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The Detroit Cobras 'Baby'
With the media spotlight turning its focus on domestic action and the inexorable rise of the urchin rockers, it’s easy to forget that only a short time ago New York and Detroit were regularly cited as the twin centres of the rock’n’roll universe. So while the world eagerly awaits The White Stripes’ next offering and The Strokes to remember how to write a tune, here come The Detroit Cobras to remind you that all is well in their corner of Garageland.
You’ll already be familiar with The Detroit Cobras’ boisterous take on Hank Ballard’s ‘Cha Cha Twist’; its use by adland to flog Diet Coke is entirely appropriate as The Detroit Cobras hark back to an age characterised by Levis 501s, quiffs, super-charged hotrods and chicken runs. As with their previous releases and not unlike The Cramps, The Detroit Cobras dig around rock’s dim and distant past to unearth hidden gems with all the skill and precision of dedicated archaeologists and present us with souped-up, customised covers.
But these aren’t mere pastiches and nor should it indicate laziness on The Detroit Cobras’ part. This thirteen-song collection crackles and fizzes with an electrical intensity and their adoration of this material is undeniable. The Spooner-Oldham penned ‘Slippin’ Around’ sets the pace as guitars riff, valve amps leak into each other and drums crack with a whiplash precision. The real secret weapon, however, is vocalist Rachel Nagy, a woman in possession of a voice so sultry and soulful that sex appeal constantly flows from the speakers like water from a spring. Indeed, her voice provides all the necessary sass and passion for the evocative ‘Weak Spot’, despondent melancholy for Naomi Neville’s downbeat ‘It’s Raining’ whilst recalling the marvellous Etta James on the careering rocker ‘The Real Thing’.
To their credit, the salaciously stomping ‘Hot Dog (Watch Me Eat)’ - the only original song on the album - stands proudly in such esteemed company and proves conclusively that The Detroit Cobras are more than capable of offering their own nuggets.
Chockfull of riffs, innuendo and soul, this outrageously delicious album rocks as much as it rolls. Refusing to outstay its welcome by clocking in at 31 action-packed minutes, ‘Baby’ is a party in a jewel case and thoroughly deserving of your attention.
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