Strange title you may wonder, but My Red Cell frontman Russell Toomey is said to have 'devil's luck' given the fact that he has 13 letters in his name.  Well, that's one of multiple reasons why the number 13 features so prominently in the album title.

Musically, these guys, who have been on the road with The 80's Matchbox B-Line Disaster, manage to sound like a lot of other great bands, and yet the sound of My Red Cell is still highly individualistic and distinctive.

Their appetite for alternative rock is always in its element, and one of the coolest and catchiest highlights of the album is the 'Whisper The Fear' anthem of joy in which Russell maniacally sounds like a rabid cross between The Crimea singer, movie star Adam Sandler (as in The Wedding Singer) and Jack White. 

Unsurprisingly, the vocals do sound amazing, and up against the jagged guitar riffery, '13 In My 31'  as an overwhelming whole, proves to be an oddly exhilarating and intense slice of dark, dangerous and yet thoroughly catchy and melodic rock 'n' roll.

Wisely, they open the album with another of their most tantalising anthems in single release 'In My Cage' that's fudge-packed with quirkily disturbing, Mclusky-sized vibes, before 'Me Look You Look' proceeds to bleed with the high-octane energy of the Danko Jones experience, while their 'You Dumb' tune's bridge is so sublimely melodic it manages to remind both of Hanson's 'Mmm Bop' and The La's 'There She Goes' anthem in one fell swoop.

 

'Bullet' strategically pierces love-obsessed wounds ('”ou're making my heart bleed”) with bold relish, but it is 'Knock Me Down' that should truly floor every last person who hears it. If you witnessed this song played live and you had your eyes wide shut, there would be nothing stopping you from reckoning that it was in fact The White Stripes playing their hearts out mere metres away.   But alas, this is My Red Cell alright, and boy do they make the most beautiful racket.
(5/5)

 

Release Date: 14 June 2004

---

13 In My 31