On Second Thought: Thee Attacks – That’s Mister Attack To You (2010)

Share this:

A fantastic debut album, That’s Mister Attack to You is an all-original group of songs that are so immediately catchy, dynamic, and powerful that they saturate the grooves. This Danish group provides solid musicianship and top songwriting, with no filler.

There’s a definite Who ’65/Creation ’66-cum-Merseybeat fusion that hits you right in the gut. Pete Townshend is definitely the hero they try to replicate here in the best way. With the way thee Attacks, in fact, attack their songs, their name is very apropos. Think Townshend/Moon/Entwistle with The Creation’s Bob Garner on vocals — and you might have Thee Attacks sound. Their music’s also immediately danceable and infectious. It’s all overseen by UK producer extraordinaire Liam Watson, in an aggressive mono at the mighty Toe Rag Studios in London.

All of the four members (Jimmy, Terry, Johnny, Ritchie) use the same last name: Attack, as the Ramones used to — but that’s where those comparisons completely end. The dynamic opener “Love in Disguise” really sets the stage, beginning in in full-tilt explosion mode, but the throbbing rocker “Can You Do It” doesn’t let up the momentum thereafter. A breezy ballad, “Love in the City” follows, offering a nice change of pace with its tasty organ blips and acoustic guitar for coloring.

Motown figures into the R&Bish, up-tempo and very confident strut of “On the Move,” while the cautionary “Red Light” strattles the Who’s “Seeker” acoustic/electric sound and then explodes righteously. Then there’s the summertime party anthem “It’s Alright,” one that — if there was any musical justice — would have already taken its place amongst the dancing n’ shaking kids in the World. “Are You?” ends — no, slams — this fabulous album into soaring Freakbeat territory.

[amazon_enhanced asin=”B003EQBPRE” container=”” container_class=”” price=”All” background_color=”FFFFFF” link_color=”000000″ text_color=”0000FF” /]

Steve Elliott