SWEET — The Sixteens (review)

SWEET — The Sixteens album cover Single · 1974 · Hard Rock Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
Certif1ed
This single from The Sweet features the opening track from their killer album Desolation Boulevard, and a song on the flipside of sheer, awesome, heavy metal power, which was only ever featured on Sweet comilation albums.

The Sixteens is essentially a teen love song with attitude, but the backing music, is complex and often subtle, featuring tempo and stylistic changes from mellow pop acoustic to searing, pounding heavy metal, thick with Marshall gain and screaming vocals that rival Queen or Uriah Heep.

Compare with their first heavy outing from 1973, "Ballroom Blitz", which has been covered by metal bands throughout the 1980s, including The Damned and Motorhead (simultaneously).

Action is one of my favourite Sweet songs - although the first time I heard it, it was performed by NWoBHM wildmen Raven on their debut "Rock Until You Drop" album, segued with Hellraiser, also written by The Sweet.

Action is a rip-roaring, screaming, chugging, snarling monster of a song. Frankly, the only thing Raven could add to it was speed, which they did, of course, and yes, Raven's version does sound better for it!

The Sweet's original still sets my pulse racing at 50 paces, however, and I love the cash register-announced mad change that precedes the wild guitar solo and the seamless segue back into the song.

Awesome stuff - don't be put off by the band name or the make up. This is proper 'eavy metal right at the beginning.
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