THE POOR
ROUND 2

We weren’t the only ones excited when The Poor kicked the doors open again last year, after a decade’s absence, but their “Round 1” album was a little patchy. Unsurprisingly though, since it was a hodge podge of mostly older tracks from various pre-hiatus sessions for their never-was second album, and it did it’s job in letting those who missed the band know that these bar room brawling, denim clad reprobates were back on the scene.

“Round 2”, we’re happy to report, is a much more focussed affair, with them sounding as fresh and hungry as they did way back when they were known as The Poor Boys and laying waste to Darwin pubs with malicious aforethought.

From the opening scream of blistering opener ‘Black n Blue’ it’s clear The Poor are making music for themselves now, and woe betide anyone who gets in there way. Vocalist Skenie is in fine form here and tears through ‘Blood’ like an animal protecting his young.

‘Rock n Roll Survivor’ is a departure for the boys, an acoustic ballad that wouldn’t be out of place on a Black Crowes album, or something from The Stones in the seventies. Some more of this sort of thing in the future won’t go astray and adds a feather to their cap.

What The Poor do best though, is rocking like their lives depended on it, and on ‘Bad Taste’, ‘Jesus’ and the frenetic closer ‘Which Part of No Don’t You Understand’ they kick the fucking jams out in fine style.

A fine, hard rocking album from one of Australia’s best.

Shane Rockpit

Thanks to Riot Entertainment for the review copy of THE POOR “Round 2”