From its onset,
Put the Hammer Down
is raunchy, freewheeling fun. It's upbeat and cheerful -- featuring the kind of musicianship you'd expect from the
rock
veterans in the band.
The Yayhoos
' second album opens with the dirty
Southern rocker
"Where's Your Boyfriend At?,"
a tune that's classic
Dan Baird
(former
Georgia Satellites
frontman/guitarist). From the crunchy guitar to the suggestive lyrics, it's just one of the many carefree
songs that aim to revive and rework '70s
hard rock
.
"Right as Rain"
is another tune that's exactly what you'd expect from
Baird
-- a catchy, melodious song that's perfect for cruising down the highway to. Just when you think you've got
figured out (the album can be somewhat predictable at times), it throws out a surprise. As on
the Yayhoos
' debut,
Fear Not the Obvious
, the group digs deep into its bag o' licks and brings out
"Love Train"
-- a 1973 number one hit from
the O'Jays
(perhaps not surprising --
featured a cover of
ABBA
's
"Dancing Queen"
).
handle
perfectly and don't lose any of the original version's
soul
, thanks to fantastic harmonization and
's gritty vocals. The other random cover song on the album is found in
the B-52's
'
"Roam."
's vocals are in top condition on this tune. Other tunes like
"All Dressed Up,"
"Never Give an Inch,"
and the retro-twisted
"Hurtin' Thing"
remain in your ears days after ingestion.
"Would It Kill You"
is one of the album's
insta-classics. It opens with a gritty guitar riff that's reminiscent of
Smokin'
-era
Humble Pie
. It gives lead guitarist
Eric Ambel
time to shine -- though leaves the listener wishing he would have done so a little more on the album.
"Anything/Everything"
is
' own theme song -- a raucous, cocky, and celebratory
tune featuring shout-outs from each bandmember. While the song might sound a little campy if played out of order, it fits perfectly well as the eighth track, taking the band's attitude to the top. The album is a rocker, though at times a very tame one. Smoother, sentimental
ballads
balance the album out, like the not-so
"Over the Top"
(featuring the line "I'm addicted to your love and only your two arms can save me") and the sugary sweet
"Between You and Me."
is a solid release from one of the best
bar bands
around. Put it on once for a taste, and keep coming back to it for more. It's the kind of album that'll grow on you from the kind of band that'll put a smile on your face -- especially if you've had a little bit too much to drink. It's hard to imagine anyone being upset or having a bad time at a
Yayhoos
show -- it's much easy to picture a bar full of dancing people, tripping over themselves to hug their buddies or buy drinks for complete strangers. ~ Megan Frye