Wesley And The Crushers - The Creature Feature

Wesley And The Crushers

The Creature Feature
self-released; 2015

3.4 out of 5

By Ted Rogen

Hailing from Australia, Wesley and the Crushers are Andrew “Big Wes” Brown (bass, backing vocals), Pete Martel (drums, percussion, backing vocals), “Goo” Calligeros  (guitars, vocals) and “Phizz” Calligeros  (keyboards, melodica, glockenspiel, vocals, sound effects). In 2014 they released their first album THE “Bite” ALBUM, which was about the movie Jaws. They just released their second album entitled Creature Feature, which is a fun, doesn’t take itself too seriously rock album that tips its hat to classic rock bands from the late ‘60s and early ‘70s. The band lies somewhere between Frank Zappa, The Doors, Thin Lizzy and Deep Purple to name a few.

It’s not the most inventive music this year but it sure is unpretentious fun that seems conducive for a live atmosphere. You can picture people smoking joints and filling up beers at a Halloween party while these guys are playing. 

The album starts with a fifteen-second preamble called “Scene One” which someone starts the ongoing dialogue about a film, Dracula and more that runs throughout the album. There are eight scenes total with are intermittently placed in between the songs. I have to say I wasn’t a big fan. There was some comic relief and I did chuckle but the inclusion of these “scenes” felt abrupt and oddly separated from the music. It ultimately took away from the flow of the songs. 

First up is “LRK” which is a solid song. It’s pretty basic classic rock revolving around warm guitars and infectious melodies. The vocalist is a bit nasally sounding during the verse but sounds better with the vocal harmonies during the chorus. Overall, it is a solid song and opener but the band has better material as the album progresses.

In fact the very next track “Prey for Rain” is one of the highlights. Everything works well on this song and it reminded me of the “Fly Like an Eagle” by the Steve Miller band. “Stopming In The Jungle” sounds like a tribute to “L.A. Woman” from The Doors. The vocalist borderline impersonates Jim Morrison, which was a bit comical. 

The band has a seven-minute epic entitled “Creature From The Black Lagoon” which has a reggae inspired breakdown that the band pulls off surprisingly well; so good in fact they should consider doing more of it. Creature Feature is far from perfect but is a solid, enjoyable album. The band members seem like guys you would want to have a beer with and it shines through on their music. Keep rocking out guys. 

Become A Fan

Tweet