Stephen Fretwell – Man On The Roof
Stephen Fretwell is an English singer-songwriter from sunny Scunthorpe. Well known for his mop of ginger hair, Fretwell released his début album ‘Magpie’ in 2004 and then this second in 2007 through Fiction Records. ‘Man On The Roof’ comprises of fourteen tracks and clocks in at a total of 46 minutes in length. I did not hear his début album so was not greatly aware of the man when this second album was released, but nonetheless decided to give it a go and am really quite glad that I did.
The album was recorded in New York, his music consisting of many layers and terrific depth. The music is melancholy and masterful in its approach. Fretwell shows a great deal of maturity in this release, his songs are extremely well crafted and his lyrics are always intelligently written. It sounds like this is much more than just the man’s second album, a lot of the time it does in fact sound like he was been producing this sound for years due to the eloquence and excellence with which he progresses the album and puts across his exceptional talent. Many hold Coldplay’s Chris Martin on a pedestal for his lyric writing, and yet if anything I feel that Stephen Fretwell is better than he. Much better in fact, and this goes some way in explaining why the man has been compared to the likes of Damien Rice and even Leonard Cohen.
What I love about Stephen Fretwell is that he is a young man who is clearly full of great ideas. His music shows just how much creativity he possesses and the way in which he wishes to stretch himself and make the most of his talent. He is enthusiastic and ambitious, two traits that make him greatly effective as a singer-songwriter. ‘Coney’ opens the album with a great degree of excellence and from here on in never does the album show any signs of weakness. The track ‘Dead’ is particularly impressive on this release and is perhaps my favourite of all those that are here. There is a great strength to the track and all elements of the music come together perfectly. It is music such as this that is superbly soothing to listen to, a perfect anthem for a long journey on the road.
‘William Shatner’s Dog’ ends the album satisfyingly, sadly however it was not the Captain Kirk worshipping music I had been hoping for. In truth the title has little reference to the track whatsoever and does in fact seem to be somewhat chosen at random. Nonetheless, this is an excellent way in which for Stephen Fretwell to end the album and is in fact an extremely effective way of doing so. My only complaint with ending the album with this one is that it is 5 minutes in length, the longest on the album and I have great difficulties in holding my interest for anything over three minutes with music. I have a short attention span and although I do enjoy this one, I do tend to become a little bored of it by the time it comes to its close. There are few other tracks on the album where this is the case, but sometimes the music just doesn’t hold quite enough intrigue and excitement to hold you for a stretch of four minutes plus.
Although only on his second album, Stephen Fretwell seems to be showing some great signs of maturity already and could well go on to become an extremely prolific and world renowned singer-songwriter. He seems to have the talent to do so certainly, but I definitely believe that some of the tracks here need winding down a little. Needlessly long in parts, I do have a tendency to drift off a little when listening to this album but then again there are many tracks here that are greatly impressive. There are times when he sounds like he has been recording albums for years, and yet there are others when he seems completely inexperienced. When Stephen Fretwell next records an album I shall be expecting great things from him, as it stands however there are certainly a few signs of weakness in his music and a few cracks that need smoothing over. Stephen Fretwell has the potential to be great, but currently his music is merely ‘good’. Shows signs of great potential, but only if he really applies himself will Stephen Fretwell ever release a truly exceptional album.
Label: Fiction Records
Release Date: 10th September 2007
Rating:
My American Heart – Boys! Grab Your Guns
In October 2007 My American Heart unleashed upon the world their second studio album to date. ‘Boys! Grab Your Guns’ is the second chosen single for release and is one of the catchiest Pop Punk tracks I have heard in a long while. As time has gone by this has developed to become my out and out favourite track from the album. With a superbly infectious chorus and a brilliant guitar riff driving through, this track cries out for attention and grabs it with ease. Pop Punk has always been a favourite genre of mine and ‘Boys! Grab Your Guns’ is without a doubt one of my favourite tracks that the genre has produced in recent years. If you too are a fan of the genre then make sure you get out there and give this a listen, you’ll surely not be disappointed with what you hear.
Label: Bodog Music
Release Date: 25th February 2008
Rating:
Goldfrapp – Seventh Tree
When I found that I could listen to Goldfrapp’s ‘Seventh Tree’ album completely free of charge on MySpace I soon jumped at the opportunity. The album has not yet been released commercially, so the ability to be able to listen to it already is absolutely brilliant. Goldfrapp have never been a favourite of mine, however I have always had a great fondness for their music. The band actually formed in London in 1999, Alison Goldfrapp is of course the key figure behind the band and Will Gregory performs alongside her on the keyboards. These two members make up the band, and what they lack in members they definitely make up for in talent.
