Hustler's Row: CD

There's a certain symmetry to Gentlemans Pistols' albums. Their self-titled debut was released in 2007, four years after they formed in Leeds. In 2011, the band's second album, 'At Her Majesty's Pleasure', came out – four years after the first one. And now in 2015 comes third album 'Hustler's Row' – after another four year gap! Recorded at vocalist/guitarist James Atkinson own studio, Mutiny, in Bradford, with the frontman also producing,many of the songs were written not long after the second album. However to develop these and ensure they could be even better, the band played some of the songs live, and this meant we could test out how they came across.

A lot of the songs here are very personal to Atkinson, who feels the writing and recording experience has been suitably cathartic for him.“I've been through some tough times in the last few years, and this definitely influenced what I was writing. It's made the album very personal, more than anything else this band has done. 'Time Wasters', for instance, is about people who've been holding me back, while 'The Searcher' is really me wondering where I'm going in life and what I'm doing.”

The balance between this intimacy and the more expansive sounds which are prevalent here make 'Hustler's Row' perhaps the best album of the band's career to date. It's all based on an evolution of their sound and style, rather than a radical overhaul.“We've accentuated the melodic aspects, yet all this had been done without losing sight of the importance of the riff to our sound.” Another notable aspect of the album's sound comes from the dual guitar work between Atkinson and Bill Steer (also a member of Carcass, of course), which brings to mind classic Wishbone Ash.“What drew Atko and I together in the first place was a love of the same music,” informs Steer. “We'd sit around drinking, and listening to The Sweet singles B sides and Wishbone Ash.” “Bill and I did sit down and talk about what would work guitar wise with the songs,” relates Atkinson. “For instance, on 'Devil's Advocate On Call', we thought it would be good to have a harmonised solo.”.Always a band who have risen beyond their influences, Gentlemans Pistols still remain true to their musical ideals and their artistic idealism. But what 'Hustler's Row' facilitates is a clear movement towards a new era of attainment.

Tracklisting

1. The Searcher
2. Devil’s Advocate On Call
3. Time Wasters
4. Private Rendezvous
5. Stress And Confusion
6. Personal Fantasy Wonderland
7. Lady Teaser
8. Dazzle Drizzler
9. Coz Of You
10. Hustler’s Row