REVIEW: Driver, Driver (Trauma Records)
- Bob Gajarsky
The Australian rock band Driver has released its eponymously titled debut album, Driver, in the United States.
The first single and leadoff track, "Sometimes", opens with an uncredited sample from James Brown's "Funky Drummer" and segues into an addictive song which segues between the psychedelic Beatles style era and a laid back, whistling bridge.
Lead singer Steve Driver's voice at times resembles that of INXS' Michael Hutchence. More often than not, however, it sounds like the current voice of Sammy Hagar, with a little less vocal range. The rest of the band has a straight-ahead rock and roll sound which rocks from beginning to end.
Driver and guitarist Jim Reece, who co-wrote half of the songs on Driver's debut, have previously scored two hit singles in their native Australia in the late 1980's as Bang The Drum. In addition to these two, Driver (the group) consists of ex-Divinyls drummer J.J. Harris and former Firm bassist Tony Franklin.
Can't get enough rock and roll? Driver is nothing earth-shattering, but for listeners who like 70's and 80's rock in a 1990's style, Driver is right on the mark.
