Dexateens - Hardwire Healing Album Review

Dexateens
Hardwire Healing
Album Review

The Dexateens' Red Dust Rising had a lot about it, but was distinctly second-class Drive By Truckers, with its Southern rocked-out sound thrown at some OK songs. Hardwire Healing takes a significant step towards their Southern brethren, however, by building gritty rock on some great core material.

Nothing is over-thought, but songs like Nadine are just plain great songs, earnestly told. Elements of Lynyrd Skynyrd, blues, punk, country and bar-room brawls run through Hardwire Healing. It's not an album full of cutting-edge invention, nor is it full of complexity, but that's not the poster on the wall of the gig.

The rock on Hardwire Healing is better realised, the changes in pace more mature. The Dexateens are still not quite the Drive By Truckers, and they really are in exactly the same space, so whether you need two such bands is up to you. If two is just the start of a good night for you, though, they're the next on the list.

3.5/5

Mike Rea