mama kin in the city

Released: 23 October 2009 Label: Leon Music

If you’re thinking the name Mama Kin is familiar it may well be because it is the title of an Aerosmith song. It’s now also the name of a relatively new Swedish glam metal band (formed in 2001), which has just released its debut album In the City and their first single from it Superman.

Their debut album is pretty polished after years of preparation, and an easy listening fun album with catchy choruses, pleasant melodies, and over the top 80s lyrics. I presume some of this is rather tongue in cheek. In Champagne Chicks & Rock’n’Roll we’re greeted with the lyrics “We’re a blast from the past, a real kick in the ass, like a jigsaw puzzle that’s built to last, we’re all dirty dogs and our d**** are on wheels, been all over town chasing them high heels.” Here we go with the hedonistic 80s glam band mentality of drugs, sex and booze on the sunset strip. Every band doing this style of music wants to be Mötley Crüe don’t they? Mama Kin are the latest in a long line of contesters for the crown.

There are hooks galore on this debut offering, which is well played and well sung by the interesting frontman Ward, who does have quite a distinctive voice, not unlike that of Paul Stanley. He has beautiful deep rich tones, not your usual screech favoured by other sleazier glam bands around today. Tracks such as You Belong to Me or Mrs. Operator are AOR heaven, and mainstream radio beckons.

I’m not quite sure how many times one man can sing the word baby in his songs. Classic intelligent challenging lyrics such as “I don’t mean to brag, but baby I can turn you on” and “I can be your superman baby, You know you’ve never been with a real man“ are in abundance. Yes, it’s a little dated and cheesy in places, and it’s not groundbreakingly original. But there’s no pretension here about what you’re going to get. They wear it clearly on their tattooed sleeves and their record sleeves; half-naked long-haired tattooed eye-linered rock stars in a penthouse swimming pool. But you know what? I bloody love it. And yes, it’s got cowbells on it. You can never have enough Swedish cock rock with cowbells can you?

by Lynn Wyeth