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First of all, the fact that Wheels on Fire<\/strong>‘s Cherry Bomb<\/em> EP is issued on 45rpm vinyl<\/a> pushes its cool-quotient up several notches before I even get the opportunity to spin the vinyl. But on listening, it’s even better.<\/p>\n “Black Wave” has it all: jangling, spiky guitars, “ooh”-filled backing vocals, sneering lead vocals not miles removed from, say, the Chesterfield Kings<\/a><\/strong>, and that Vox\/Farfisa keyboard vibe for which this reviewer has an undying love. The song itself is good too, making effective use of three chords.<\/p>\n “Broken Up” has a similar sonic attack that leans a bit more in the direction of the Fuzztones<\/a><\/strong>. Handclaps and lo-fi Chuck Berry guitar aesthetics render it a bit more true to the 60s spirit, but it too is memorable.<\/p>\n The title track draws inspiration from 70s glam, staking its claim halfway between Sweet<\/a><\/strong> and the New York Dolls<\/a><\/strong>. The distorted vocal treatment contrasts nicely with the relatively clean delivery of the instrumentation.<\/p>\n “Go Give Yer Love Away” boasts a rhythm guitar that’s just the other side of being in tune. The result isn’t annoying; it actually imbues the tracks — recorded in the band’s basement — with a campfire feel. Vocal delivery adheres to the Sky Saxon school of singing, and that’s not at all a bad thing. Tambourine, handclaps and other hand-held percussion take the place of the standard drum kit on this brief tune.<\/p>\n And that’s it: four songs. They (probably) won’t change your life, but the tracks on the Cherry Bomb<\/em> EP are full of fun, authenticity and old-school (read: thankfully not pop-punk) energy. Worth a spin, it’ll leave you looking forward to more from Wheels on Fire.<\/p>\n
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