AMG Review of Let Them Eat Rock

Patrick Kennedy
All Music Guide

The Upper Crust may indeed aesthetically resemble the other side of the infamous Boston Tea Party -- the snooty, British ruling class -- but, sonically, this is a pauper's feast: Bon Scott-era AC/DC locked down with early Ramones roots punk, with the occasional flighty nod to the stilted melodies of the elite. And yes, more than the king's share of Spinal Tap mockery. True enough, the band members dress as Tories, with powdered wigs, pantaloons, ascots, and buckled shoes, and effect an exaggerated, mannered -- though humorous -- air when on stage, but they are also capable of some heady rock & roll. And even though clearly derivative of said influences -- Lord Bendover is a dead ringer vocally for Bon Scott -- the Upper Crust are more than apt musicians and songwriters. The rhythm section is perpetually in the pocket, and the guitars positively sing through anthems like "Little Lord Fauntleroy," "Friend of a Friend of the Working Class," and "Little Rickshaw Boy." Humor abounds, but so do the riffs. This is a great rock album, the Upper Crust's finest outing.