The Breakers – self-titled (Wicked Cool)

Here For a Laugh, the debut record from the Breakers, exploded with youthful energy and an incipient sense of the R&B-fueled rock drive of both the early Small Faces and its Rod Stewart-led descendant. It’s no surprise the Danish band caught the attention of Little Steven Van Zandt. The Underground Garage founder/Wicked Cool Records owner followed up on his interest by producing and, for the most part, co-writing the band’s latest record, and the result is a fulfillment of that initial promise.

The Breakers brims over with tight songcraft and performances – the band clearly benefits from its mentor’s musical instincts and ability to find his clients’ strengths. Singer Toke Nisted makes the most of his resemblance to Rod the Mod, as the rest of the band channels the 60s European obsession with Motown and Stax through its rock & roll wringer. “Start the Show,” “Riot Act” and the wryly-but-accurately titled “The Jerry Lee Symptoms” rock like the proverbial crazy people, though lunatics with a sense of style and swing. “New York City” kicks a serious funky groove, while “Baby Blue” puts the group’s stamp on soulful folk rock. But soul-inflected hooks and 60s dance club energy rule this record – the jumping “Temptations,” “Rainy Day” and “Soulfire” and romantic “If You Need Someone” and “Union Street” draw favorable comparisons to another of Little Steven’s past collaborators – Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes. “Forever’s a Long Time Gone” brings the record back home with the kind of gentle, lighter-waving ballad they just don’t make anymore. Classic rock in every sense of the word.

http://thebreakers.dk
http://wickedcoolrecords.com