The 69 Eyes – Universal Monsters (Nuclear Blast Records)

English:CD-review
  Van Muylem    14 maart 2016

Your man already reviewed a lot of CD’s, interviewed the band and was looking forward to get some new stuff, well: here it is and for some it will be something fresh and catchy!


When Iggy Pop is happy he sings with a low voice, well that’s what we hear on the opening track: Dolce Vita. Yup, you’ll hear some Italian and some romantic notes next to good old Goth’n Roll (and some sharp guitars and a jummy solo)! The Iggy Pop touch is something new and I dig it! The sexy and divine catchy retro track Jet Fighter Plane has already been launched as a single. Once again I hear some Iggy Pop in the vocals, maybe he turned into a vampire after all instead of teaming up with Josh? This song is pure heaven for retro lovers. Maybe Billy Idol needs to try out this one in the studio too and get his final comeback?

Blackbird Pie sounds like a classic The 69 Eyes track, with their dangerous Goth’n Roll dramatic feel and more than enough catchiness and sweetness! Don’t forget to brush your teeth’s after this one! Don’t forget to enjoy the moment with the Native American flute and singing together in the way music was once done and the west was won! Hot and steamy towards the end (with the powerful choir/gospel feel)! Lady Darkness rolls as if sung by Elvis Presley (must be the vampire version)! The synth parts are also very cool, just as the retro touch! In Miss Pastis we hear that Jyrki 69’s French is still not top notch, but its sounds good enough for a foreigner. The bass is nice, just as the accordion and the retro touch! Salut, ça va? Yup! Let’s Rock’n Roll!

Shallow Graves (a little referral to Please, Mr. Gravedigger from David Bowie): sounds bluesy with an American touch (stadium rock) but turns into their classical Goth’n Roll sound with a dramatically touch! It’s very catchy and very sweet, despite the lyrics! Jerusalem sounds softer (thanks to the synth and the acoustic guitar). It all gets pretty theatrical and let’s not forget the Arabic vocals towards the end. Stiv & Johnny has a bluesier feel with smoked vocals and backing vocals rendering the catchy Goth’n Roll sound! Jyrki is more whispering, changing his voice once again. Sound wise this one also comes close to The Open up and Bleeds. Never gets more blues and sounds more like The 69 Cats than The 69 Eyes, but the catchy sound is still there. It’s a great sing-a-long moment! You can call it a sticky one! Blue is a soft ballad, very sticky with a nice piano. Halfway the track we hear some guitars shredding the little love question mantra, but the mantra wins! It’s a track filled with feelings and lots of pathos!  Rock’n Roll Junkie is already the last song and can be called the best end song! We are rocking again! It’s perfect, catchy, sing-a-long and pure rock’n roll! You can clearly hear that the lyrics fit smoothly!

I must say that I heard a lot of twists in the vocals, making it very interesting! They keep on looking for innovation and yet don’t sell their soul and keep the catchy sound! Can somebody book them in Belgium? Hell, this is simply a too great album too let these Rock’n Roll hotties pass my country!