What's Rock and Roll?

The Reytons pulled off something that felt increasingly improbable in 2023 with What’s Rock and Roll? Released on 20 January 2023, the band’s second studio album was self-released and still stormed straight to Number 1 on the UK Albums Chart, a rare and quietly defiant moment for an unsigned guitar band doing things entirely on their own terms.

The record sounded like a group fully aware of the system they were operating in, and determined to poke at it from the inside. Songs like “15 Minutes in the Algorithm” and “Monthly Subscription” nodded to the modern grind of visibility and value, while keeping the hooks sharp and the pace brisk. Across its tight 34 minutes, the album moved quickly, rarely lingering, driven by concise riffs, chant-along choruses and a sense of urgency that never felt forced.

That momentum translated into real-world results. What’s Rock and Roll? debuted at Number 1 on 27 January 2023, selling 12,252 copies in its first week. It arrived in an astonishing 32 different formats, including 16 CD editions, five cassettes and even a deluxe podcast version, a release strategy that became part of the story rather than a distraction from it. The album also topped the Scottish Albums Chart and the UK Independent Albums Chart, reinforcing the scale of what The Reytons achieved without label backing.

Crucially, the album did not sound like a novelty success or a stunt release. Tracks such as “Avalanche”, “Little Bastards” and “Cash in Hand & Fake IDs” carried the blunt charm and working-class perspective that had built the band’s following in the first place. There was humour here, but also frustration, ambition and a clear-eyed view of how hard it is to stay visible without playing by the usual rules.

What’s Rock and Roll? felt less like a victory lap and more like a statement of intent. By combining sharp songwriting with an unapologetically independent approach, The Reytons turned the album into proof that scale and autonomy did not have to be mutually exclusive.