Gone is the dance inspired pop sound of old, and what has replaced it here is an ambient and downtempo affair, a greatly calming and soothing album that is absolutely perfect for relaxing to. This album begins with ‘Clowns’, continues with ‘Little Bird’ and never in this ten track album do the band fail to impress. It took me a while to adjust to the new sound of the band when I first heard it, however after a couple of listens I soon came to enjoy the new direction that the band have taken. Bands are at their most impressive I feel when they continually adapt their sound and broaden their horizons, something that has clearly been done by Goldfrapp here. This is not a genre that I would generally find myself listening to, but when music comes at a price tag of nothing I’m always prepared to give it a go.
‘Happiness’ is perhaps the track that stands out to me most when listening to this album. All of the tracks are equally mellow and chilled out, however there is just something about this one that makes it stand out a little from the rest. The melody is well constructed, and the vocals are finely laced lovingly atop of the beauteous musical accompaniment. The track just seems to work on every level and I love the way in which the track is carried out. Goldfrapp clearly have a great passion for the music that they are producing, this is certainly something that comes across in their sound and something that makes their music all the more appealing to listen to. It is great when you can hear that a band truly do believe in what they are doing, their passion for the music drives them and encompasses the sound entirely.
‘A and E’ was the lucky track chosen to be the lead single from this album, a decision that I certainly can’t complain with. Every single one of these tracks are equally beautiful I feel, each as essential as the next in making up the ‘Seventh Tree’ album as a whole. Even still, you can fully appreciate the decision to release this single first as there is definitely something about the track, an utterly captivating and awe inspiring display of absolute ambient excellence from the band. It is little over three minutes in length and yet so much is accomplished in the tracks run time, it is such a successfully structured single and not one note is at all out of place. When music is as fine in sound as this you can’t help but feel moved by it, something that Goldfrapp are continually successful in doing on this album.
Goldfrapp never fail to impress me with this album, the instrumental element of their music is always absolutely spot on and the vocals forever sweetly spoken. There is a greatly appealing quality about the music that the band are creating in this ‘Seventh Tree’ album. Tracks such as ‘Some People’ and ‘Eat Yourself’ are absolutely mesmerising, the music will put you into a joyous trance that you will find it hard to return from. The music borders upon perfection, a truly exceptional album that pleases with every twist and turn that it makes. Goldfrapp were not afraid to try out a new sound here and their decision to do so has yielded great dividends. Their refusal to remain static in their sound has certainly pleased me greatly, that’s for sure. Whilst I appreciated their old sound, I feel this new element that the band are portraying definitely provides greater suitability.
I have read that the band became inspired to write this album having performed an acoustic radio session, and I am definitely glad that this provided such great inspiration for them. Had they not played this session then they may never have unleashed the ambient element of their band, something that has laid dormant all these years but is now out there in the world to flourish. Acoustic guitars complete the Goldfrapp sound on this release, and it is a great addition I feel. The expected outcome of the band was that through implementing acoustic guitars their music would possess a greater warmth, and this is definitely something that comes across. Goldfrapp produce an extremely full sound on this release, a sound that is downtempo and ambient, warm and delicate, and ever impressive. If you’re not afraid of change then make sure that you give Goldfrapp’s ‘Seventh Tree’ a listen, it will surely warm your heart and tantalise your aural senses.
Label: Mute Records
Release Date: 25th February 2008
Rating:
Fuckshovel – Long Time Dead
I was first drawn to this band by the great eloquence and beauty of their name. ‘Fuckshovel’ I pondered, perhaps I should even legally change my name to this. In all seriousness though, when I first saw the name of the band I smiled to myself and quickly made sure I gave ‘Long Time Dead’ a listen. As the music erupted into my ears I was not at all disappointed. I find the sound of Fuckshovel to be greatly appealing, there is a great bite about this music with its epic guitar riffs, and frantic drum work. Great use is made of the double bass pedal here, and the drums therefore come pelting at you full throttle. A second track makes up this release, this being the equally brutal ‘Skull and Bones’. The band fire their way through this release and never do they show any signs of slowing down. The music is always full of great excitement, and Fuckshovel are clearly a band that enjoy playing the music that they do. The band believe in the sound that they are producing and this is something that really comes through in their sound, their Punk riddled Metal music is an aggressive assault of absolute aural excellence.
