Diamond Rugs

This self titled album from Diamond Rugs has some pedigree, pulling in as it does, members of Los Lobos, Black Lips and Dead Confederate. None of them are exactly household names but they have worked heavyweights like Paul Simon, Tom Waits and Elvis Costello.

It’s a mixed affair with the opener Hightail being rock ‘n’ roll then they fall in to the basic garage rock of Gimme a Beer. Elsewhere, The Country Mile has just such a feel to it albeit with a dark groove. Tom Wait’s influence can be heard on Call Girl Blues, while there’s a skewed Cash drift to Totally Lonely. I Took Note is a relatively upbeat, scratchy ditty, while Motherland is clumping, swampy and bayou tinged. Tell me Why is a scuzzy though oddly danceable number. Hungover and Horny is short sharp rocker, that leads into closer Christmas in a Chinese Restaurant, that initially brings to mind the Pogues’s Fairytale of New York though grottier.

The whole project has a very throw- everything- in-the-pot-and-see- what-happens-next vibe, probably the result of the booze, which is what many of the songs are about. The production is sparse, and to the point, similarly the performances. It can be a disconcerting listen, at times, being pulled in so many directions but on the whole it’s not too difficult to stick with the album, and enjoy it.