If there's one thing I hate the sound of more than rock, it's rock 'n' roll. So when a band gets in touch and pretty much the first thing they say is 'we're a rock 'n' roll band', my instinct - after emitting an audible sigh - is to hit delete and end the matter. Fortunately for Glasgow rock 'n' rollers Jim Valentine, they caught me in a generous moment and so they got heard. And whilst this genre may still not top my own particular chart, I can hold my hand up and say that Jim Valentine (who are a 'they' rather than just a 'he') are definitely not too shabby at all. They look pretty cool too - see above.
So that is how 'Make You Mine' came to pass and how it achieved the exalted position of Track Of The Day. While still not sure I would exactly want to listen to it repeatedly, it does have a fiery energy and plenty of hookin' riffs that you could imagine getting all hot and sweaty over when hearing in a live setting. Oh, and James does a fair job on rock-god-in-the-making vocals.
The four-piece - James (vocals/guitar), Charlie (guitar), Alekzander (bass), Carlo (drums) - formed in February, and have been picking up a bit of a buzz north of the border, and on hearing 'Make You Mine' you start to understand why.
As for 'Jim Valentine' being their moniker, seemingly it was not in homage to their vocalist: "We used to make up fake pop culture icons in the hope that people would pretend to know who they were. Jim Valentine was one of 'em," is their response to the question.
Rating: They've got the look even if the name doesn't exactly thrill me, and if they can pull it off live half as good, then they could be rockin 'n' rollin as headliners before too long. 8/10
Words: Linn Branson
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