The album gets off to a strong start with “Where I Belong.” “Listen here,” we are instructed at the beginning. “I’ve been around,” Gabriel Johns then sings, and we hear the truth in his voice. This is the kind of rock music I grew up with, with prominent guitars and a driving beat, and it’s a relief to know it still lives, still breathes. “I’m coming home/Yeah, I’m coming home/Back to where I belong/Yeah, I’m coming home.” There is always something appealing about heading home in music, and here there is a delicious energy behind those lines. “Where I Belong” was written by Loren Molinare, Gabriel Johns and Brian Irving. That’s followed by the album’s title track, “Wild & Restless,” which is great fun, coming at us at a good pace, and with a playful and youthful energy and featuring some good stuff on guitar. This is rock and roll. It’s exactly what we want from rock music. “‘Cause I’m wild and I’m restless/I’m living in the land of the free/But the home of the brave/Has turned me into a slave/And they put these chains on me.” Oh yes! This country has become completely backwards politically, socially and so on, but at least the music is still fucking great. This song was written by Gabriel Johns and Charlie Austin (Charlie Austin plays bass in the Gabriel Johns Oddity).
“Oh Yeah” is a song that goes back a ways, a couple of decades before Slamdinistas was a band. It was written by Loren Molinare and Terri Laird, and included on The Dogs’ Suburban Nightmare. “Look out,” they shout at the beginning of this one, rather than the “Let’s go” of the earlier recording. “We didn’t need a lot of money/That means we didn’t have to work too much/It was a good life, honey/We never had to be in a rush.” This a harder rock number. That’s followed by “Reason To Believe,” which was written by Gabriel Johns. There is a great spirit to this song, particularly in the song’s chorus. “‘Cause I’m looking for a reason/Give me just one good reason/Give me a reason to believe.” There is something of a 1960s influence heard here. And I love that bass line. Then “Weather The Storm” has a totally catchy beat, making the song immediately enjoyable. “This one’s for the boys living out on the street/And all of you girls trying to make your ends meet.” This song was written by Gabriel Johns and Loren Molinare. “You just have to weather the storm,” they tell us. I think that’s what all of us are going to be doing. This music will help, for sure, and seems to contain a promise that we can do it. “Johnny Wallflower” is another fun one, with some 1960s and 1970s influences heard in the approach. There is a bit of an Elvis Costello vibe to the delivery of the verses. Peter Downing wrote this one. “When the music’s right/And you dance all night/You just couldn’t ask for more.” Well, the music is certainly right. Kevin Richardson provides some really good backing vocal work here (yes, the guy from Backstreet Boys).
We then get a song titled “Latch Key Kids,” which has some delicious punk elements, and also something of a pop flavor. It is one of my favorites. Everything about this one is just bloody fantastic. It contains some great guitar work, a seriously cool bass line, and a fantastic vocal performance. “Latch key kids looking for a way out/You got what they want, so give them what they need.” Paul Roessler joins the group on keyboards for this one. The disc contains three versions of this song, but more on that in a bit. This first version is followed by “Rock ‘N’ Roll Clown.” Rock and roll is in the title, and this is a rock and roll number, with a great energy. “I hear you’re calling me a rock ‘n’ roll clown.” And the backing vocalists echo “Rock ‘n’ roll, rock ‘n’ roll clown,” which is just fucking delightful. And check out that guitar work. If shit is getting you down now (and how could it fail to do so?), you owe it to yourself to shake loose and enjoy some good, solid rock music. The Slamdinistas are here for you.
“I should have known better/Got to turn my life around/I’m feeling kind of hopeless/I’ve got to figure it all out.” Those lines from “Should Have Known Better” stand out. I think a lot of folks feel kind of hopeless at the moment, but rather than scream into the void about the hell out there, maybe we should be selfish and work on our own stuff, and turn things around on a personal level. This is another good, solid rock number, with a seriously strong vocal performance. There are moments when I can imagine Meat Loaf singing this one. It has that kind of power. “Turn it all around, turn it all around.” That’s followed by “Sick Of It All.” This song is just exactly what we need. Seriously. Turn it up, sing along, toss yourself around the room until your anger is completely drained from your body. “I’m sick of me, I’m sick of you/I’m sick of dreams that’ll never come true/I’m sick of this, I’m sick of that/I’m sick of all of this paranoid crap/I’m sick of it all.” Don’t you just want to shout these lyrics out into the streets? I love this song. This one was written by Paul Ill, the band’s original bass player.
“I’m Okay” has a fantastic punk rock energy. As soon as that rhythm takes hold, I’m completely on board. The guitar then turns up the power, and everything is right on track. “I’m okay, you’re okay/Doesn’t matter, baby, what they say/I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again.” Yeah, this is another song you’ll find yourself singing along with before too long. There is a positive bent to this music that I appreciate. I’m beginning to think we will be okay. This song was written by Loren Molinare and Gabriel Johns. The disc then concludes with those two other versions of “Latch Key Kids” that I mentioned earlier. The first of the two is the extended version, close to seven minutes in length. Yeah, the band jams on it in the second half, and Paul Roessler’s work on keys is prominent then. By the way, Paul Roessler also co-produced, engineered and mixed the album. “You’re not wanted here, you’re not needed here.” The last track is a dance version. Seriously. And why not? It works on this song. And besides, wouldn’t you love to be at a club and suddenly the DJ puts on the Slamdinistas? Of course you would.
CD Track List
- Where I Belong
- Wild & Restless
- Oh Yeah
- Reason To Believe
- Weather The Storm
- Johnny Wallflower
- Latch Key Kids (Radio Edit)
- Rock ‘N’ Roll Clown
- Should Have Known Better
- Sick Of It All
- I’m Okay
- Latch Key Kids (Ext. Version)
- Latch Key Kids (Dance Version)
Wild & Restless is scheduled to be released on April 25, 2025, and will be available on vinyl as well as CD.
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