Album Review

Isa & the Filthy Tongues – Dark Passenger

• 17th Feb 2010

With their follow up to the truly amazing “Addiction” album, Isa and the Filthy
Tongues return with this two disc album.

What we get here is familiar ground mixed with some new areas of music that the band seems to want to dip their toes in. The most noticeable difference is the fact that there are some tracks where Guitarist Martin Metcalfe takes over the vocals. There is also a change in tone in these songs that start to veer away from the whole Route 66 Grind house rock they created in their last album and strays towards something that sound much more influenced by the likes of U2 and early 80’s punk. These aren’t bad songs, just unexpected – and not a patch on the female lead vocal tracks.

The album begins with Jim’s killer which is a sombre piece, yet brooding with I&TFT’s sound clearly evident. From here onwards for the next few tracks the lead vocals are passed between Stacey Chavis and Martin Metcalfe. Metcalfe heads the track New Town Killers which is also taken from a recent film of the same name.

Although Metcalfe is an admirable singer, he doesn’t have the same effect as Chavis who really owns the material in ways that only the best leading ladies know how. Perhaps I am just too used to hearing their debut album and not seeing the band as anything but one that should be fronted by Chavis’ voice, and Metcalfe’s guitar.

“Memories” is an instant mood classic; recalling music from a better day. This song is so impressionable that it makes you laugh at anything else that is coming out of the modern music culture. “Call Me” recalls some early Smiths work and is also a highly enjoyable highlight. There is real attitude being projected, and the substance to each song is very rich indeed.

Many albums start strong and then fade out towards the end as ideas seem thin on the ground. Isa and the Filthy Tongues seem to start off with familiarity, shake up your expectations and then push back through familiar territory in strong fashion. My own predilection for female vocals aside, this is a very strong second album that fans and newbies will love alike. Impressionable music mixed with strong song writing is helping to shape this band nicely – and I also know firsthand that they sound pretty damn good live as well.