{"id":4258,"date":"2020-08-21T23:28:05","date_gmt":"2020-08-21T22:28:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ipamusic.co.uk\/?p=4258"},"modified":"2020-08-22T10:19:04","modified_gmt":"2020-08-22T09:19:04","slug":"scottish-streetpunks-smeekered-evoke-thoughts-of-the-old-school-with-their-debut-album","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ipamusic.co.uk\/?p=4258","title":{"rendered":"Scottish streetpunks Smeekered reboot the old-school sound with their debut album"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

ALBUM REVIEW: Smeekered \u2013 Sportland (self-released)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Smeekered <\/strong>are a streetpunk band who were formed in Cumnock in Scotland a few years ago, and Sportland is their first album.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I had the pleasure of ‘seeing’ them at a socially-distanced gig in Gateshead<\/a><\/strong> a couple of weeks ago, and liked them so much I bought the CD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But while they’re a relatively new band, their sound is very much from the old school, and they remind me a lot of The Business<\/strong> and The Last Resort<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like those bands, the five-piece are staunchly working class, proud of where they come from, and make a very enjoyable racket, with beefy guitar riffs and gang vocals aplenty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There’s 13 tracks of mid-paced oi! here, about the things Smeekered hold dear, like their friends, families, music and beer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of the references are unmistakably Scottish, such as the opening track, Jakeballs & Jezebels<\/strong>, which asks \u201cwhatever happened to the working classes, the honest men, the bonny lasses?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Big Man<\/strong> is about the self-inflated sorts we’ve all come across, \u201cbehaving like a kid and chancing your luck, living in a bubble and not giving a fuck\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JoMo Sapien<\/strong> appears to be about overdoing things on a night out: \u201cHis lips are blue, his eyes are red, he really really needs to get to bed\/ The monster juice will give him power, help him last another hour.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Protect The Greedy<\/strong> is a slice of social commentary about austerity, while Look Forward<\/strong> is a more upbeat number about getting your life back on track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She’s A Psycho<\/strong> is a cautionary tale about hooking up with the wrong type of ladies, while Dickhead’s Disco<\/strong> sounds like the seedy dives we’ve all ended up in: \u201cThis ain’t New York or San Francisco, you’re on the floor at Dickhead’s Disco.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just when you think things can’t get any better, along come Deepest Darkest Ayrshire<\/strong>, a joyous celebration of where they’re from, and the closing Hidden Agenda<\/strong>, which are probably my favourite tracks on the album. It’s a strong debut from the boys, and I can’t wait to see what they do next. 7\/10.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n