The American rock outfit Dirty Honey take heavy inspiration from rock legends of the ‘70’s on their newest record, Can’t Find The Brakes. The band is not hiding their influences here, as they take many queues from Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith and Journey. Much of the material on Can’t Find The Brakes feels like covered territory, though that’s not to say that there aren’t any rock bangers here.
“Won’t Take Me Alive” serves as a perfect lead single to the album. It’s heavy, with driving electric guitars and solid drum riffs that carry lead singer Marc LaBelle’s vocals through to the end. “Satisfied” is another great track. The harmonies on the chorus are wonderful, as LaBelle sings, “Only got myself to blame / And all of this time, this time / Thought you were satisfied, satisfied.” The guitars never let up, either, as the echoing guitar chords create an impressive wall of sound. The back half of “Rebel Son” is also great; Dirty Honey mixes in a jazzy piano riff that leaves the listener with some last minute instrumental diversity.
However, many of the rockers on Can’t Find The Brakes lack originality, differing song structures and unique songwriting to make Can’t Find The Brakes rewarding. Tracks like “Don’t Put Out The Fire,” “Get A Little High,” “Can’t Find The Brakes,” and “Ride On” operate on the same wavelength – basic song structures that echo back to ’70’s rock classics. Here, the band stumbles to find a unique sound that departs from their inspirations and their predecessors.
The same can be said for the softer ballads, “Coming Home (Ballad of the Shire)” and “You Make It All Right.” The melodies on “Coming Home” are pleasant, though the band takes too much inspiration from their inspirations when it comes to songwriting and stylistic choices.
This being said, Can’t Find The Brakes is a nice listen for those seeking the nostalgia of the 70’s. But, Dirty Honey takes too much from the past to make Can’t Find The Brakes a holistically unique listen.
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