Allah-Las – ‘Had It All’
The first bitter signs of winter are so increasingly present on this cold, dank and grey Sunday morning that I find it necessary to inject myself and you with a little Californian sunshine circa 1966. The Allah-Las have just the capability to turn the grittiest bus stop in Scunthorpe into a sun-baked hammock, sipping whiskey sours and dreaming of Edie Sedgwick. So now, because of this magical gift, they’re our track of the day with ‘Had It All’.
‘Had It All’ is no different from the rest of the Allah-Las back catalogue. They keep their strung-out sound, mixing the traditional surf beat and guitar lines with the pranged-out lyrics and delivery of early Velvet Underground—a beautiful, bashful mix.
‘Had It All’ is a perfect slice of ’60s memorabilia taken from their ‘in-between records record’ double-sided 7-inch, which is a special edition in many ways. Most namely in how the Allah-Las manage to mix bongos, hi-hats, melancholy guitars and vocal snarling into a track that still seems contemporary while being impeccably and entirely stylised.
It’s a hard balancing act to achieve, keeping the music fresh and new yet trying to evoke a feeling found in the past. The Allah-Las can do this, however, because they are genuine fanatics. They write these songs with pure love and not one eye on the bank balance (ahem, The Strypes). This authenticity is why these California fruits don’t leave a sour taste in your musical mouth.
This special edition release is unique, not only because it’s being sold exclusively at upcoming shows (and inevitably on eBay) but also due to the band’s unwavering commitment to a style, sound, and substance that’s slowly fading from memory. Amid the wave of ’90s skater rock dominating the Atlantic, there remain a few hidden gems of genuine musicianship, dedicated to a different kind of Americana.
I know which I’d rather have on a Sunday morning.
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