Count Bishops

Personnel: Zen Defleur Hierowski, Johnny Guitar (vocals, guitar); Dave Tice (vocals); Zenon de Fleur (guitar, slide guitar); Julian Holland, Jools Holland (piano); Paul Balbi (drums).
Kicking off with a great cover of the Kinks' "I Need You," this solid, unpretentious debut album belongs in the home of every fan of English R&B from the Yardbirds to the Pretty Things to Dr. Feelgood. Guitarists Johnny Guitar and Zenon de Fleur keep it tight and simple, never wasting a note, and vocalist Dave Tice is so macho, it's enough to make you laugh. The originals are OK if somewhat predictable blues-based rave-ups, but the energy and good cheer more than make up for the album's derivative nature. Not a deep album by any stretch of the imagination, just good dirty fun. ~ John Dougan