The Heartless Bastards have an interesting name because their music takes some real heart to make. The name of the band need not describe the product. It's just a name.
On its second full length, All This Time, the Bastards take the swamp rock and mix it with some pop melody to create a piece that would brighten anyone's day. "Into the Open" starts it out slow and sweet with a piano line, but singer-guitarist Erika Wennerstrom eventually pulls out that hott axe and starts to lay some serious riffage down. Bassist Mike Lamping and drummer Kevin Vaughn get the rhythm section rumbling and we're off.
The Bastards' first record, Stairs and Elevators, tore some serious blues up, and the band retains most of it this time, but throws in enough slow jams, like closer "Came A Long Way," to keep things honest. "Finding Solutions" sees Wennerstrom grumbling the chorus line "found solutions unfounded," over a barnstorm that will shock your head. And, "Brazen" is exactly what you think, musically.
All This Time is a step in the right direction for a band that could probably try anything and succeed, as long as it doesn't lose it's heart.
