Listened to the newest Those Poor Bastards album, entitled "Satan Is Watching", which was released on 31st of October (this year, of course), recently and spinning it again (and after that will spin again, I promise). Starting with an incredibly great cover artwork it continues with the best tunes I have heard for years... and then as sadly as suddenly ends after just a half of an hour. Even though I really don't think I will be able to decide which Those Poor Bastards' album is the best or at least my favourite ever, this record is surely became something special for me. It is more melodic (or simply more musical) than their previous "The Plague" release, which is their most atonal and ghoulish to this date, so it is quite easier to get into it though it was told that both albums were recorded at the pretty same time and supposed to be released right one after another. "Satan Is Watching" contains twelve masterpieces (quite short, I must say), all from "must-hear" category, but two of them I just have to mention specially:
? I Walk The Line
yes, there's no mistake, Those Poor Bastards covers The Original Man In Black, Mr. Johnny Cash himself. And be sure they do it as good as it possible. Wait... sorry for this, they do it better.
? The Bright Side
originally this song came as a hidden bonus track right after "Country Bullshit" song on their debut extended play of the same name. It was an acoustic sad and hopelessly beatiful song. Here you can hear it in another version... more bombastic, louder, angrier and so desperate! Again I just give up to pick what's better (put another way, who needs it?) but the actual version off "Satan Is Watching" kinda reminds me of diamonds after facetting: both versions are great, one in its simplicity and natural primal beauty and another in its pretentious preciousness and... whatever, I'm sure you got the idea.
What else can I say? Only this: have a good time listening to the new Those Poor Bastards masterpiece. And beware: SATAN IS WATCHING.
