As we're all aware, in the infested shark pool that is the music biz there are bands and artists who stink like shit - end of - yet make a fortune and grab a zillion headlines as, from the murky depths, shit quite often floats to the top. We also know the flip side, that the history of music is also littered with a smattering of bands and artists who aren't shit yet never get their 15 minutes for one reason or another, be it bad management, poor business decisions or just plain bad fuckin' luck. Well people, Sonny Vincent is right at the top of the latter club and fuck knows why he's merely a footnote on the history of punk rock since the late '70s, considering the weight of work since he was part of the Testors back in the day right up until the here and now!
 
Uber Rock is here to preview some of those diamonds and make damned sure we try and give them a platform to shine like the diamonds they are. People like Sonny Vincent most definitely deserve to be brought to the public attention because in a fair and equal society everyone would have at least one record in their collection bearing the name Sonny Vincent.....and would love that record.
 
Sonny has managed to record with some great musicians on his journey, the likes of Captain Sensible, Rocket From The Crypt, Bob Stinson and, on this here record, the one and only Scott Ashton. Having amassed a mighty fine back catalogue bristling to the brim with cool, ragged punk rock tales with little or no bullshit, a place where the guitars are loud and in your face and always the glue that bonds some wicked melodies to a traditional rhythm that is often solid as a rock and always about the song and not some cheap gimmick or flash in the pan musical genre. 'Bizarro Hymns' sees him back in 2011 shaking his shit with an ass kicking combo all over this recession bustin' 15 tracks of vital garage punk.
 
'Don't Give A Fuck' is an attitude-soaked, middle finger riff-a-rama that is a trademark Sonny Vincent offering. A neat, bluesy solo sees the band shake the shit out of a bitchin' nasty rock 'n' rollin' tune. When Sonny tells you he don't give a fuck you damned well know he means it. There is no let up in the quality of the playing nor the songwriting as 'Sink Hole' gives way to 'Til There Was You'; Majestic stuff! A change of pace as Vincent slips a gear or two for the fantastically dreamy run of 'Picture Album' which sounds like it was written for Stiv Bators as Vincent delivers a great hook with the added swirls of organ in the background - it's a great change of pace and yet more proof that Sonny Vincent knows his way 'round a tune and it's not always full throttle.
 
The dirty, no make that filthy, riffs of 'Nitro' then 'Correct Tears For Rowanda' with its blunt lyrics, shoot straight from the lip. One thing you notice is the quality throughout the 15 tracks and, regardless of whether it's the garage stomp of 'Voodoo Box' or the full-on fuzz of 'Spin Out', this is a much underrated mastercraftsman at work. 'Crystal Clear' again slows the pace down and is a much gentler side of Vincent's work and as close to a ballad or love song your gonna get to balance out the fury of the 'Don't Give A Fucks'.
 
Without question this will be bothering any end of year Top Ten with highlight after highlight and the more plays the more my favourite track changes. It's also layered with the addition of the great sax work on 'Ten Tsunamis' and the occasional swirling organ - If you're still with me what are you waiting for? Dive in and let Sonny Vincent fuck with your taste buds and shower you with quality songs. At times he reminds me of 'Method To My Madness' style Lords Of The New Church and not only does he look a little like Mr Brian James but he plays guitar in a similarly raw, full throttle way. All hail 'Bizarro Hymns', one of New York's finest singer songwriters you've never heard and the best album I've heard in months! Sheer fuckin' class!! Released on a label that is definitely the kind of place Uber Rockers should visit and support. Go get some people because this baby rocks! 
 

http://www.angelfire.com/ny/punkrocknroll/

http://www.still-unbeatable-records.de/