TUNEFUL BLAST

The last few months have provided a double bonanza of local debuts by striking English trios. First came the Screaming Blue Messiahs, and on Sunday New Model Army stormed into the Whisky and issued a tuneful blast that was uneven, but mostly sharp and thrilling.

Singer-guitarist Slade the Leveller barked out articulate lyrics addressing everything from vigilantism to romance to English social and political policies. A few Army polemics veered close to soapbox territory. But most of the observations were thoughtful, and chief songwriter Slade avoids dogmatic conclusions.

This is one politically oriented band that freely admits it has more questions than answers. And if one didn’t key on the group’s verbal side, the music had a lot to offer. There were a few reflective ballads, but more typical were propulsive rockers, dominated by Jason Harris’ melodic, busy bass lines and Slade’s terse guitar work.