The Detroit Cobras "Tied & True" 2007

Stretching out in the studio like never before, and including contributions from top line players like Greg Cartwright (Reigning Sound) the Cobras have created a versatile and formidable wall of Spector sound (is that timpani you're hearing here and there? Yer goddamn right it is). Be it eerie or orchestral, or pure rock and roll rough up, Tied and True puts the Cobras on a whole new level-of many sources but a genus all its own.Combining girl-group hooks and harmonies with high-octane, Motor City garage rock, the Detroit Cobras conjure the 1960s era of Top 40 AM radio and vinyl 45s. Though the results are considerably poppier than the band's name and the light bondage of the album title and cover might suggest, singer Rachel Nagy has attitude to burn and the mixed-gender band plays with plenty of rough-hewn energy. Material (none of it written by the band) includes minor '60s hits such as "Nothing But a Heartache" and "Leave My Kitten Alone," obscurities from classic songwriters such as Gerry Goffin and Jerry Ragavoy (as well as James Brown and Dr. John) and a hopped-up rendition of the Depression-era folk standard "On a Monday." --Don McLeesetrax:
01 As Long As I Have You 02 Nothing But A Heartache 03 (If You Don't Think) You Better Change 04 Leave My Kitten Alone 05 (I Wanna Know) What's Going On 06 Try Love 07 You'll Never Change 08 Puppet On A String 09 Only To Other People 10 The Hurt's All Gone 11 It's My Delight 12 On A Monday 13 Green Light