Charm City Devils - 'Let's Rock-N-Roll' Review

Charm City Devils are one of those bands that think rock music isn’t good unless it’s loud, sweaty and boisterous. On their debut, Let’s Rock-N-Roll, the Baltimore quintet channel their inner AC/DC, but rather than adding anything new to the ‘70s arena rock they so clearly worship, their album consists of a pretty depressing string of colorless, tone-deaf guitar rock songs. Signed to Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx’s label, Charm City Devils clearly want to evoke the bad-boy attitude of classic Crüe, but until they come up with better material, they’re just poseurs.

Let’s Rock-N-Roll belongs to the same high-octane dude-rock genre that includes Buckcherry, Rev Theory and others. Generally speaking, it’s a genre marked by hard rock songs that give equal time to the worship of babes and rock ‘n’ roll’s rebellious spirit. When it’s done right, these bands get you in touch with your 12-year-old self – you know, that hormonal, confused young person trying to figure out if girls were icky or awesome – but when it’s not done well, it can be pretty embarrassing and awkward. Let’s Rock-N-Roll is especially disastrous because its adolescent attitude isn’t redeemed by a sense of humor or great hooks. Instead, the album comes across as a self-conscious attempt to replicate the feel of dude-rock without any of the hormones or danger of the genre’s best bands.

A charismatic lead singer can elevate an otherwise mediocre band, but Charm City Devils are burdened with a rather dull frontman. John Allen, who also wrote all the songs and produced most of them, doesn’t have an original thought to express. When he steps away from typical subject matter – chicks and drinking – he’s particularly bad. “Night as Dark” opens with these lyrics: “Mama, can you hear that baby crying?/Mama, can you hear that grandma dying?” The song is his attempt at social consciousness, but while it’s certainly heartfelt, that doesn’t make it any less clumsy. In addition, a tribute to his dying mother, “Almost Home,” has its poignant moments, but Charm City Devils render the emotional song as just a pro forma power ballad – solid but derivative.

A Brief Highlight

Let’s Rock-N-Roll’s best riff comes early on the album. “10,000 Miles” has the sort of burning-rubber energy that would impress Mötley Crüe fans. But while some new bands, like the Answer, are turning their love for classic stadium rock into relevant new music, Charm City Devils seem content coasting on fumes and aping their elders. Presumably, they named their debut Let’s Rock-N-Roll as a call to arms, but it ends up feeling more like a promise they fail to keep.

'Let’s Rock-N-Roll' – Best Tracks:

“10,000 Miles”
“Almost Home”

Release date – May 26, 2009
Eleven Seven Music