Flag of the Shiners
Flag of the Shiners
Fenway
Six-track debut EP from former Dispatch guy Chad Urmston, and is this is anything to go by, Flag of the Shiners may actually surpass the legacy of Urmston’s former band. Not so much ridding himself of his funk rocking history as expanding on and beyond it, Flag of the Shiners offer jangly, socially conscious rebel songs, call to arms agit-rock, that references power pop, reggae and hard rock in equal measures.
Apart from Mike Greenfield on drums, Urmston sings and plays every instrument on here, but it never feels like a solo project as such, having all the warmth and dynamics of a full band playing live – just check the exciting performances on the reggae-infused “Gunship Politico,” or the moody rocker “Ill Advised.” First single out is “State Inspector,” a track about the treatment of the physically and mentally disabled, and an amazing slab of protest rock that you don’t want to miss out on. That goes for the entire EP, by the way. Brilliance.
Fenway Recordings: http://www.fenwayrecordings.com
