Review SWEET ELECTRIC “Something Something Disco”

Sweet Electric were one of those bands that had completely escaped my radar until a few months ago. That changed when the guys landed the opening slot for the Hamburg show of Smith/Kotzen. I walked into the Gruenspan with zero expectations for the opener, simply curious to see what they had to offer. Thirty minutes later, one thing was obvious: this band from the Rhineland, fronted by Australian singer Brad Marr, knows how to put some serious fun into a live set. Now Sweet Electric are back with their new album, Something Something Disco.

What the band hinted at onstage carries over nicely to the record. Sweet Electric play a colorful brand of rock, adding a touch of sleaze to the mix. A lot of these songs come with an easygoing, feel-good vibe that makes them a natural soundtrack for a night with friends and a few cold drinks. And while not everything sounds polished to perfection, that rough-around-the-edges character works in the album’s favor. It gives the record some personality rather than taking anything away from it.

There is a more reflective side to the album as well. “I Remember You” is dedicated to Marr’s mother, who sadly lost her battle with cancer earlier this year. It adds a very personal moment to an otherwise upbeat record and shows that there is more to Sweet Electric than simply turning up the amps and having a good time.

For the most part, though, it is tracks such as “Long Way Back,” the fast-moving “Sick in Your Head,” and the galloping “Get Up” that define the band’s sound. Marr’s slightly smoky vocals fit the material like a glove, giving the songs the right amount of grit without taking away from their melodic side. The result is an entertaining blend of hard rock and sleaze rock where good vibes are very much part of the deal.

With Something Something Disco, Sweet Electric have delivered a solid second album that is easy to put on and enjoy. They are not out to reinvent hard rock, and they don’t need to. What makes the record work is its colorful energy, enthusiasm, and uncomplicated sense of fun. Sometimes a rock album doesn’t need to solve the world’s problems – it just needs to make you turn up the volume and smile. Sweet Electric get that.