Little Wretches "Undesirables & Anarchists"
With their latest album, Pittsburgh rockers The Little Wretches aren’t exactly being coy about who they are and what they’re all about. The album, Undesirables and Anarchists, is all about punk rock energy. Musically however, it’s an interesting blend of rock & roll, rockabilly and some punk, which makes for a very energetic album.
The Little Wretches are an interesting band, mainly thanks to their nature as a revolving door band. Lead singer and songwriter/composer Robert Wagner is joined this time by Rosa Colucci (vocals), Mike Madden (drums), John Carson (bass guitar) and HK Hilner (piano) for Undesirables and Anarchists. Together, they do an incredible job putting together a cohesive and quality album.
Undesirables and Anarchists manages to maintain its energy for the entire album, only making a brief stop on track nine, "Some Day." Outside of that, it’s a non-stop romp of rock and punk sensibilities that does not let up even for a brief moment. "Who Is America" is a highlight of the album, with Wagner’s vocal delivery mirroring that of a rock star on a stage addressing a crowd. It’s all very good stuff.
Another big highlight is the album closer, "Running (Was The Only Thing To Do)." Rosa Colucci takes over the vocals on the track, and she performs it beautifully, showcasing excellent control and experience. It paints a very vivid image of a person who needs help and wants to escape from their situation very well, down to even the most cold and grisly details. This all makes for a really satisfying and intriguing listen.
As of this writing, the The Little Wretches have ten albums that are currently available in their online discography, including Undesirables and Anarchists which is tenth on the list. The track "Poison" off of the album is already a pretty big hit with plenty of listens on Spotify, and it’s well deserved. There’s a lot here that is very much worth listening to.
By all accounts, Undesirables and Anarchists is an album that fires on all cylinders and exceeds all its expectations. Every song on the album is well thought out, expertly crafted and performed excellently by the band who do no let up even once during the album’s play time. The Little Wretches have a gem of an album here, one that should be listened to and enjoyed by many people. It gets a hearty recommendation, and we can’t wait for what’s next.
--Jason Airy