Albert Hammond Jr: Momentary Masters | Album Review

Momentary Masters
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Artist: Albert Hammond Jr.
Genre: Alternative
Label: Infectious

The recent temporary re-unification of The Strokes has not been at the expense of Albert Hammond Jr's solo career. On the contrary; their guitarist's third album has been in the works for some time. If you're a fan of the frantic surges of Hammond's guitar-playing, songs such as the zippy Drunched in Crumbs and the horror-themed burble of Caught By My Shadow will delight, while the new-wave chug of Losing Touch is moderately toe-tappy. Elsewhere, it is blatantly clear that Hammond is no frontman, largely thanks to his unremarkable voice, which is sorely lacking in either character or potency. Lyrics such as "I'm so unfit, like a pig in sh*t" don't help his case, but there are generally few surprises here on this painfully average album. alberthammondjr.com

Lauren Murphy

Lauren Murphy

Lauren Murphy is a freelance journalist and broadcaster. She writes about music and the arts for The Irish Times