Walking Papers – WP2
Release Date: January 19, 2018
Walking Papers was one of those bands that I just didn’t get when I first heard them. I wasn’t sure what they were shooting for but whatever it was, it just didn’t click with me. Well, maybe it’s just that I’m in a different mindset these days but when Walking Papers’ latest album WP2 showed up in my inbox, I just had to give it a listen.
“My Luck Pushed Back” kicked things off and right away I was taken aback by just how much I was digging this. The secret ingredient behind this music from what I can tell is definitely lead singer/guitarist/songwriter Jeff Angell. Angell has managed to take the blues, sleaze rock, and a touch of Sunset Strip 60’s Whiskey A GoGo rock n’ roll and put a modern spin on it. This makes it accessible to not just the old fucks like me but to a more modern audience.
“Death on the Lips” is hands down the stand out track on this album. Angel has all the swagger and attitude of Jim Morrison with all the soul of a Mississippi bread white boy soul brother. This particular song, in my opinion, set the tone for the rest of the album. While at first glance WP2 looks long at 13 songs, you’re left wanting more when the Cult infused closing track “Right in Front of Me” fades to a close.
The thing that I love about WP2 is that Angell manages to capture all of the things I love about music and throw it all into a blender to create one big ass shake of rock n’ roll awesomeness. WP2 is the kind of album that I hear something different in every time I listen to it. Sometimes I hear The Doors. Sometimes I hear the Cult. Sometimes I hear a touch of Velvet Underground and sometimes I hear some down home, smokey club, juke joint soul.
Walking Papers is definitely a band that I will be looking out for and listening to more. There’s a lot of depth to this material and it’s refreshing to hear an artist not afraid to stretch his influences and not adhere to doing things just one way.
Walking Papers is out on the road supporting Alice in Chains. Be sure to get to the shows early and check out some great fucking rock n’ roll to kick the night off:
May 7 – New York, NY – Hammerstein Ballroom – With Alice In Chains
May 8 – New York, NY – Hammerstein Ballroom – With Alice In Chains
May 10 – Atlanta, GA – The Roxy – With Alice In Chains
May 12 – Whitesburg, KY – Appalshop Theater – Walking Papers Headline Date
May 15 – Chicago, IL – Riviera Theater – With Alice In Chains
May 16 – South Bend, IN – Morris Performing Arts Centric – With Alice In Chains
May 17 – Waterloo, IA – Spicoli’s Grill / Reverb Rock Garden – Walking Papers Headline Date
May 18 – Lincoln, NE – Rye Room – Walking Papers Headline Date
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