A new album release here that is sleeker than the brill cream in Robert De Nero's hair in Goodfellas. Or should that be Slicker Than Your Average as Craig David would put it? Not that Mr David is known for British tarnished Americana. In reality All Trashed Out by Gasfodlodging is far slicker than the average, it is full to the brim of gold star songwriting, melodies and performance. 
What is astonishingly clever is the way a diverse mixture of songs can bond together so well.
You wouldn't think for one minute that the glorious blues rock romp of Get with the Program would be followed by one of the best alt-country ballads I've heard in recent times, with Caitlin Silvers.
This band could have slung in their interpretation of 1920's Jazz and it would probably have still worked on this album.

​Gasfoodlodging are a three piece ensemble who reside in Birmingham, UK. They are fronted by Dave Griffiths (Pictured) who as well as being chief songwriter and vocalist is a highly competent guitar playing noodler who consistently adds the perfect touch of playing in exactly the right place. Listen to another four great tracks from the album, From The Darkness of a Day, Sometimes, Keep Your Headlights On and Walking The Wire and you will hear my point being clarified.
Other examples of musical brilliance include Keep on Keeping On which has exquisite guitar overlaying, Life is for Living which is full of rock & rolling soul flavour and Six Strings Ringing which is nothing short of a lyrical masterpiece.  
Interestingly, Griffiths mentions Pete Doherty of Babyshambles fame as an influence in the band bio I received. I'm not surprised to hear that after listening to All Trashed Out. As with Doherty, Griffiths is doing his own interpretation on music of a similar vein to bands such as The Velvet Underground and The Clash but in my estimation Gasfoodlodging have far more variety to their sound. I can hear splashes of Jimi Hendrix, Teenage Fanclub, Jerry Jeff Walker and Iggy Pop throughout this outstanding album.

​For a city whose most recent well known band was the bland and frankly predictable, The Editors, its with welcome relief to hear that Birmingham has far more impressive things afoot musically. All Trashed Out by Gasfoodlodging is as tasty as a Christmas dinner with all the trimmings. Its positively delectable.

Michael Lord 
www.pushpowerpromo.com
© 2019

At their forefront is their expressive guitar slinger and songwriter, David Griffiths who has written another thirteen songs for this fourteen track album. There's great indie fuzz with tracks such as Sometimes and Keep on Keeping on and exceptional alt-country twanged ballads such as Caitlin Silvers, Walking the Wire and Bug in the Grass. The latter including samples more associated with modern dance music as does the great punchy punk of Get with the program, the opening track of the album, clearly signifying that Griffiths and his band mates are not adverse to experimentation.
Its all change in the rhythm section of the band for much of this album from their debut one and there appears to be an extra zest of liveliness and thoughtfulness that back up Griffiths and his songs. As a songwriter, Griffiths himself is maturing like a fine wine, "Her stereo is the bible, she preaches JJ Cale" from the aforementioned Walking the Wire track is just one example of the clever use of lyricism that is rife on this album.
Griffiths has also upped the ante in his vocal department. His performance on this album is far more defined and robust. I find myself never being able to pinpoint who he reminds me of vocally? Perhaps he is simply unique and that's why I struggle to do so.
For a follow up album, All Trashed Out is an excellent achievement, a difficult thing to do for any band. Music purists would possibly highlight a weakness with the album's absence of top flight production but in a recording industry where we are continually presented with meaningless musical meanderings that cost a fortune to conceive, and at best could only be described as codswallop, then critical bullet pointing surrounding production on any album of great material is ludicrous to say the least. I'm looking forward to the third Gasfoodlodging album already and I'll be playing this one very often in the meantime. 

Favorite tracks: All Trashed Out the title track. A sublime slice of dreamy indie craziness. Caitlin Silvers, country twanged story telling par excellence and From the Darkness of a Day, an indie rock delight with sterling guitar work and lyrical finesse.

For further information on Gasfoodlodging. www.gasfoodlodging.co.uk
alex.force10media@gmail.com
www.outpostmedia.co.uk

A.Gregory. © 2019

After doing some brief research on Gasfoodlodging who cite their influences as The Velvet Underground through to The Kinks and Iggy Pop as well as an artist called Chuck Prophet who I'm unfamiliar with at this time, I gave the album a listen with my usual open mindedness and surprisingly I found myself trying to remember the last time I had enjoyed an album worth of new guitar music this much.
The album begins with a 6 minute piece of soulful punk arrogance with Get with the Program.  "I do what I wanna do, not what they say that I should do" exclaims Dave Griffiths, the vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter of this Birmingham based three piece band. Simplistic lyrics they maybe but relevant and poignant to the general feeling of discontent with governmental spoon feeding in 2019? Absolutely.
In fact its the simplistic and quirky lyrical delivery that works exceptionally well through the entire album, the songs aren't trying to be smart ass or derail off into self-indulgent nonsense.
Caitlin Silvers, Walking the Wire, Keep your headlights on a little longer, Outlaw, Six Strings Ringing, From the Darkness of a day cover topics we are all aware of, from domestic abuse, homelessness, through to the search for love and fulfilment. And like a good story teller recounts his or her writings, Griffiths conveys his narrative of such topics with great lyrical thought. The Outlaw songwriting credit goes to the bassist of the band, Mike Fleming with Griffiths having penned the other 13 songs on the album. Vocally, Griffiths also impresses a great deal as he sways about in Iggy Pop and Jim Reid from the The Jesus & Mary Chain territory.
This is not an album devoted to strictly bleak themes either, there are some great and charismatic uplifting moments, Life is for Living, Keep on Keeping on and Loving Arms speak for themselves with their themes. The closing track of the album, Rock & Roll Textbook is another cleverly pieced together narrative of uplifting reflection. "Just because I'm older now, my rock & roll passion stays the same" states Griffiths triumphantly.
For a guy who judging by his photos looks to be in his 30's now, this is clear intent that he has no intention of putting his pen and paper in the desk draw anytime soon. Considering Seasick Steve began his recording career circa the age of 65, Griffiths has a fair few years ahead of him yet to keep his rock & roll passions ignited.
​Based upon the content of this album Griffiths and his band are doing everything right. Great songs which are wonderfully performed and with a unique edge. You couldn't ask for anymore if you're in a band.
All Trashed Out by Gasfoodlodging is available on CD, digital download here: 
gasfoodlodging.bandcamp.com/

Samantha Hill (Evo4 Promotions)
s.hill@evo4.co.uk
© 2019