Bandolier by Budgie (MCA 1975)
Budgie keep their ammunition slung across the chest
Bandolier is the Welsh power trio’s third album, consolidating their reputation for trademark grinding riffs, bizarre song titles and occasional slow ballads (to balance the thunderous impact). It also ranks among their first five and best albums, with the driving Breaking All the House Rules and the insistent Who Do You Want for Your Love as standouts. Slipaway is the gentle piece, while the Andy Fairweather-Lowe cover, I Ain’t No Mountain, was an early attempt at a hit single. The album closes on Napolean Bona Parts 1 and 2, an epic that makes modern bands sound like pansies!
NOTE: The above represents my experiment in reviewing an album in 100, or less, words (a bit like Trollheart's Bitesize). My intention was to review Budgie's first five albums in this style. Having begun writing about progressive rock, the project has been shelved, like so many others.