, there's certainly nothing new in the sound but for fans of no nonsense rock pounding these songs are played and sung magnificently. It's really only 'Rockin' The Cliché' which lets these openers down, sounding unashamedly like a mix of 'Eye Of the Tiger' and any number of hair-rock classics: “Tonight's the night if you play your cards right / Take a look at what you could've won.” Having said that the band are clearly “just havin' some fun” here, almost intentionally playing a pastiche of themselves.

'Out Of Control' is chunkier, heavier, starting off with a cool bass riff before another catchy chorus. For the first time the tempo drops down and Fin's treacle-thick dialect narrates a barbed put-down, “Mister know-it-alls with their blah blah blah / When you look at it it's not exactly rocket science / But it still sticks in my throoat.” 'It Wasn't Me' continues the change of pace, and with it's cool blues vibe played to perfection it's the best song on the album. For me this is a welcome break from the non-stop barrage of rock riffery, and shows the band's ability to play with greater subtlety and feel.

The sound is more MOR as the gentle opening to the deeply personal 'Song For Steve' begins - The Eagles maybe - “Even when every breath was in pain / You were there with a lasting refrain / Don't let your demons bring you down.” Whilst the words rock and anthem sound like a recipe I'd usually skip, such is the sincerity of the lyrics here, the anthemic ending is totally acceptable: “So until we meet again my friend, I'll earn my wings / Try and be a better man for what it's worth.” If 'Harsh Reality' is the title track it's an odd choice, showing the band's concern over earth's green issues. Nothin' wrong with that obviously, but there's too much of that eighties thing going on here, especially in the sing-a-long wooahs (the sincerity of the message goes out the window at this point): “Cause we're the enemy / The harsh reality / wow ooh wow ooh.”

And so to the rousing finale, and to kick it off an almighty version of 'Handbags And Gladrags'. Everything is high in the mix here; big guitars, huge vocals, let's ROCK! This is a million miles from the version that millions of people have heard before and after that tv programme, and as always it's just a matter of taste as to which version you prefer. On disc, I'll go with the more poignant feel of that version, though get this band on stage and this version would win every time. 'Can't Live Without Some Pain' is a decent ending, more slower blues riffery to open, before tales about a love lost lead to another rousing crescendo.

Clearly, predictability in music is, for some, a big turn-off. Hearing sounds and riffs that have been played a thousand times before can have the same effect, and both those things could be said of this album. But Waysted probably couldn't care less. This is a heavy rock album, no fuss, no bullshit, just four guys havin' fun, and that formula works for many, many people. Those people will almost certainly love this album, and perhaps enjoy the gimmicky 'collectable' sleeve introducing Waysted World. I'll give that a miss. On a personal note it's fantastic to see Fin doing what is clearly in his heart and soul, and this sure beats those karaoke nights at The Metropole.

For a taste of live Waysted, get yerselves down to Mr Kyps on Thursday 6 March when they will be performing with Voodoo Vegas and Hoffman Sloth.

Tony Foster - 22/11/2007