The Chelsea Smiles are a Hollywood based Rock n Roll/sleaze/garage band formed by former Danzig and DGeneration guitarist Todd Youth. The band are currently on tour in the UK supporting Wednesday 13 and they are about to release one of the most refreshing albums I have heard so far this year.

Clearly influenced by the likes of Kiss, The New York Dolls, Heartbreakers and The Stooges plus more recent bands such as The Hellacopters and The Backyard Babies, this 12 track CD is catchy, sleazy and worthy of turning up as loud as you can possibly get it. With vocal and guitar duties shared between Youth and latest addition to the band, RJ Ronquillo, and the lower end of the songs covered by the rythym section of Johnny Martin and Karl 'Rockfist' Rosqvist, this thing really goes.

Produced by Howard Willing (Smashing Pumpkins) the band's rendition of The Stones' classic 'The Last Time' is a future classic in itself. Other highlights include the Backyard Babies-like 'Little Misfit', opening track 'Take You Away', 'I'm Gone' and 'Leave You Cold'. Only the song 'Broken Lullabies' needs to be given a miss- purely for the fact that is sounds like Oasis. Apart from that, this is one great album.

*****

Review by Nikk Gunns