Many bands hone their skills playing numerous gigs at home and abroad to build their fanbase, define their style and, basically, and spend an awful lot of time together to become a tighter unit.
Where the live sets are dynamic, inviting crowd participation and raising the bar of expectation for recorded output, some bands have failed to capture that dynamism when studio time allows them to put down on vinyl a snapshot of their hours of patient practice and work.
Gallus have built the fanbase, they’re defined by a punkish devil may care attitude and they’re seriously good live.
Their debut album title, We Don’t Like The People We’ve Become, looks to reject much of what’s been written above.
Fear not, I think, and hope, it’s more in line with the Glasgow humour and banter brought to bear on many of the tracks laid down in the album as there is an edginess that has been retained from the live performance that reflects well on the band here.
What we have is 12 tracks spread over just shy of 40 minutes.
Local banter at its best permeates the lyrics. On closer inspection
I want to be a Jack so I can have a trade
immediately drew a smile from me.
There are many more lines that speak of the challenges people, especially the young, face.
Allied to the driving beat of the drums throughout, the jangly guitars are reminiscent of the emerging Scottish bands of the 80s and 90s. Vocally, Barry Dolan doesn’t hide his Glasgow roots and the songs are much better for that.
Personal favourites that give a flavour of the album are
Fruitflies
Basic Instinct
What Do I Know?
Mr Nothing
This is a good album deserving repeat play if you haven’t seen the band live.
It’s a great album for those fortunate to have seen them before and now have something tangible at hand to hold on and listen to.
As we meander through the Alps of Austria, Germany and Italy to see them in Milan, all I can think of is……,’I like the album your songs have become.’
In Glasgow parlance, it’s been a Gallus addition to the Jack collection!
All comments welcome so that we can improve what we are publishing!