FHM MAGAZINE

Presenting the greatest band in Australia at the present time. Who the hell are these guys? Who the hell knows? But this baby is the baddest, smooth talkin', sex drippin' ripsnorter to come out of Australia ever. This album is the soundtrack to the porno version of Hawaii Five-O they never made. It's such an eclectic calabash of sound there's no way you could be disappointed. It's the ultimate party, slothing or bonking album. The whole thing drips with bourbon and semen and will get even the most arthritic of pelvises thrusting in unison. QUINCEY McLEAN AND THE SMOOTH BASTARDS reveal yourself, your country needs you. To hell with GINA G, please be our Eurovision song contest representatives, you could pretend to be Swedish.

GQ MAGAZINE

Introducing QUINCEY McLEAN AND THE SMOOTH BASTARDS dressed to kill, thrill and spill, packing their debut album , FRIENDS IN LOW PLACES. And my, what magnificant bastards they are. Kicking off with I LOVE YOU BIG DUMMY this debut from the all star Melbourne quartet is destined for scrapyard classic status. Part rockabilly, punk, funk and country, the Bastards serve it up with full tilt boogie with sax, slide, sly etiquette and flair. These bastards are the highest of the low.

JUICE MAGAZINE

Combining the attack of the JON SPENSER BLUES EXPLOSION with the swing of MORPHINE, QUINCEY McLEAN has recorded an astounding debut. A cover of CAPTAIN BEEFHEART's I LOVE YOU DUMMY absolutely burns. Nice to see tribute where tribute is due, too. Smooth bastards indeed.

RIP IT UP MAGAZINE

Dust off your stetson, strap on your docs and don't forget your leopard skin pants. You won't know what the hell you're in for, but you know its gonna be fun. Country/rock/punk/funk/80's retro, call it what you will. McLEAN jumps between more styles than a snake with the bends. The end result is the BASTARDS will be running you down with chunky riffs, or making you cry with stomach churning ballads. Usually in the same song. Definitely the gem of the album, MIDNIGHT RIDE could almost be a lost STONES number. DEVIL IN THE CITY, a surprisingly poignant anti-police song, McLEAN shows obvious depth in reserve. This is a fantastic debut album, a flashback to the great eighties. Using every switch on the synth, chunky riffs, lung-piercing screams, backed with tambourines. My Philosophy is to do it till you die, ain't nothing wrong with that, words to live by from LOUDMOUTH. Rounding off as they started with hard hitting rock, IN A GROOVE lets you know QUINCEY McLEAN AND THE SMOOTH BASTARDS will not go quietly. FRIENDS IN LOW PLACES kicks down your door, raids the fridge, makes slow passionate love to your corgi before jumping out of the window into the night. Thats got to be worth a listen.