Tournament; The: Teenage Creature

I've read comments regarding The Tournament along the lines of '…could be the band to save us all', or '… prove rock n' roll can still be dangerous'…

While I wasn't around at the time, those sort of statements remind me of what heralded the way for the most overrated, underachieving genre we've ever seen: punk. Yet the punk scene had, in between the many hangers on, money makers, bandwagon jumpers and those using the DIY ethos as way of excusing a lack of any real talent, its true protagonists and genuine scene changing heroes. In the same way, amongst the hyperbole being spunked over The Tournament, it has to be said that their second album, Teenage Creature, is in many ways, impressive.

Teenage Creature is gritty, its grimey, its uncompromising and yet just as old Stooges albums, or video clips of the Sex Pistols cause more nostalgia now than they ever did any real danger, so The Tournament know how to curl their lip, look disaffected and gaggle together a garage rock, psychedelic lick of mess 'em up rock n' roll, and play it like they mean it. There's no tricks, no glitz and sure as hell no glamour. Or so it would appear, for if this band had any of those things to display, they've gone out of their way to hide them in the corner and pile high on top the studded wrist-bands, vintage music gear, sci-fi models and candles that show up on the simple cover art, just to make sure you know this is genuine, real and not being done for fame and fortune. Although if it came their way as a result…

However what this bunch really thrive through is, in fairness, by not sounding at all contrived. Fuzzed up riffs, clashing cymbals and snarled vocals all hitting with real force. However, as with the best lo-fi outfits, don't be fooled into buying the myth the band would have you believing, this lot can play and they can write dirty, catchy ditties. When they add brass to the closing "Problems", the cat is let out of the bag; there's refinement in those thar hills and The Tournament do actually know exactly where to find it. That "Life Is Over", "Sean's Place" or (take your pick, so let's say) "Detroit" have up to this point done their stoned out best to pretend otherwise, is neither here nor there when the ultra-groove of "Eye On You" again shows more of their classy craft.

They sure as hell ain't the saviours of anything, but if you're looking for an album bringing an air of authenticity to some old rock n' roll ideals and (while pretending otherwise) having enough genuine talent not to simply make it sound like four lads hammering away in their bedroom, then The Tournament may well be your new heroes. Hype? What hype?

Track Listing
1. TEENAGE CREATURE
2. TOO FAR GONE
3. SCATTERED
4. EYE ON YOU
5. DETROIT
6. BIFF'S FUTURE
7. WHIP
8. SEAN'S PLACE
9. ACCIDENT BOYS (TROUBLE)
10. NO CONTROL
11. LIFE IS OVER
12. PROBLEMS

Added: July 19th 2016
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: The Tournament on bandcamp
Hits: 1527
Language: english

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