CD Review
Alun Piggins
Awaken The Snakes
(AML Records AML003)
by Gordon Baxter
Review date: March 2004
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"Keeping the Blues Alive Award"
Achievement for Blues on the Internet
Presented by The Blues Foundation
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Toronto based Alun Piggins' well-received "Balladesque" was one of my
favorite albums from 2000. It was picked up by radio stations of impeccable
taste across the globe, usually being slotted into the roots category,
although it was much much more than that. For his follow up, "Awaken The
Snakes," Piggins has gone for a much fuller band sound. Although still
using John Francom and James Gray on keyboards, he has drafted in another
ex-Morganfield, Jay Santiago on drums, and even added a horn section for a
couple of tracks. Piggins continues to play most of the guitar parts, sing,
and play harp and percussion, as well as writing all the material and
producing.
The album opens on a real high, with one of the best songs of 2003,
"Garbage Inspires." Like many of the songs here it has a great hook line,
an easy to learn (and hard to forget) chorus, and some cracking horns,
which all adds up to a near perfect tune. It is quite a departure from
"Balladesque," but it works brilliantly, and is backed up by "Junkfood"
another highly memorable tune. Piggins seems to have listened to all the
great pop/rock tunes over the years and has somehow managed to distil the
magic ingredients into just the right blend. You can hear influences like
the Beatles in songs like "Spark," but there is something uniquely
Pigginsesque to it.
By the time you get to "Girl Inside" you are left wondering (a) how he
manages to keep coming up with such great tunes, and (b) how come he does
not constantly feature on regular daytime radio. He then keeps things
ticking along with some great jangly guitar on "Turn Away" before the horns
return for one last fling on "Whisper Of You," with its shades of the
Stereophonics and REM.
You can set your CD player to random play order and wherever it starts, the
track will be a winner. There is something here to please anyone who likes
pop/rock music, and those who were sold on the comparatively laid back
style of "Balladesque" will immediately tap into songs like "Across From
Anglesey," the only solo track here, and "Shadow Awkward." Piggins has
retained his underlying sense of humor too. This is most notable on the
closer "Let's Get It On," a sort of country cousin to the White Stripes'
"Well It's True That We Love One Another" with Oh Susanna playing Dolly
Parton to Piggins' Kenny Rogers.
"Awaken The Snakes" is a great album. Alun Piggins understands exactly what
pop music should be like: short, simple and instantly memorable. Anyone who
likes the good bits of REM, David Gray and even Oasis will find plenty here
to enjoy. Don't just sit there, get out and buy it! While you are about it
pick up several extra copies because it will make a great Christmas present
for your more discerning music-loving friends. Terrific stuff.
www.amlrecords.com
www.alunpiggins.com
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