The mega selling sleaze rockers return with an acoustic album, featuring new versions of some fave Quireboys tracks and other covers too. The Sex, Drugs and Rock 'n' Roll have been stayed for a softer approach, and it works well.

Opening track 'There She Goes Again' sees Spike sounding like Rod Stewart at his huskiest/rockiest, the music an acoustic nod to The Rolling Stones. The band of Spike, guitarists Guy Griffin and Paul Guerin, bassist Damon Williams, pianist Keuth Weir and drummer Phil Martini seem to gel well in the acoustic environment. The lap steel slide sounds good, and a stand out track with that is UFO's 'Love To Love'.

With the softer angle, Spike relies on the husky vocals more than usual, giving a real Rod Stewart feel at times. The tracks are melodic, and thoughtful too, the guitars mixing strumming with solos, the piano nodding back to 80s pop, the guitar occasionally a nod to country.

'Mona Lisa Smiled', 'Baby It's You', 'Pretty Girls' and Leo Sayer's 'I Can't Stop Loving You' all sound good. There's many a fan favourite here, and the 15 track set finishes with a fine version of 'King Of New York'.

Good though this is, it'll be enough for most fans to take. I hope the Sex, Drugs and Rock 'n' Roll return soon.

***½

Review by Joe Geesin

www.joegeesin.com