High Voltage

The Medicine Bow - Another String To The Bow

The stench of booze and fag smoke emanates richly as soon as envelope is opened, hitting me right in the face. As The Medicine Bow's 5 track EP is drenched in sordid old-blues, as if it came from one of the darkest shacks of the old-west.

Opening track 'This Side Of Town' is frantic and despondent, whereas 'Scar On The Horizon' is more upbeat and psychedelic, wrapped in The Medicine Bow's eccentricities. 'Dirty River Road' epitomises The Medicine Bow's unique and original sound, as it can only be likened to Spacemen 3 fronted by a Mark E.Smith who grew up in the dirty south.

The Kings of Leon may be the most popular purveyor of liquor soaked rock n roll. However, this creative effort has a more bleak and desperate tone, the produce of a band who are infinitely more likeable than those half-hearted southern Strokes.

Written By Richard Cheetham, 12/11/2004