Following a critically acclaimed album on Deck Cheese, Strawberry Blondes are back, now on Not on Your Radio and with a freshly inked Japanese deal too. The short version of this review is that if you liked the band’s last album, ‘Rise Up’, you will certainly enjoy this new one. It’s better in pretty much every way. My only gripe is that there are perhaps one or two too many songs and if you listen to the album as a whole it does begin to sound a little tired by the end. But that’s just a comment from someone who doesn’t usually listen to this type of music. Fans will quite rightly lap it up.
‘Fight Back’ is passionate and energetic. There are guest appearances from Joey LaRocca from The Briggs and former Stubborn All-Stars and New York City Ska legend King Django. The latter appears on ‘Manners And Respect’ which is a definite highlight, while ‘Goodbye Inspiration’, which features Joey LaRocca, is another standout. While lazy people will compare the band to the likes of The Clash and Rancid, there’s more to The Strawberry Blondes than that and ‘Fight Back’ is the proof. Hell, if you can convert someone who thinks Rancid are washed up to like your band that’s saying something!