Named after a spot on The Goonies, Slick Shoes were never going to fail where they? ‘Far From Nowhere’ is astonishingly the band’s fifth album, even though they are all in their mid-20s. The band’s first for Side One Dummy, the switch could prove to be an astute piece of business for the label – this is easily Slick Shoes best album to date, driving guitars bounce around some machine gun drumming and the vocal melodies are as good as they have ever been.
I was disappointed by 2000’s ‘Wake Up Screaming’ as I felt it didn’t push the band as far as they could, and should, have gone. Their 2002 self-titled album took them out of the pack of middle of the road So-Cal bands, but it is this record which will surely ram home the message. With only two of the quintet practising Chrsitians, the religious message behind the band isn’t as strong or as prominent as it has been in the past and this is definitely to their advantage. Slick Shoes have in the past been accused of ramming home their point a little too vigorously but this has changed significantly. The songs are still very positive, but the move from Tooth and Nail has definitely brought them out of their shell.
The opening anthemic ‘Darko‘ sets the tone for what is a great album, pick slides from the guitars amalgamate with some great drumming and Ryan Kepke’s vocals are as strong as ever. The squeal of the lead guitar during ‘Carpenteria’ is awesome and an album highlight and the technical aspects continue through the melodictastic ‘Always There’. ‘Now’s The Time’ is slightly slower in tempo but is just as good as the previous three songs, while ‘Sleep In’ reverts to the fast and furious style the band have trademarked.
‘Once Again’ is even better, an anthem-in-waiting which has an awesome guitar solo 2 minutes in. Just because Metallica have ditched them doesn’t mean they aren’t cool anymore! The top drawer songs continue, it seems pointless naming every song because they are all quality efforts, not one isn’t fit to grace the record, making it an all-round great record and one that should be in your record collection.
I didn’t really have massive expectations for ‘Far From Nowhere’ but it is an excellent release which should, with any justice, throw the band headlong into the So-Cal scene’s Premier Division. Fans of the band will lap this up for sure, but given the exposure, it’s certain to attract a legion of new fans too.
Paul