Daveportivo's Cultural Evaluation Facility

So I have to admit something....*whispers* I don't hate Billy Talent. I know I probably should, but I find their singles whiny but extremely catchy, I can't stomach a whole album but I have no problem listening to their singles. Although temper that statement with the fact that I decided to review She Wolf by Shakira instead of this track two weaks ago. Anyway enough talk of prejudice what of Devil On Your Shoulder? Well it's very much an a-typical Billy Talent track. I have to say I really enjoyed the central riff on this track and the bouncy guitar, it feels like a distilled down Zeppelin meets Rush riff for the punk genre. The Bassline is bouncy as ever and its nice to see the guitar line be the hook rather than a grating vocal. Of course make no mistake the Kowalewicz vocals are still extremely grating, he is an annoying little shit, or at least he sounds like one. The lyrics are equally silly "The Hounds Of Hell Are Getting Closer, Closer and Closer, I've Got The Devil On My Shoulder", imagine that in his shrill voice repeated over and over and you begin to get the picture. So there's alot to love and hate about this track, it doesn't have such an obvious hook as those on Red Flag and Falling Leaves but that's suprisingly a benefit. Devil On My Shoulder all in all is a fine single, and a pretty good track, it's certainly less deviscive than their earlier work. So if you hated Billy Talent beforehand there's a chance you'll like this track, but probably not. For the rest of us this is good fun single, which is exactly what we want from Billy Talent.