Self Released (2025)
It's becoming a recurring thing lately where I say that I'm writing about a record I've had for too long and that I should have probably written about it already. This becomes a self fulfilling prophecy as it means that anything I get now runs the risk of getting old as I try to prioritize the records that already are old. It's a vicious cycle and no one cares, but I do feel bad that I'm only getting to this Gentlemen Rogues record as it's not only great, but Danny is a sweetheart.
A sweetheart that always seems to be in bands that can crank out tunes like nobody's business. The A side is "Half Empty, Half Fool" which is a song from their excellent 2024 full length Surface Noise. This version has been updated since the full length version, having been remixed and remastered and (so the Bandcamp page says) "partially re-recorded." Now, if I'm being truly honest, my ears can't hear a whole lot of difference between the new version and the one on the album, though I've also never claimed to be an audiophile with a keen ear for nuance. But this doesn't really matter to me as the song sounded great before and it sounds great now.
The B side is a cover of the T.Rex song "Children of the Revolution." The Rogues do a great job taking ownership of this tune and really making it sound like one of their own, while at the same time retaining enough of the original that it stands out. With its mid-tempo, chunky guitar hooks and vocal melodies, it's right at home with their other songs.
I love me a good 7". We don't see as many of them these days as they are so cost prohibitive to make and sell and buy (and process?). But the old school album-track-on-side-one-and-cover-song-on-side-two gimmick is one that I will always get behind. Even though Gentleman Rouges have the band name that I am most likely to misspell while writing about them, it's always a pleasure to add a new record of theirs to the collection and to let the world know how great they are. And I didn't even mention Jill this time.
Gentlemen Rogues - Half Empty, Half Fool 7":
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