Harold Whit Williams has a very impressive CV. Prize-winning poet. Author of seven books. Longtime guitarist with veteran US indie-rock band Cotton Mather. The list goes on.
Now fully focused on his solo incarnation, Daily Worker, his new album, Prefab Maverick, is his 22nd release (!), and shows that his creative well is still overflowing.
Golden Shield – From the very first bar, this album sets out its stall, with immediately catchy hooks and a raw, vintage sound. The guitars have a satisfying twang, and the snare has a wonderful grit and crunch. It’s hard to ignore that Harold’s vocals seem to channel John Lennon, as the simple arrangement and vocal harmonies work their Beatles-esque magic.
Gamechanger – Straight down to business again with another undeniably catchy intro! I loved the wide acoustic noodlings tickling my ears during this one. The electric guitars have a really distinctive distortion: Goldilocks would be proud as there’s just the right amount of grain and drive. A sitar and elongated syllables add a groovy psychedelic flavour. Even the snare is elongated – it’s got a tail like a comet!
Anything Can Explode – Winner of my ‘song title of the month’ competition, this could be a long-lost track from the Rubber Soul sessions with its ‘oo-la-la’ backing harmonies. The shortest track on the album, but perhaps the most profound message. This was like traveling back in time with a knife wrapped in a warm blanket.
Pop Knock-Offs – A highly compressed, slightly overloaded mix creates an intense, powerful pumping sound. Like a rush of blood to the head, it hits hard. I loved the Stones-like swagger and steely vocal delivery.
Prefab Maverick – Once again, the raw, barely contained rhythm section sounds like they are having a blast (like the rest of us!). The guitar work really shines here, particularly the solo. Now, I don’t normally offer so many comparisons in my reviews, but I’m finding it very hard with Daily Worker as his songs are so evocative. Here, I get hints of Bob Dylan but with more attitude. Perhaps that’s fitting, as the song seems to be a playful jab at the current state of music?
“Prefab maverick
Comin’ off so sick
With the finger on the pulse of blank generation
Blowing out candles on his own celebration”
Soul Surrender – The trippiest track so far; there is lots of space and some expertly judged vocal FX. I liked the melody’s simplicity, and once again, it leaves you wanting more.
The New Insincerity – Pushed out of the speakers with full force, there’s a visceral weight to this track that nearly pushes you over. A true tale for the ages with lines like “Free market Jesus gonna save all our souls”.
Western Wear – I loved the Motown-flavoured beat and the vocal elasticity. The melodic ideas are still being offered up like coins to a fountain.
Righteous Runway – I loved the rolling groove with that long, splashy snare and the driving guitar part, but it was over too soon! At only 95 seconds, this feels like it had maybe had a bit more to give.
Last Silver Bullet – The ghost of Buddy Holly must have visited Harold while recording this track. The rhythm guitar, the vocal delivery, and the simple arrangement are all in full effect, but there’s a darker filter here. This is another intensely raw melodic treat and a great closer for the album.
“I’m down to my last silver bullet
Finger on the trigger, and I think I’m gonna pull it
But the monster is me”
With more hooks than a fisherman’s tackle box, Prefab Maverick is an earworm factory. Daily Worker’s influences are written all over Prefab Maverick, and at times it’s like sitting in a blender with the Beatles, The Stones, Buddy Holly & Bob Dylan.
Make no mistake, though, these ten tracks – each comfortably under three minutes – are little shots of adrenaline dripping with personality. They get in and get out with ruthless efficiency – never overstaying their welcome and delivering perfectly honed snapshots of indie-pop-rock.
Take a listen to “Anything Can Explode” from Prefab Maverick below, and read our previous Daily Worker single review here.
Written by Grubby
