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ROXIE 77
The Ameriswede EP

Bellyache (2014)
Rating: 8.5/10

Best known for his collaborative efforts with heavy metal gods Alice Cooper and Slash (ex-Guns N’ Roses), American rocker Ryan Roxie (vocals / guitar) formed his band Roxie 77 back in 2002 out of Los Angeles.

The band debuted in 2004 with the Peace, Love & Armageddon opus before relocating to Sweden in 2006. While there Ryan Roxie joined forces with current line-up Eric Rydman (guitar / piano), Magnus Wikström (bass) and Anton Körberg (drums), and in 2009 released the album Two Sides To Every Story.

In spite of the sugary nature of Roxie 77 – who cite several varying influences for their sound, ranging from the Beastie Boys to Cheap Trick – Ryan is somewhat of a musical journeyman; a well-respected, well-travelled hired gun, if you like, who has also made his name through bands such as Dad’s Porno Mag, Casablanca, and sleaze rockers Electric Angels.

With The Ameriswede Roxie 77 has compiled an EP of six new songs, which also comes with an alternate mix of each track – so 12 tracks in total. The EP begins with the jaunty ‘Idiots & Idols’, a pop-tinged, up-tempo rocker that harkens back to the vibrant days of the early-to-mid 90s when rock bands developed naturally into sweet, sugary and bombastic acts who didn’t always get the recognition they deserved.

One band that springs to mind – as Ryan smirks, “Love songs are for idiots and idols” – has to be Enuff Z’Nuff, in the sense that this track has that veritable feast of catchy, uplifting hooks laced with that Cheap Trick style of trickery which every band and its mother stole from The Beatles, but somehow incorporated the trend into hard rock; the result being a gorgeous, lush mix of sprightly, jangly guitars and positive vocal vibes.

‘The Solution’ is similarly groove-based but harder hitting as it kicks in with an infectious riff and punchy drum lick as Ryan quips, “You say you wanna solution, you say you don’t wanna fight, but all your talk is pollution, you’re polluting my life. You’re hanging out with the B-list, you’re making sure you’re seen, you didn’t think I could resist, another ride on the rocket queen”.

The delivery is one of summery snarl, always edgy, forever energetic and yet beautifully contrasted by the swaying melodies of ‘Downtown’, which has that Cheap Trick / Enuff Z’Nuff magic about it by the bucketload. The vocal is effortless, the music jumpy, jerky and sweet, and of the six songs it’s the most instant. But with such quality of songs it’s nigh on impossible to pick a favourite, although the majestic ‘Silent Confrontation’, with its dreamy Beatles-esque psychedelic intro and then slamming rhythm section, takes some beating. “Here we go with another silent confrontation”, Ryan beams. “We both know, we both know this time” he says, and I’m on the same wavelength as this band of quirks effortlessly flits about the room with another dose of lollipop rock.

Cruising through the acoustic breeze of ditty ‘Anna’, we then reach the closing ‘Simpleton Girl’, which is one half The Jam’s ‘That’s Entertainment’ and the next a pinch of just about every song of hope from the swingin’ 60s – The Beatles / Arthur Alexander’s ‘Anna (Go To Him)’ anyone? This is pure magic to the point that I can barely bring myself to listen to the six remixes which are all given the “Swedish Mix” treatment, but really are unnecessary in spite of the extra gloss and fuzz.

The six songs on offer here are some of the best I’ve heard since Enuff Z’Nuff at their creamiest, so it’s hats off to Roxie 77 for a bloody brilliant EP.

Neil Arnold

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