The Hi End - Class Kicks

 The Hi End is High Class, 70's-styled, chugglin' rock'n'roll with plenty of power'n'energy and nods to a lot of the stars of that decade, with more than a passing reference to the highly underrated Brownsville Station, of all bands! Of course, there are plenty of other influences, not the least being pre/proto punk bands like the Dictators, especially Ross the Boss' guitar wailin' (they even steal a line from the Dics in "Blood Red Lips", where Curt does his best Ross-isms). There's cool'n'sassy call'n'answer chantin' in the opening "Lookin' For Some Kicks", plenty of swagger and soulful/"Gimme Shelter"-ish female backing vocals in "Nervous Breakdown", hep 70's rock with fret-flyin' guitar licks in "Perfect Company", "It's a Long Way Down" is kinda a Rose Tatoo-like cross between Gary Glitter and "Tobacco Road", maybe a bit of Brownsville Station bluster in "Get in Touch" and they kinda throw everything but the kitchen sink (I lost count of the influences lingering in this one!) in the high-energy "Identity Riot".

Chunky power chords dominate the heavy "Feel My Need", while "One Day At a Time" is practically the Runaways doing power pop, followed by the smokin' "Blood Red Lips", where I really hear some Cub Koda vocal influences, "The Way She Moves Me" is surprisingly melodic (vocals and guitar) for another struttin' rocker, they get a bit moodier, although no less rockin', in "To Be Alive" and conclude the r'n'r festivities with 70's punk-like "A Way of Life".

If you dig high-energy, well-played, 70's rock'n'roll with hot-shot guitars interspersed with a wild ride of a rhythm section and sassy vocalizings, this is the place to be! We need more pure rock'n'roll in the world today!