Rapid Review.. Pure Love - 'Handsome Devil's Club'

'Handsome Devil's Club' is the second single by Frank Carter's new outfit, Pure Love. This was released in late May (!) apparently but totally passed me by and I only found it about a week ago after my friend told me that their Reading festival set was pretty awesome!

As I said in a previous Pure Love post, this is the complete opposite of what was occurring in the original Gallows; this is Carter showing his versatility as a songwriter and performer, and I really cannot get over what a surprisingly good singer he is! 'Handsome Devil's Club' is as poppy and catchy, if not catchier than 'Bury My Bones' was. I know that even if I tried to dislike this song, I would still end up liking it, and when Pure Love's debut album is released before the year is out, I will definitely be getting it. The only thing that I'm not so keen on are lyrics such as "Give me a good girl / The kind that wants to please / Give me a good girl / Down on her knees" - I know, I know, cue the feminist in me, and cue much eye rolling from male readers over picky modern females. Sexism will always exist to some degree, and I suppose I'd rather have fun singing it in a good song, rather than in some semi-R'n'B derogatory chart hit rapping about 'bitchez' and 'hoes' and the like.

Anyway, looking forward to both the Pure Love album, and the new Gallows stuff, and if my memory doesn't fail me then, as far as I'm aware, Pure love should be supporting Pulled Apart By Horses on their UK tour this autumn!

The 'Handsome Devil's Club' single, including 'Bury My Bones' and the videos for both songs, can be purchased for £1.99 on iTunes!

http://therealpurelove.com/
http://www.facebook.com/therealpurelove

Rapid Review.. Pure Love - 'Bury My Bones'

Now. I first happened upon this song on MTV Rocks on a mid-week 2.a.m where I was utterly tired and also utterly unwilling to move from my perch on the sofa and upstairs to my bed, despite it seducing me intently. When this first appeared on screen, it took more than a few seconds to realise that it was a post-Gallows Frank Carter practically crooning in a suit to throwback '80's and somewhat similar to The Darkness, minus the tongue in cheek element. Even the video itself is all cheesy kaleidoscopic camera effects. I don't think I blinked for 3 minutes, whilst I coordinated breathing and catching flies.

I think you see where I'm going with this.

Anyone familiar with Gallow's angsty hardcore punk such as 'In the Belly of a Shark' with Carter's rage and screeching will be similarly shocked by such a departure.

But I like it.

It's so radically different and unexpected that it will no doubt polarise audiences and lose him the more fickle half of his fanbase, that many would consider it career suicide. But all of a sudden, Frank Carter comes across as likable and somewhat accessable, stating his mission early on in the opening lines 'I'm so sick and tired of singing about hate/ It's never going to make a change. / It breaks me down bit by bit/ Keep me steadily feeling sick'. He is clearly aiming for something lighter than Gallows. Musically, the song feels familiar and nostalgic, as previously mentioned.

It was a risk that may still swing either may, but the song may be catchy enough to pull it off.

You can get 'Bury My Bones'  as a free download on the band's website, http://therealpurelove.com/