The Star Spangles - 'Bazooka!!!' (Parlophone) Released 14/07/03

There's so many reasons why I want to love this album: They have a great name, they look cool (so obviously are they in awe of the mighty New York Dolls they wear bow ties and slip on shoes), the guitarist is called Tommy Volume and they have a song called 'I Live For Speed'. All these things are
obviously brilliant and if I ever in true Simon Fuller style construct my identikit band all these elements will be covered.

However, herein lies the problem. The Star Spangles are just tooo perfect. In a post Strokes world it's all just too obvious. Take a look at those three exclaimation marks for instance. Stinks of major label 'attitoode' doesn't it? Of course this would all be redeemable if the Star Spangles had made a record as good as 'Personality Crisis' or 'Last Nite' but they haven't. 'Bazooka!!!' is sadly
all mouth and no trousers - 'I Live For Speed' sounds like something These Animal Men dropped behind the sofa while 'I Don't Wanna Be Crazy Anymore' should probably just try harder. Only 'In Love Again's' smacked up, world weariness is fit to kiss Johnny Thunder's high heels, with 'The Party's' girl group Spectorisms at least showing a trashy sense of fun. All the same I'd love to know who cuts their hair.