LA band the ROCKING SCOUNDRELS obviously subscribe to the same "if it ain't broke don't fix it" school of thought as current rising stars AIRBOURNE with an album full of superbly enjoyable rock 'n' roll kept nice 'n' simple. Unlike the Aussie AC/DC copyists though RS take their cue from the likes of THE WHO, SLADE and THE RAMONES which gives them a sound the ends up surprisingly English at times although similar too to early KISS who I suppose share (or shared anyway!) the same influences with those first two names. The trio hammer through balls out rock that in the shape of the amusingly titled "Tankslapper" proves just great fun stuff. "Checkmate Love" or the memorable "Black Leather Jacket" you guess are signature style tunes for the band and more than enough to encourage me to test this assumption and look to check out their previous three albums. More impressive perhaps though are the occasions where they change tack a bit, slowing things down for the snarling commentary of "Cheap Star", a song that sounds like OASIS on top form or producing the magnificent nwobhm era LEPPARD sound-a-like "Live To Rock!" There's little in the way of deep and meaningful lyrics on here but plenty of raw energy and that's definitely in its favor. In an era when all you seem to hear on the news is recycle this, recycle that, its good to hear another band reprise the sound of rock gone by and do it this well.