SWEET — Desolation Boulevard (UK Version) (review)

SWEET — Desolation Boulevard (UK Version) album cover Album · 1974 · Hard Rock Buy this album from MMA partners
3/5 ·
AtomicCrimsonRush
I bought “Desolation Boulevard” of the shelf in 1974 and held the vinyl in my hand with an expectant heart, as I had heard the ‘Fox on the Run’ single on the radio and loved it. I was about to get a shock. I played the hit single first, and the version on this album is nothing like the chartbusting single, apart from parts of the riff and melody, all the production flourishes are sorely missing, the eco on the verses, the squiggle synth effect at the beginning and the effect is missing. The overall production on the album is raw and unpolished, and I hated it.

That was a teenager just getting into The Sweet. Over the years the album has grown on me and it is the so-called filler tracks that I really like, as they are heavy and sung with aggression from Brian Connolly with blistering guitar work from Andy Scott. I speak of tracks such as ‘Breakdown’ with it’s cool riff and melody. ‘Medusa’ is a terrific track with real medieval influences and a very innovative melodic structure. The lyrics were impossible to decipher but it centres on the Greek mythological creature whose gaze will "make you stone".

There are three dynamic singles that have made this album a perennial favourite amongst glam fans. ‘The 6-Teens’, ‘Turn It Down’ and ‘Fox on the Run’. These are not my favourites though, I much prefer the crashing pseudo rock of ‘Solid Gold Brass’ or ‘Man With the Golden Arm’ with its massive drum solo from the great Mick Tucker. This track also features some screaming lead soloing and a swag of brass orchestration giving it a majestic atmosphere. The last track is pure filler and quite terrible, a version of The Who’s ‘My Generation’, complete with guitar smashing, drum crashing finale, and a silly piano session to fade out on. It was an imperfect attempt at experimentalism but overall this album is solid gold class.
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