Their ages belie it, but the members of the Bloodhounds remember good ol’ rock & roll. Or at least that’s the indication on the East L.A. quartet’s debut album Let Loose! The band reaches back to the pre-psychedelic days of 50s R&B and 60s garage rock, sticking in the main to the classic two guitars/bass/drums formula stamped into eternity by the Rolling Stones and the Beatles a half century ago.
It’s a pretty basic setup, but the ‘Hounds make it fresh, sounding like they’re having a blast jumpin’ in the night through “Saint Dee,” “Indian Highway” and a cover of Bo Diddley’s “Crackin’ Up.” The band also goes for a more overtly bluesy vibe on “The Wolf” and “Bottle Cap Blues.” The surprise, however, comes from “Olderbudwiser,” “Hey Lonnie” and “Dusty Bibles & Silver Spoons,” which dig even further back to the U.K.’s brief but memorable skiffle craze – not an influence usually heard, especially not from a band this young. It’s that kind of open-mindedness that make the Bloodhounds more than just a retro revivalist bar band and Let Loose an auspicious debut. – Michael Toland