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Rock Star: Supernova was a 2006 reality TV hosted by Dave Navarro where contestants competed to become the lead vocalist for a newly formed supergroup featuring Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee, former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted, and former Guns N’ Roses guitarist Gilby Clarke. Contestants performed a mixture of cover versions and original material and the famous “judges” would often jam with the newbies to add a bit of credibility to the show that was billed as “Anti-Idol” in a barb aimed at Simon Cowell-curated shows in a similar vein.
So far so good, but what’s this got to do with the latest release from Welsh outfit Sonny Jim I hear you ask…well, during one episode, after performing an original song, one of the contestants was berated by the judges for their song not being that original and (paraphrasing here) “Something that we’ve all heard before”.
The contestant hadn’t read the script and replied that they felt that there wasn’t any originality in music and in one way or another, everyone borrows from what came before them. Cue mass hysteria from the judges, the human tripod himself Tommy Lee stood up with hands on his head in exaggerated disgust and (again, paraphrasing) told the contestant that if they honestly believed that, then perhaps they shouldn’t be in music. A bit rich considering how un-original most of Lee’s solo material is.
In that rush to sound original, much gets left to the wayside; song craft for one, conviction, and a connection with the listener would be some others. Sonny Jim get that. As they explain with regards to the new EP ‘Wrong Side of Hell’: “We’re not reinventing the wheel, just trying to write killer no-nonsense rock tunes.” On that front, with ‘Wrong Side of Hell’ Sonny Jim have nailed it. Utterly nailed it.
With 5 tracks coming in at a combined running time of 16 minutes, the trio of Jay Donagh (vocals), Lloyd Jenkins (guitar), and Robbie Brewster (drums) are not hanging around. No overstaying their welcome. Get in, slap the listener around the chops, and get back out again in the time that it normally takes a prog metal act to get to the fucking point on one song.
The description of “…no-nonsense rock tunes” might suggest an AC/DC/Airbourne ethos (admittedly, 2 examples of the same band) but ‘Wrong Side of Hell’ is anything but that. The immense title track, for instance, this one comes loaded with a mixture of melodic and snarling riffs from Lloyd Jenkins that (at least to these ears) are sprinkled with Joe Walsh-isms by the bucketload (especially when Jenkins lets fly from 01:18 onward). With the immaculate vocals of Donagh at the helm; it is bloody special.
‘Your God Ain’t Listening’ opens proceedings with a gorgeous non-fussy drum sound from Brewster that not only blows the cobwebs away but also controls everything from here on in. Everything goes through the drummer, as it should with every band. Guitar-heavy with vocals from Donagh that spark comparisons with Roger Daltrey (the stunning ‘Give As Good As You Get’ is perhaps the best song that Pete Townshend never wrote and some of the melodies would not look out of place on a ‘Quadrophenia’ remake), it’s a sizzling way to open the EP.
‘Love The One Your With’ slows the pace down a notch or two, but not the intensity, and Jenkins coaxes some lovely tones out of his guitar. Slow burning, broody, and huge sounding. ‘Waiting Room’ begins in much the same manner, but it’s the hopeful, soaring vocals from Donagh on the chorus that steal the show, and mixed with his grittier, edgier vocals peppered throughout the 3 minutes – highlight his impressive range.
Rather than saturating the market with releases every other month, Sonny Jim go for quality over quantity and are one of the most consistently good independent acts out there. As Donagh sings on ‘Waiting Room’: “Good things come to those who wait…and I’ve been waiting too long…”, and despite the wait, it’s always a thrill opening a new offering from the band as you know that any inferior material would have been discarded on the studio floor rather than being included to make up the numbers.
Calling Sonny Jim “The UK’s Best-Kept Secret” might sound strange, and almost condescending in a what-do-you-mean-you-haven’t-heard-of-them way, but in all honesty, they are deserving of way more column inches than they currently enjoy. Something that needs rectifying immediately.
Connect with Sonny Jim, HERE.
Review – Dave
We think calling Sonny Jim as the UKs best kept secret is spot on. Great review! Hope to set you at fuel on January 30 😀