The Weisstronauts are essentially a collection of three lead guitarists based in Boston, instrumental rock is how they describe themselves.
Funky, almost acid jazz grabs my immediate attention as Hoopin, the first track on the album, Nineteen Something Nine, opens up. It is reminding me somewhat of a James Taylor Quartet intro, nice and sixties in style and tempo. However, any further excitement is immediately dampened as tracks two, three, four kick in! Petes Straw Hat gives off some bad impersonation of The Shadows, twanging, annoying melodies by the boys.
Timmy The Smelter is well up there in the cheesy poor mans wedding tribute bands bracket with more than a hint of Gimme Shelter by The Stones, I take it there is meant to be a pun/ play on words with that song title. It is quite hilarious!
A Dandys Moth Collection is a track I feel I should like but the underlying Status Quo plucking just about sends me past it. Moreover, why would you end a track of such potential with an excerpt from a Christmas carol, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen? Good grief man!
The rest of the album is pretty much none descript thereafter. I really have found this difficult to comment on. They are musicians and can obviously play and clearly have a fan base but Im struggling from Top to Bottom.
The Weisstronauts have released four albums and three EPs to date, there must be a market for this stuff, but personally it is beyond me. Apart from the odd glimpses including Bentley and Hoopin, this album is a bit much for me. It is too much copycat style, on the whole, not that original and pretty disappointing.