The
Deadly Snakes' second album,
I'm Not Your Soldier Anymore, picks up where their first album left off, without sacrificing any momentum. However, there are some notable differences. The first is the larger presence of producer-turned-member Greg Oblivian. His songs are a distinguishable but comfortable addition to the rest. The second and most noticeable difference is that the recording is much cleaner and the songs more developed. This appropriately complements the maturation of the band. (Even Soldier's cover photo of the
Snakes reveals seasoned musicians as opposed to the street-tough youngsters that graced the cover of
Love Undone.) There are still rowdy blues romps like "Graveyard Shake" and "I Can Take It," but there are a handful of divergents like the gospel ballad "Trigger." On several tracks, organist Max Danger contributes vocals, including lead vocals on the
Lou Reed-ish "Pirate Cowboy." There's also "Early Bird," which sounds like it could have been a Motown hit from the '60s. To put it simply, the songs remain as spirited as
Love Undone's, but end up swapping some raw energy for some craftsmanship. It's a fair trade. ~ Aaron Nemec