Don’t let that title fool ya. Ginger and The Wildhearts’ 10th studio album — and their second outing since officially burying the hatchet and reuniting a few years ago — isn’t some set of contemporary romantic ballads. Unless, of course, you get weak in the knees at the sound of distorted punk-rock riffs, aggresively and relentlessly driving rhythms, massively soaring melodies, anthemic choruses, raggedly rugged vocals and songs with titles like Sort Your Fucking Shit Out and My Head Wants Me Dead. In that case, Love is truly a many-splendored thing. If you’re already hip to these criminally under-rated Brits, crank this sucker up and enjoy the latest chapter in one of the finest comeback stories in contemporary rock. If you still aren’t on the bandwagon, this is pretty good place to climb aboard.
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “21st Century Love Songs is The Wildhearts’ 10th studio album and the followup to Renaissance Men, their first album in a decade and their highest-charting album since 1994’s P.H.U.Q.
“Renaissance Men reminded me of our first album, Earth Vs The Wildhearts,” says frontman Ginger Wildheart. “No one knew how the fans and press would receive it, so it was balls-to-the-wall rock and fuck ’em if they don’t like it. 21st Century Love Songs naturally reminded me of our second album P.H.U.Q., where we got to flex our creative muscle and show everyone what we’re capable of. This time we let the songs simmer until absolutely ready. We let the theme of the album present itself.
“There’s a subtlety to this album, something that people don’t often associate with The Wildhearts, and a sense of adventure in the unorthodox arrangements of the songs. This is where I become a fan of the band when we ditch the rule book and just follow our instinct. Sarcastic, fun, angry, proud, experimental, and belligerent, all wrapped up in a big ’fuck you, this is the sound of the band in their natural habitat.’ This time we’re in control.”
With The Wildhearts’ classic lineup of Ginger, CJ, Ritchie and Danny still holding strong this creatively brilliant band who helped change the landscape of British rock through the ’90s is showing no sign of slowing down.”
