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By GREG MAKI
With song titles like “Mr. One Night Stand,” “Absinthe in Munich,” “Dirty Blonde,” “Here to Rock” and “Give You Love,” “subtlety” clearly is not in Slunt’s vocabulary. That’s just fine because One Night Stand, the New York City band’s second full-length release, offers some of the year’s best songs about sex, drugs and rock n’ roll, songs that carry on the raucous, sleazy tradition of bands like AC/DC and Motorhead. Yes, Slunt is old school in its influences. How old school? The chorus of “Mr. One Night Stand” features a cowbell, making its refrain even more irresistible.
Overall, One Night Stand is darker and heavier than Get a Load of This, the band’s 2005 debut. The slower groove of “Lost Girl” and the bouncy “Absinthe in Munich,” which was inspired by adventures in Germany with Motorhead, begin to expand Slunt’s sound. “Need You Tonight” even features a saxophone. Taken song by song, Get a Load of This may be slightly superior, but One Night Stand offers more variety and is, overall, more satisfying. The performances are stronger across the board. Frontwoman Abby Gennet makes the sexy lyrics more effective with her seemingly sweet, innocent delivery. Guitarist Pat Harrington is emerging as a fine lead player who I would like to hear solo more. Drummer Charles Ruggiero is one of the best in the business today and keeping new bassist Jhen Kobran prominent in the mix beefs up the entire sound.
On this album, Slunt proudly proclaims they are “just here to rock.” One Night Stand does that from start to finish. Mission accomplished.
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