Filthy Nights

Filthy Nights - If You Only Knew… (Independent)
I’ve recently downloaded a slew of John Peel shows from the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. Filthy Nights would’ve sounded perfect on a 1980 show, slotted in between a track from the Denizens EP and the new Family Fodder session. The noise they make, though influenced by punk, is neither a three-chord thrash nor a nihilistic declaration, but is considerably more measured and thought out. Honestly, they’d have been a shoe-in.

“If Only You Knew…” is their first proper full-length, and confirms their stated ambitions; making music which is gutsy, catchy and fun. Kicking off with “Dirty Beaches”, a frothing guitar assault, with more than enough verbal prowess to make it stand out. Arctic Monkeys, Libertines and Polka Party provide lyrical guidance, though “Sally In The Alley” employs a Cheetah Chrome riff, a cool juxtaposition of American guitar and English wordplay. “Teenage Nursing Home” is considerably more than a great title, and “Chinese Lovers”, here described as a bonus track – it was recorded at a later session – provides a thumping near conclusion, with great build and chorus that comes in waves.
www.filthynights.bandcamp.com
Rob F. - Leicester Bangs

“If you like your rock on the indier side of things, checking this lot out won't do you any harm...”
7/10 - Rock Sound Magazine

Well. I had never heard of these dudes, and the cover caught my eyes. The font and the skin look of the dude; plus, it's hot! And when i heard the first strum, i thought, "oh some Strokes wanna bes". but noooooo..... i Think The Jam, SLF, Cock Sparrer; Adverts and Adicts. Upon peeping their myspace, The list the usual suspects: Jam, Kinks, Stooges, Bowie, Roxy Music, Clash, Stones. All those are appropriate. But i will be damned if i do not hear early Anti Heros, Templars - christ, the 1st 2 songs...take a gruff drunk voice and they are American oi songs.

Take a healthy appreciation of Krays, Red Alert, Nips, Joy Division - well...Warsaw, and even a slight nod to a lo-fi Fratellis; and you get Fi;lthy Nights. More pub-rock than garage; it doesn't have that pop snap (if you will; that repetitive head jerk).

All in all, this is a fesh combo of all these influences. It is amazing Brit Rock - with love for late 70's punk/pub-rock, garage, and good songwriting. This is not pretentious. This is mid-paced, intense rock and roll.

They are not on a label yet. and i can hear their maturity and their hunger. so, i hope if they get signed they do not get swindled into sounding more "garage" or "brit-pop" or something else that would hinder their originality.

"Cover Up" is between Menace and Adverts and the Stones. Brilliant.
"Stevie" has a ska beat that speeds up into that American Oi sound i am finding. Mid paced punk, with a tough chord.
"She's Free" open's with a bouncing bass line. Again, the sound is anoi-ish romp for the verses. The chorus is catchier, with gang vox. The singer has an Ian Curtis hard-on.
But that bridge riff is so oi!
"Die Young" could be a Joy Division song with a bigger rock sound, somehow.
"San Diego" i can hear the Bowie and the Stooges; but that bridge gets a bandying notes reminding me of Templars. But the chorus lows to get that Editors/Fratellis groove.

This is not all over the place - all these influences melt perfectly into catchy British punk. So good. Pick it up. - Empty Hands PVD