The Lee Harveys – Bullet For The President

The Lee Harveys are a punk quartet from Dublin, Ireland that in the three short years since their debut album was released have toured relentlessly, including a recent headlining slot on the Pavillion Stage at this years Rebellion Festival. This is The Lee Harveys third full length album, it follows on from their acclaimed albums, Gun City and Still Angry. Lead singer, Bitzy, was in a punk band back in the dawn of punk in the late seventies, after a lengthy break of several decades he decided to return to the fray, this would go someway to explaining the original punk feel that The Lee Harveys possess.

Be What You Want To Be opens the album in impressive style, it’s an impassioned and energetic calling to follow your own path, every track on this album is delivered with a wonderful raw feel, the production is minimal and lets the quality of the bands songwriting and delivery shine. Every bass line is solid and the guitar hooks are all sparkling and addictive, there is an influence from the first wave of European punk bands, but alongside that there are other influences present, including elements of rock ‘n roll and sixties garage, that make The Lee Harveys an original and contemporary band that you need to hear.

This is not by any means a predictable punk album, whilst it has an authentic sound and live feel, that suits the material perfectly, there is so much more to The Lee Harveys than just being another punk band. All twelve tracks are well crafted melodic numbers that make me wish I could turn back time and ensure that I’d caught them at this years Rebellion Festival. On the strength of this release I will be getting hold of their first two albums, as this is a solid and original album that marks them out from pack.

The Lee Harveys first two albums, Gun City and Still Angry, are both available for pay what you want here

Bullet For The President can be ordered from FOAD Musick here