American Speedway – Ship of Fools

Hard, fast, rock’n’roll. That sums up Ship Of Fools relatively well because in essence that’s exactly what this LP is. The ten track, thirty minute album breaks through the speakers with a strong power chord before expanding to a old school rock and roll track that would fit very nicely within a game of Rock Band. Crisp, worn vocals rasp their way through the song with anger constantly backed up with a steady drum beat and heavily distorted guitars. It’s a rock and roll tune that shows the listener what they’re in for; and from that moment they never let up.

American Speedway consistently deliver hard hitting rock song after hard hitting rock song with lyrics that cover topics such as life on the road, drinking, doing drugs, going crazy, americana, fighting and just general angst. The songs are built on heavily distorted guitars and sing along vocals but spiced up with the occasional solo here and there for added effect. They plainly wear their influences on their sleeves with nods to AC/DC and the Supersuckers but also show some newer similarities too as Ship Of Fools often sounds like a dirtier version of The Riverboat Gamblers.

However, despite the constant adrenaline and anger/energy behind the songs, Ship Of Fools does hit a few bumps along the way. The fact that it’s a steady flow of hard, fast, rock’n’roll means that American Speedway occasionally suffers from a lack or originality and diversity. The songs are each strong enough to stand on their own but do become a bit too similar when played one after another. It leaves the listener wanting a slight change of pace because each song seems to morph from it’s predecessor far too easily which creates very little variation within the album.

There’s still a few gems hidden amongst the album though. There’s the fiery opening and title track that remains one of the highlights the entire way through along while the vocally driven Drinkin’ and Drivin’stands out too. The guitar work shines through on Cocaine and the sped up One Foot In, One Foot Out offers some much needed tempo change up. So there are a few tracks that do shine through, but it does ultimately fall a little short of the perfect rock and roll album.