I don’t think it’s any secret that I’ve never been completely convinced by Piebald – like many I love ‘American Hearts’, but I’ve struggled to get into any of their albums, despite the fact they’re revered by many. ‘Accidental Gentlemen’ is an album that appears to have gone back to basics – there’s a stripped down feel on the production, with the vocals the focal point of the mix and the guitars stripped of the layer upon layers that many of their peers have opted for in recent years.
And that’s what actually makes this release far more listenable, for me at least, than any of the other albums I have heard by Piebald. It’s different – yet not revolutionary – but still has a little something different to make your ears prick up.
While the band continue with their lyrical love of all things not quite so obvious (check out the crime related ‘Getting Mugged and Loving It’ and the socially aware ‘There’s Always Something Better To Do’), the songs themselves sound better for not being too pompous and overblown. Less is more, so to speak. The driving rock anthem-in-waiting of ‘Don’t Tell me Nothing’ is a standout for sure, while the aforementioned ‘There’s Always Something better To Do’ raises the Piebald bar a notch. I wouldn’t say this record has completely changed my views on Piebald, but having low expectations it’s certainly exceeded them. Whether old-skool fans will agree is a different matter, but for those who want something a little different from the band, you won’t be disappointed.