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Mellow Drunk
Never Sleep at Night
Release Date: 2004
Label: Ochre

Mellow Drunk's second album pretty well follows in the vein of its first, though there are a few exceptions, notably that Leigh Gregory now has a full band to work with instead of using the group name as a studio guise. The quintet gels pretty well throughout, but the same situation holds true as with Always Be Drunk -- namely, that Gregory is worshipping at the Church. His world-weary singing again inevitably suggests that of Steve Kilbey, the rich and ringing guitar textures mixed with a bit of bite more than once calls to mind the work of Marty Willson-Piper and Peter Koppes, and so forth. Again, though, Gregory has always been so open about his love for that band and the vein of passionate, dark energy they work in that complaining is beside the point -- and more to the point, unlike, say, Gene vis-à-vis the Smiths, Mellow Drunk are a really enjoyable band with good songs on offer. Brevity is the rule of thumb throughout the album -- the first four songs alone barely last longer than ten minutes added together -- and the band delivers such fine, full-on efforts as "The Top" and "Definitely" with aplomb. When the band takes the time to slow down a bit and lose itself in its own arrangements, as on "Before & After That" and "Dead Sea Fruit," the results can be equally enjoyable. The jaunty "A Different Color on My Door" made for a smart choice as a single, winning and upbeat musically while not steering away from the band's general ethos. Moments of striking beauty abound as well, to the group's credit -- the lead-in to the instrumental break (and the break itself) on "Shone on Everyone" is a great example of rich guitar texture and steady rock drive working in tandem. Ned Raggett, All Music Guide

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