A band named AMERICAN GUN releasing an album entitled "Dark Southern Hearts" conjures up images of whisky soaked, confederate flag waving stories of love and loss and life on the farmstead. And while to my English ears there appears a little bit of that buried in here there's so, so much more in addition.

Billing themselves as the band for "fans that desire boisterous youthful releases without the need to mosh or headbang" the twelve tracks run across a range of styles that yes, includes more than a hint of southern 'rawk', but also encompasses folk, blues and a touch of country without ever allowing themselves to be pigeon-holed fully into any easily defined category. Some definite similarities to early EAGLES material in places though and with the promise/threat of a new album from those in the near future may well ensure greater exposure for the likes of AMERICAN GUN.

Musically, from the rootsy, rousing rock of 'Picture' and 'Tears' and the electrically charged 'Heart Locket', through the STONES style swagger of 'The Fall' to the country tinged 'Saint Of Alcohol' the band produce an album of continued interest, never bland lyrics and unexpected twists and turns to a point where I can honestly say there's no one of the twelve tracks included that I dislike but quite a few that both surprise, delight and invigorate me. Top honors go to the acoustically lead rocker 'Someone To Blame'. A damn near essential track that brings to mind THE KINKS playing with an old DYLAN number. If someone like OASIS came out with something like this (and on their last album they weren't that far away) then the mainstream press would mark it down as a huge artistic success.

With the promise of a follow-up album before the end of this year this quite uplifting 2006 release needs checking out so that when they reach a greater audience, and if there's any justice they will, you can lay claim to being an admirer from the beginning.

- Leslie

OFFICIAL SITE: www.americangun.net

RELATED ITEMS: No related articles at this time.