Albums: 22-20’s, 05/03

The 22-20s:05/03Out next week ‘05/03’ is a modern rarity: a live album that does full justice to a very good live act. From the first wails of feedback on the opening track, you know you’re in for a sizzling, full-fat rock feast. The vocals rasp and writhe, cutting deeper with each repetition; slide solos are executed with ear-splitting vigour, and the bass riffs are so slick that you half-expect to find Brylcreem oozing from the CD player. Take for instance ‘Such a Fool’, a 4-minute pounding of blues-rock gristle, which could easily be a passionate Starsailor. Except that it sounds good. Sure, there are a few quibbles. The endless riffs at times start to wear thin, while some of the lyrics seem painfully contrived. But these boys are young, and if this taster is anything to go by, it’s the White Stripes who should be getting worried and the general public who should be excited. 22-20s play The Zodiac, Oxford on 29 October.ARCHIVE: 1st Week MT2003