The Self Proclaimed Rockstars - Postcards From Purgatory

Fresh out of Wakefield, MA The Self Proclaimed Rockstars are back with a vengeance with their brand new studio effort, Postcards From Purgatory. The follow up to their 2008 debut This Is Rock finds the group sticking to its guns with a fun, loud, and eclectic mix of rock n' roll that is sure to get the crowd moving and grooving all night long.

The disc opens up with the fast moving "Suburban Kingpin" a loud, furious rock n' roll anthem that introduces the audience to the vocal stylings of John Malone, whose gritty and energetic vocals add a rich, alluring flavor to it that attracts the listener and reels them in. My favorite song off the disc is "Haymaker" a richly toned, midtempo rocker that takes a change of pace rather quickly, but also shows the bands amazing depth and versatility with rapturous melodies and John's vocals making you feel at ease right away. The disc picks right back up where it left off with the party starter anthem "Whisky" a fun, edgy track that features great guitar work from Mick Greenwood, who adds his expertise to an entertaining and enjoyable listen all throughout.

The disc's second half begins with "Pretty Baby, Dirty Momma" a mysterious, toned down affair that features groove laden guitar riffs layered upon John's stellar vocals that make the song stand out when you're listening to it through the speakers. "No Purple Hearts For Self Inflicted Wounds" features a varying degree of guitars infused with a bevy of melodic undertones that give the song a nice advantage over all the others. The disc rounds out with "A Cold Sleep" a quiet, relaxing number that sees John's indelible vocals going places where they haven't been before, and Mick even adds some of his vocal chops into the mix as well that shows off a side of the band we haven't seen before on this record. "Let's Get Naughty (Let's Get Nautical)" is a silly, all out track that sees the band cutting back and letting loose a little bit with an "anything goes" type of rocker that sees the bands' more comical side and also shows their versatility and well roundness as a band. I had the pleasure of seeing these fellows a couple of months ago at McGann's in Boston, and they put on quite a show there that was loud, fierce, energetic, and was a true representation of what their music both feels and sounds like on the record. Not too many bands are able to add the same on stage dynamic and immediately transfer it onto the studio album, but you can tell just from listening to their music that everyone in the band is having fun and just being themselves.

Overall, a thoroughly enjoyable listen from The Self Proclaimed Rockstars, who have crafted a well rounded effort here that is an accurate representation of who they are as musicians and what they are like as regular people.

                                                                                                                                   Album Score: 4/5

Track Listing:

1. Suburban Kingpin
2. Haymaker
3. My Crazy
4. Whisky
5. No Faith
6. Pretty Baby, Dirty Momma
7. No Purple Hearts For Self-Inflicted Wounds
8. Fallout (Or How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love Purgatory)
9. A Cold Sleep
10. Let's Get Naughty (Let's Get Nautical)

For all you Boston area fans, don't forget to catch their album release show this Saturday, April 23 at The Middle East Downstairs! Tickets are $15 and you can purchase them at the door. The show is 18+ so don't miss this exciting evening for the band!