You might be reading this wondering just who Bloodlights are? Well go back just a couple of decades to a time when looking at your grubby trainers was king and miserable music was the order of the day. Those of us who wanted a little more from our music and some genuine passion and excitement had to look to distant lands to get our rockin' fix and thanks to a few shops in the UK like Changes One and mail order specialists Sonically Speaking, who knew what good old rock 'n' roll was and how to keep those of us still looking for a fix of the good stuff, they gave us somewhere we could get it.

Some of us never lost the faith and that grunge was simply another passing fad. If you looked hard enough some bands knew what it took to make a great record or CD - bands like The Hellacopters, D Generation, Gluecifer and the Backyard Babies were all out there delivering consistantly. Sure as shit the magazines weren't covering it and neither were a lot of retailers, but the mid 90's bands just about saved people like me and these bands were a breath of fresh air blowing through a very stale smelling music industry. 

Hailing from Norway was Gluecifer who for more than a brief moment had people taking notice of their music as it pounded listeners with a mix of classic hard rock in the same tradition as Motorhead, Kiss, some AC/DC riffs married with some good old garage rock from the likes of The Stooges and the MC5, mixed together to create great hooks and choruses. They managed to release some fantastic albums with some of the best album titles to boot. After deciding to call it a day Gluecifer guitar slinger Captain Poon went on to form Bloodlights in 2006. After releasing their self titled debut album in late 2007 they then hit the streets touring and touring and some more touring with over 120 shows in Europe and Japan.  

Which just about brings us up to date and the reason I'm writing this - 'Simple Pleasures' (album number two) gets going with 'Blasted' and the colours are nailed to the mast with a heady mix of no nonsense riffs. The influences are for everyone to hear - Motorhead, DC, Thin Lizzy, The Stooges etc, etc and a punk attitude which makes for a great solid base and some choruses the likes of Cheap Trick would die for. Oblivious to changes going on in music bands like Bloodlights will continue to make the music they make because that's what they like! It's not about discovering new sounds or being different for the sake of being different but writing a three minute song because it's worth writing, it sounds good and will just about kick anyone's ass who listens to it. There is nothing not to like here; eleven songs, one as good as the next, well played and well written. Also I might add Captain Poon also took control of the production duties and a damn fine job he's done too with a crisp and extremely well defined mix that does the songs justice. I've long since given up on predicting trends in music and as we all know those that deserve the plaudits don't always get the recognition they deserve but Über Röck knows and I can tell you Bloodlights is the real deal - you should check them out and bask in the glow from such a strong bunch of songs. At times they sound like if Cheap Trick had written songs for Motorhead and got Ace in to sing, now just imagine that? What a great mix, eh?

Sometimes you just want a record to be dripping with authenticity and prove that rock 'n' roll can still be played by four guys with great songs, who look like a gang all wrapped up in one dynamic package. There are no weak tracks here and I urge you to pester those faddy record stores to stock a copy of 'Simple Pleasures' and you too can revel in the quality of tracks like 'Ultimate High', 'Never Built To Last' and 'Wipe It Off' or Nick Royale's backing vocals on 'Perfect But The Opposite'. Captain Poon has delivered again, now what are you waiting for? Go get some Bloodlights in your collection - you won't regret it!

www.myspace.com/bloodlights