Review: Forty Winks – Bow Wow

“More fun than shooting zombies that look like Katy Perry …”

Artist Name: Forty Winks
Album Name: Bow Wow
Year: 2011
Genre: Rock/Punk Rock
Label: End Sounds

Italian rockers Forty Winks’ third album, Bow Wow, will become the most underrated album of 2011 – there, I’ve said it. Song after song, Forty Winks wallops you with booty-shaking rhythm and a dirty rock ‘n’ roll stench of beer and sweat. Pre-production must’ve involved listening to The Ramones, Elvis Costello, The Doors and ‘70s psychedelic rock, because the combination of rhythmic riffs, electric pianos, organs, and unshakeable vocal hooks takes you back to the time where rock was simple and straightforward, but more fun than shooting zombies that look like Katy Perry. If you just sample 2 songs, pay attention to the groovy opener, ‘Beneath Her Feet,’ and the surf rock monster, ‘I Feel Dead’ – these 2 jams are unquestionably the highlights of this album. Overall, the best thing about Bow Wow is that it sucks you in immediately – it doesn’t need to grow on you, because it’s just so likeable (maybe it’s the hint of The Ramones, which can be find drifting around this release). Superb tunes from the Bologna natives – even though the album artwork disturbs me beyond belief.

Best Tracks: ‘Beneath Her Feet,’ ‘I Feel Dead,’ and ‘Somersault’

87/100

- Jessica Rogers