The Icarus Line

Wildlife Cobraside ***

Wildlife Cobraside ***

The Los Angeles rock act sure know their classic Rolling Stones from their pastiche Primal Scream, and it is this awareness that drags them up over the line and makes them more than wannabes. The music is a foot-stomping combination of old-school swagger and new-rule bravado, with songs such as Soul Slave, King Baby, Bad Bloods, All the Little Things, Sin Man Sick Bluesand Like a Scabdelivering the kind of scuzzy guitar-based songs you thought had disappeared when Iggy Pop started to play golf. The linchpin here is Joe Cardamone, the band's lead singer, primary songwriter and general go-to guy; whether he's obsessed, possessed or inspired is difficult to judge, but what comes through is an inventiveness that the band's previous albums lacked. Cool. See myspace.com/theicarusline

Download tracks: King Baby, Bad Bloods, Sin Man Sick Blues

Tony Clayton-Lea

Tony Clayton-Lea

Tony Clayton-Lea is a contributor to The Irish Times specialising in popular culture