U.K.’s The Struts have never denied what they are, a big rock n’ roll throwback that have the songs to match. As the pandemic was starting to strike and everything & everyone was shutting down, the band hunkered down at producer Jon Levine’s L.A. house to make a new album in ten days. Strange Days is exactly what you expected & what you needed from The Struts – and friends.
In addition to the quick COVID creation, Strange Days is notable for featuring a slew of rock guest stars, because of course it is. The opener/title track is a heart-on-the-sleeve torch song with pop icon Robbie Williams. Big Anglo stadium rock comes with both Phil Collen and Joe Elliott of Def Leppard in “I Hate How Much I Want You”. Current guitar gods Tom Morello and Albert Hammond Jr. lend an axe to the psych-rock “Wild Child” and excellent emotional uplift “Another Hit of Showmanship” (QRO review), respectively. There’s even one of the most classic rock moves ever, a KISS cover, in b-side “Do You Love Me”.
Now, this is The Struts, and there are certainly a number of people who can’t stand The Struts. But if you need a big belter for the stadium of studio apartment, enjoy these Strange Days.
