Pat Todd & The Rankoutsiders – I’ll Dream Alone LP (Hound Gawd!)

There are very few artists in the American underground who genuinely represent the raw, pounding heart of rock ‘n’ roll quite like Pat Todd. Coming out of the ashes of the legendary Lazy Cowgirls, he has spent decades proving that real, unfiltered guitar music is still very much alive and kicking. Now, Pat Todd & The Rankoutsiders return with their ninth full-length album, I’ll Dream Alone. This is an absolute slab of raw, anthemic rock ‘n’ roll music built upon twelve exceptional compositions. While it carries that highly recognizable style they’ve perfected over the years, fusing snarling seventies punk, blues, country, and classic rock, this new material sounds even more powerful, meaningful, and ear-appealing. Returning to Steady Studios in Burbank to work with engineer Gavin Ross, the band captured a massive and intimately honest sound. It is an album that will immediately find a permanent, highly respected place in your record collection. Pat Todd has always been a frontman who sings straight from the heart, and his vocal performance on this LP is fantastic as usual. His sincere, confident, and incredibly passionate vocal maneuvers elevate every single track. He delivers honest, road-worn storytelling with the kind of spirit and melody that simply cannot be faked. You can hear the miles on his voice, conveying deeply meaningful lyrics across a variety of moods. The songwriting itself is a brilliant mix of approaches. You get tracks like “Ambition Street,” which the band fiercely road-tested on stage for years before committing it to tape, alongside spontaneous studio creations like the title track and the blistering single “We’re Outta Time,” where the lyrics were penned right at the finish line. The record even throws a fantastic curveball with “It Ain’t All My Fault,” an incredible true-story rocker where guitarist Nick Alexander steps up to take over the lead vocals.

When it comes to the guitar attack, the guitars on I’ll Dream Alone completely exemplify exactly how rock ‘n’ roll music should sound nowadays. The record is packed to the brim with catchy, memorable, and highly engaging riffs. The chord progressions are sharp and direct, beautifully paired with unforgettable themes, layered harmonies, and scorching guitar solos. Whether they are tearing through the gritty, high-energy push of “Desire Has Left Town” and “Blood & Gunpowder,” tipping into the beautiful, Velvet Underground Loaded-style balladry of “Mediocre Heart,” or channeling a classic sixties AM radio vibe on “The Last Of Me,” the guitarists never miss a beat. They provide the perfect, screaming backdrop for the vocals to shine. A rock record this energetic needs a concrete foundation, and the rhythm section absolutely delivers the goods. The intricate basslines are directly responsible for the immense heaviness, clarity, and melody you will hear echoing throughout the album. The bass supports the heavy guitar distortion with a ton of warmth and groove, locking into the lower end and keeping the songs incredibly punchy. Backing up those thick bass grooves is a drummer who delivers uncompromising rhythmic patterns that propel this material to spectacular new heights. His incredible drumming keeps all the orchestrations firmly in line while dictating the overall pace. From standard four-on-the-floor punk beats to the fantastic uptempo soul-beat driving “Beyond the County Line,” the percussive work makes sure that the energy levels never drop for a second.

When you put all these elements together, I’ll Dream Alone stands as another absolute masterpiece by the legendary Pat Todd & The Rankoutsiders. It is a comprehensive collection of songs that not only documents one of the finest, most authentic bands operating today but also serves as a perfect example of what pure rock ‘n’ roll should be all about. They don’t rely on cheap studio tricks or fleeting trends. Quite the contrary, they just plug in, turn up, and play their hearts out. If you love loud guitars, passionate vocals, and songs that actually mean something, you should definitely grab this vinyl as soon as possible. Drop the needle, crank the volume, and let Pat Todd and his crew show you how it’s done.