Therein lies the attraction of Sonny Vincent’s music. It’s fearsome punk rock for the most part, apart from a few diversions, with familiar themes (angst, isolation, rejection and drugs among them.) It’s the music of an outsider who’s not about to be let in, but he’s never just going through the motions. It’s real.

This may not be the best place to start if you’re uninitiated. The sonic quality varies wildly although it’s been evenly mastered.  People who have ridden the Sonny fan bus before will have their favourites. The drum-less and bass-less “Crystal Clear”, the always searing “Bad Attitude” and the downbeat “Epic Ripped Up Letter” (featuring Scott Asheton, Captain Sensible and Cheetah Chrome – if you have to ask, leave now) resonate especially well to these ears.   

Not every player is well-known. Some of Vincent’s most committed bands have been lesser lights from Europe where playing this sort of music is a perpetual struggle against the cultural tide with few, if any, tangible rewards. The intensity shines through, even on the relatively low key “Pride”. The oddly dislocated funk of “What Is This Feeling” is a curve ball but if James Chance can fuck with your preconceptions, why not Sonny?

OK, $US50 might be a lot to part with once you put postage on top compared to a download, but MP3s suck and the gallery price was six times that. This link will guide you to a copy as well as an Aladdin’s Cave of other punk rock Sturm und Drang.  

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