Filthy Thieving Bastards

…I’m A Son Of A Gun

[3.5/5] Channeling all the punk-rock spirit of the members’ respective original bands (a distinction which includes Swingin’ Utters and Me First And The Gimme Gimmes), the Filthy Thieving Bastards forgo distortion and gritty vocals for the heart and soul of folk sing-alongs. Reserved strumming and a more upbeat style equally accent Singer Johnny Bonnel’s easy-on-the-ears delivery. That’s where the charm of …I’m A Son Of A Gun lies-in its diversity. One minute, there’s a Johnny Cash-esque croon, the next, it’s a rollicking toe-tapper. There’s never opportunity for boredom to seep onto this record. While it’s easy to appreciate any style the Bastards happen to take on, Their mellow acoustic style is what really finds them hitting their stride. Regardless, this album exists to please fans of folk and punk just the same, and it would be a surprise if it comes up anything less than successful. (BYO) Jordan Rogowski