album review
David Delinquent & the I.O.U’s
Scandal
13 Deluxe Records
LP/CD/DL
Pre-order now for release date 14 Sept 2026
David Delinquent & The IOU’S have been favourites of LTW’s Ged Babey from the time his previous band The Delinquents folded. Four years on they release their debut album – and it’s an absolute cracker. Pop Music in a punk battle-vest. Songs the milkman can whistle with power-chords that blow you off your feet. A punk pop album to rival American millionaires? And a new theme tune for Ricky Gervais?
It was nearly four years back I wrote: He may still be a delinquent at heart but David is a committed and talented songwriter and with the I.O.U’s backing him, they are good enough to compete on a national or international level. So I am very happy to see Scandal released at last.
‘Scandal’ is the culmination of four years of hard work and everything they’ve built so far as a band, playing festivals and venues all over the country. They’ve had back to back slots at Heartland Festival, including an appearance on the main stage performing in front of 6,000 people.
!3 Deluxe Records sound like a great label. Their manifesto includes – This isn’t mass-produced culture. This is handmade art. This is 13 Deluxe Records. Art first. Artists respected. Independent forever. So I’m pleased the I.O.U’s have found them so the album can be on vinyl and CD as well as the cheap and cheerful download option. There music has always sounded like it’s just made for vinyl – and jukeboxes…. as well as outdoor festivals and arenas.
Several of the tracks from this album were recorded a while back and I did review them when they were download only ‘singles’:
Rocksteady Girl about which I said in October 2022 – You would never know that it’s a small label, independent production – it sounds on a par with any US ‘Corporate Punk’ coming out on Hellcat or Epitaph. And they reproduce it live effortlessly… It’s not breaking new ground, but it’s beautifully stream-lined classic punk-inspired rock music carved into perfect pop nuggets.
Too Far Gone July 2023 – Hooked after the first three seconds… The I.O.U’s are a proper ‘power pop’ punk rock’n’roll band. Like the Heartbreakers, the Replacements or decent, early Green Day. Bands with bollocks but also harmonies and catchy songs.
Time of my life from May 2024 – Time Of My Life (no, not the Green Day song) is another perfect piece of rock’n’roll with a nod to Thunders, a flavour of early Manics and just a flawless summer-fun sound set against a darker, reflective lyric.
When the band deservedly made the 25 New Bands for 2025 LTW List I included this fantastic quote from Alex Main (from the Reservoir Droogs facebook group)- If there was a punk rock Brill Building then this would be the latest hit churned out from it. It’s the sort of song that is an accessible delight. Ear candy with guitars, and a saxophone too. I’ve no idea how someone from Dundee can look at decades of what is predominantly US melodic rock and punk rock and say ‘hold my beer’ and step up to write material that could hold its own with the giants of these scenes. But they can.
..
The inclusion of sax player Bonnie Ross means the band have a not-so secret weapon which separates them from similar guitar bands. Songs like Alleycats In Love, with its bop-shoo-wops seem to be specifically written to welcome her into the fold. So now as well as getting choruses, guitar hooks, backing vocals, you get sax hooks. So it’s a Stray Cats meets X-Ray Spex vibe – and you really can’t get any better than that, in terms of rockin’, retro pop.
Opening with the short, sweet, fast Rocksteady Girl sets out the stall straight away and Alleycats in Love ramps it up even more. Just imagine if Ricky Gervais hears the song and uses it as the theme tune for his next Top Cat meets Derek & Clive with a soppy ending series of Alleycats. (Stranger things have happened.)
Too Far Gone actually sounds a bit like Oasis plays the Heartbreakers/Replacements. Everybody Loves You is like a Glam Rock Manics. Shame of my Youth is the albums real curveball and obvious stand-out: an utterly shameless and quite superb homage to Big Country.
I don’t need Nobody Else. I don’t wanna be Hangin’ Out with you. Are just teenage anthems, uncomplicated pop songs that rock – or rock songs that are snappy, crackling with energy and pure pop. Today’s A Drag is a great song about ‘real-life’ and the 9 to 5 and Not A Fan disses ‘the haters’. And they rock.
David Delinquent & the I.O.U’s are not really ‘my kinda band’ – I’m a music snob, into arty, deep & meaningful shit – but Davey is a charmer and so enthusiastic and self-deprecating and funny even chatting online that he wins me over. Which wouldn’t mean jack-shit if the music/songs were rubbish- but they are always immediately likeable, nay, loveable. Well written, perfectly executed. The band are fantastic musicians – despite facial hair, terrible dress sense… (says the big-eared, gap-toothed critic)
Whenever I see videos of the band live, David is wearing what he calls his ‘battle-vest’, a denim jacket with the arms cut-off festooned with patches -including the Manic Street Preachers, the Wildhearts and I always think, oddly, the Smiths. But then, on socials, he raves about Sugarbabes and Taylor Swift et al – the man just loves Pop Music.
How can a ‘wee’ fella from Dundee make the I.O.U’s a big-scale success? Perhaps the best they can hope for is something like what happened to Maid Of Ace – here. (Unless Gervais comes a-knockin’…)
Or maybe they will become The Best (known) Band from Dundee – overtaking The View. They have the songs and the belief and a growing number of fans – and now this 12 inch vinyl platter…. Only ten songs and 27 mins running time but absolutely perfect punk power pop, start to finish. An album to be proud of, full of timeless tunes that make life a bit better when they are rattling round your head.
If success is measured by songs that make you feel good about life and all the shit it throws at you, then the I.O.U’s are winners – and we owe them.
Pre-Order Vinyl or CD direct from the label
I.O.U’s Facebook
David Delinquent & the I.O.U’s are:
DAVID DELINQUENT – Vocals/Guitar
JASON PATERSON – Guitar/Vocals
SCOTT SWEENEY – Bass/Vocals
BONNIE ROSS – Sax/Vocals
GORDON MCNALLY – Drums
Whilst the review seems to focus on the singer/songwriter each and every musician in this band is exemplary and make them what they are. x (GB)
LIVE DATES
All words Ged Babey
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