Mickey Leigh's Mutated Music - Variants of Vibe

April 29th 2022

Album Review

*****

The traditional Punk Rock 'n' Roll album we have all been waiting for

I really love old school Punk and Rock 'n' Roll, like Iggy Pop, The Clash, The Ramones and later bands that had the spirit of this like Backyard Babies and D-Generation. So I was really excited when I got sent a press release telling me that Mickey Leigh brother of legendary Punk Rock singer Joey Romone was finally going to release new music. I of course knew about the history of Mickey and who he had worked with, and the fact he was in a band with his brother. So I knew that 'Variants of Vibe' was going to come from a good place, and have a vibe of old time New York Punk / Rock 'n' Roll music. And for me that is exciting, because I get so disappointed by new Punk albums... a lot of them sound the same and have a fake attitude to them. This album is not that, it's totally real, nothing is fake this is Punk Rock.

You get everything you want from start to finish on this record, from the simplicity of the beginning and opening track 'Little' Cristine', this track doesn't pretend to be anything it isn't. It comes in with easy to play guitar riffs, that hits in with up tempo with slightly more complexed guitars, this would be a really great live track. So I look forward to hear this live when Mickey Leigh's Mutated Music comes to the UK. And with Covid 19 that might be quite a while sadly, but I really hope I get to hear it live one day. The funny thing is that this track reminds me of a track by Infate Sorrow called 'The Clap', this was the band from Russell Brand in the movie 'Get me to the Greek'. Always thought Russell Brand should have done a full album like this, because it had the New York Punk vibe to it.

'It felt like Love' has a Rolling Stones vibe to it, and Who type drum beats and Buzzcocks type vocals. While 'Trouble Man' launches away like Mickey has joined The Cult at an Iggy Pop concert, I really love the fast paced twists on this track... which flow really nicely. You can hear that in places Mickey has a similar tone to his brother, which just slips in at times. One of the best tracks on the album 'No fun Anymore', is so good it could have been lifted from a classic Cheap Trick album... I would love to see Micheal Monroe of Hanoi Rocks cover this song. It would be perfect for a Demolition 23 album, I always loved this side project of Micheal's and couldn't stop playing this record. 'Go home Anna' is a little different, and more experimental like a track by The Damned or Captain Sensible if they where in The Doors.

There is so many good tracks on this album, I couldn't possibly talk about them all. I really like the Elvis Costello sounding 'Stories that never got Told', which shows Mickey's songwriting skills off. And 'I got a message for You' which is an anthem sounding song. Loving the old school Punk Rock claps, that go on throughtout the song. What I can't understand though is why the single 'Lost in Space' is near the end of the album because this is a highlight on the album, and you can see why at the bottom of this page. Where you can watch the video for it, please let us know what you think.

The only criticism I have of the album is, I would have kept it at nine or ten tracks... because I think then the album has more impact. I think sometimes when a record is over ten tracks like this one is, people won't listen to every song and I think that is real shame. I also find when albums are over ten tracks, there is always a dip somewhere on the album. Where a slow down track is a little too long, like 'Loneliness' which is one of my least favourite tracks on the album. But this is just me being picky, because 'Variants of Vibe' is an awesome album. That is still worth the five stars that I have given it, just a shame it took so long to come out. Without artists like Mickey you wouldn't have acts like The Libertines or the Arctic Monkeys. so I think the new generation need to pay a little more respect and buy this album and see where it all comes from. Because as I think I said when I talked about this artist before, this is how a Punk / Rock 'n' Roll sound should be done.

Review by Dan Devour