Single Review: Andy J. Gallagher – Sheena’s Big Night Out

Remember the AA side single? back in the day there were singles that didn’t feature a remix or a live track on the reverse side, just two equally matched studio tracks, either of which could front the release. This has largely been a dying format, but Andy J. Gallagher is here to remind you of just how good they could be. Sheena’s Big Night Out and it’s double a side, Because We Are, are the first shots across the bows from his forthcoming new album, Ego. This single, and the forthcoming album, is produced by long time collaborator, and former guitarist of The Damned and The Phantom Chords, Roman Jugg.

The A side, Sheena’s Big Night Out, is a slice of the catchy new wave inspired power pop, and a damn fine one it is at that, however, it’s on the chorus it comes into it’s own, a perfect sing along bouncy number that grabs you before it comes to an abrupt halt. The AA side, Because We Are, starts with an off key vocal into taken straight from The Beatles song book before it breaks into a fast paced indie number, Because We Are would happily sit alongside anything from the Arctic Monkeys first album, and it’s as lyrically and musically sharp as anything by that band.

Andy J Gallagher‘s material always wears it’s influences on it’s sleeve, you can hear Buzzcocks in the guitar lines, alongside the aforementioned influences, lyrically the single displays Andy J. Gallagher‘s biting social commentary which features his trademark sardonic lyrical touch. To complete the package you can hear Roman Jugg‘s influence seeping through into the track, he’s done a perfect job of mixing the two tracks that make up Sheena’s Big Night Out, there’s a delicious rough edge to the single that suits the material perfectly. The combination of these elements form a strong single that whets your appetite for his forthcoming album nicely.

The limited edition CD of Sheena’s Big Night Out can be ordered here