The Rumjacks
Sleepin'Rough

LA RECENSIONE

Irish pride with an Australian twist. Sounds strange, right?! Yes, but not too much. Because, despite what the ID says (though, to be precise, two band members are of Scottish origin, adding more geographic confusion), the Rumjacks are perhaps among the most compelling acts in the vast current Irish-rock scene. We're not talking about a new band—our artists already have several productions and European tours under their belt (like the current one, which started in April and is still ongoing!)—and for this reason, it's easier to frame an absolutely solid album like "Sleepin' Rough". Because while the band from Sydney has intentionally left behind the markedly punk imprint of their previous album, on the other hand, we find a more traditional artistic approach linked to Irish-rock but also to folk. As with all their productions, this one also features high-alcohol-content songs, perfect for live performances and guaranteed to make anyone with a spark of vitality in them dance. This but not only, because "Sleepin' Rough" is, above all, a means of protest against that Australia everyone sees as a paradise but, unfortunately, is not. Thus, there’s space for decidedly intense tracks in their intent like "A Fistful O'Roses", the first single that vividly highlights (even through a successful video) the slow and inexorable death of every entertainment venue in Sydney, with pubs and clubs forced to close due to permits not granted by local authorities. In short, fun but also a firm stance that highlights the maturity of these tireless musicians. A work that is in some ways traditional but manages to be tremendously captivating.