Giants
Their first release since lead vocalist Paul Roberts' departure, the Stranglers' 17th studio album, Giants, sees one of the '70s punk scene's most enduring acts slip gracefully into grumpy old age. Indeed, with drummer Jet Black having turned 73 in 2012, the days of punching journalists and inciting riots are long gone, and instead, the newly trimmed four-piece choose to embrace their advancing years with a stream of world-weary if slightly cynical words of wisdom. The title track sees bassist Jean-Jacques Burnel, who shares the vocals with relative spring chicken Baz Warne throughout the album, offer his best Leonard Cohen impression on a swirling, organ-led ode to "how things ain't what they used to be" ("Once there were giants walking amongst us/now I have to deal with little men with little hearts), a nostalgic theme also present on the '80s 2-Tone-meets-'90s-Brit-pop "Time Was Once On My Side.
The first Stranglers LP since 2006’s Suite XVI explores some relatively unknown territories for the band, now in their 38th year. Freedom is Insane begins like a meditation CD, all wave noises and cheesy floating synths, before stepping up into familiar driving rock mode; My Fickle Resolve dabbles in cocktail-jazz rhythms with awkward results; and Adios (Tango) is an ill-advised stab at – you guessed it – tango.
It's debatable whether any band can actually still be relevant almost 40 years into their career, but the Stranglers don't do anything to embarrass themselves on 17th studio album Giants.
Punk veterans surprise with a rich and sneakily touching seventeenth album. Album review by Thomas H Green