The Science Fiction Idols - Diamonds & Demons (c) 2005 Science Ficti
Artist....: The Science Fiction Idols
Album.....: Diamonds & Demons
Type......: Album
Source....: CDDA
Tracks....: 12
Genre.....: Indie
Label.....: Science Fiction Idols
Catalogue#: DDAI109-2
Encoder...: LAME 3.97
Quality...: VBR kbps / 44.1KHz / Joint-Stereo
URL.......: http://www.highwayzero.co.uk/alrevdiamonds&demons.html
Tracklist:
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01 I Want You To Lie 04:06
02 Pissed You In New York 03:59
03 9-16... I'm A Time Bomb! 03:22
04 Bubblegum Blues 02:55
05 Movies 03:27
06 Under My Halo 03:54
07 Venom Tastes Like Wine 03:16
08 Bag O' Spiders 03:42
09 Mystery And Magic 04:11
10 Planets Of Love 03:51
11 Hey Little Demon 02:21
12 'that's Fucking Disgusting' 00:10
Total:58,10 MB/ 39:14 min
Release Notes:
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Diamonds & Demons is the follow up to 2004's fabulous Spooky Sugar and
2006 sees the Science Fiction Idols returning with their individual
brand of glam rock n roll.
Whilst Spooky Sugar saw lead vocals mainly handled by Bobby LaMonde,
only excepting Cats Galore, Diamonds & Demons sees both lead vocal and
guitar duties divided between LaMonde and Gary Strutt, normally in line
with the songwriting credit.
Opener I Want You To Lie is on you instantly. Catchy, sing-a-long,
dance-a-long, it sets out Gary Strutt's style of retro, glam, good time
rock n roll.
Pissed You In New York illustrates the different style of Bobby
LaMonde. Short, sharp but equally catchy. Possibly less obvious and
quirkier with a little more punk attitude.
9:16..I'm A Time Bomb is a song of two parts. Having suggested Gary
Strutt's songwriting is more straightforward, I'll contradict myself as
this song goes through a series of switchbacks between the two parts of
it's title, but always maintaining melody.
Bubblegum Blues is what it says on the tin. Reminiscent of good old
rock n roll, cars, drive-ins etc, but with an added dimension of glam
70's style. Bubblegum pink but with a tinge of blue. This is the one
crossover song, written by Strutt but lead vocal by LaMonde.
Movies would be a similar retro feeling classic except for chugging
guitars and a proper ôrawkö solo. This starts to veer into Gilby
Clarke's territory and wouldn't have sounded out of place on Pawnshop
Guitars.
Under My Halo takes us back to Bobby LaMonde territory again and is a
lovely, quirky little thing reminiscent of Echo & the Bunnymen's
ôPeople Are Strangeö in feel.
Venom Tastes Like Wine is radio friendly guitars and cheerfully rocky
but more straightforward, less distinctive.
Bag O' Spiders is another LaMonde oddity. I have NO idea what this is
all about but again highlights LaMonde's quirky style, giving something
that's pleasant but also intriguing to listen to.
Mystery And Magic is a Strutt/Angel O co-written gem. Having name
checked Gilby earlier, this one would sit more on an Izzy Stradlin
album. We at Highway Zero are big fans of slidey guitar which is made
good use of here. Slow, sad, sweet and perfect.
Planets Of Love is the only Strutt/LaMonde co-written track although
probably sits nearer to LaMonde's style.
Closer, Hey Little Demon, is another Strutt retro/glam rocker.
Perfectly paced to get you on your feet and brings things nicely full
circle.
Diamonds & Demons is a worthy follow up to Spooky Sugar although has
it's differences which is probably down to the change of emphasis from
Bobby LaMonde to Gary Strutt.
It's mercifully hard to categorise the Science Fiction Idols. There are
odd little similarities to others but they are fleeting and the whole
combination goes to make up something distinctive. There is that retro
rock n roll feel, some 70's glam along the lines of T Rex or Sweet but
overall, they are their own thing.
Since getting hold of Diamonds & Demons to review, Science Fiction
Idols have effectively ceased in this form, but Gary Strutt, bassist
Harrison Dray and drummer Angel O have stuck together to form
CosmoSonics with new guitarist Chaz Carter and have confirmed they will
be performing new material and old stuff too,
Looking back, maybe it's too easy to make something out of the split
songwriting and vocal duties and the lack of Strutt/LaMonde co-writing
but then plenty of bands have stuck together through worse. It's not
great to buy an album & think you'll never see the band live but
although any line up change alters things, retaining 3 members and a
strong songwriter, CosmoSonics should still be recognisable as an
evolution of Science Fiction Idols. Diamonds & Demons is a fine
swansong for Science Fiction Idols and Highway Zero hopes to catch up
with the ComsoSonics shortly for more of the future, but in conclusion,
don't let the changes put you off going out and getting this album.
It's a diamond.