Release Date: 25 February 2008
Rating:
Rivers Cuomo – Alone: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo
Rivers Cuomo is an extremely introverted and at times highly insolent individual. His sanity has been questioned many a time over the years, and his isolation from others is clear for all to see. Despite his questionable state of mind, Weezer as a band have continued for the most part to release excellent albums over the years and now comes this latest release from Rivers Cuomo as a solo artist. ‘Alone: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo’ is exactly as it says on the tin, it is a collection of demo recordings that he has recorded between the years of 1992 and 2007. Being demo recordings, the quality is often quite bad, but nonetheless some excellent tracks can be made out as Rivers Cuomo progresses his way through this collection. Many mistakes are made, and at times the vocals are completely off key, but the makings of some brilliant material can often be heard and the musical expertise of Rivers Cuomo is always apparent.
Notably included here is a demo recording of ‘Buddy Holly’, a song that would later go on to become one of Weezer’s most commercially successful singles. It is not too dissimilar to the final recording of the track that was present on Weezer’s ‘Blue Album’, just a little on the grainy side what with it being a home demo recording and all. It is the original demo that was recorded and yet I hear no differences whatsoever between this and the tracks final cut, a testament to the excellence of Rivers Cuomo as a musician and the few difficulties he must encounter in progressing his material from demo to fully polished album track. ‘Buddy Holly’ is the only Weezer track included on this release, and all others present are either never heard before songs, cover tracks, or material from his unfinished rock musical.
Covers featured here include Dion’s ‘Little Diane’, Ice Cube’s ‘The Bomb’, and Gregg Alexander’s ‘The World We Love So Much’. It is certainly an eclectic array of covers, however I feel it is when Rivers Cuomo is producing his own original material here that the album is at its best. Many of the tracks featured here sound like they could easily be moulded into successful Weezer tracks, they have all the makings of Weezer tracks that never were in fact. The formula is just right, and tracks such as ‘Blast Off!’ and ‘Superfriend’ for example sound like they would fit in perfectly on any one of Weezer’s five studio albums to date. The opening line of ‘Superfriend’ made me laugh, it starts with a twenty second guitar introduction before throwing at you the line ‘What the hell am I doing, thinking with my willy’. The whole experience of listening to this album is really rather surreal, and when listening to this album there will definitely be a number of tracks that surprise you. So many different sounds are covered by Rivers Cuomo on this album and you never know quite what you will come across next as you eagerly and excitedly listen on.
‘This Is The Way’ is one of the tracks that stands out to me most when listening to this album, there is just something about it that makes it absolutely brilliant to listen to. The track is just so exceptionally well worked that it’s actually really quite difficult to regard it only as a demo and nothing more. With a bit of work I feel that this could easily become a rather successful single release, there’s definitely something about it which makes it stand out and be begged to be heard by all. It’s quite a bare track, simple in sound yet extremely effective and really quite hard hitting.
For Weezer enthusiasts I feel that this album is most certainly essential listening. Not everyone will be particularly excited about listening to the solo material of Rivers Cuomo, however those with a great love of Weezer will certainly enjoy what they hear here. There are a lot of potentially excellent tracks present on this album, ones that will amuse you, have you singing along, and generally thoroughly enjoying the music as Rivers Cuomo takes you on a trip through his home recordings spanning a period of fifteen years. If you’re after a cleanly produced, perfect album then this is not the album for you, the production is far from smooth and mistakes are made more than merely on the odd occasion. ‘Alone’ makes for compelling listening, and hearing the solo workings of the great Weezer front man Rivers Cuomo is never short of enthralling. Whilst only one track present here made it on to become a fully fledged Weezer track, you can definitely hear elements of a number of popular Weezer songs coming through on this album. Definitely do not disregard this solo release from Rivers Cuomo, particularly if you’re a fan of Weezer then you should enjoy what you hear from Rivers Cuomo with this ‘Alone’ album.
Label: Geffen Records
Release Date: 4th February 2008
Rating:
Panic at the Disco – Nine in the Afternoon
Panic at the Disco not only seem to have dropped the exclamation mark from their name, but the fun from their music also. Their début album ‘A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out’ was one of the best I have heard in a long while, an energetic and exciting album full of brilliant tracks which were packed full of a great zest for life. When album number two was announced then, and ‘Nine in the Afternoon’ was chosen as its first commercial release I was extremely excited. After hearing it however, all I could think was ‘What on earth has happened to Panic at the Disco?!’ The fun of old is all but gone, and on the evidence of ‘Nine in the Afternoon’ it would seem that Panic at the Disco have already run out of ideas as a band. I had been expecting so much and yet the band just don’t deliver. I struggle to find anything positive to say about this new single from the band, the music is very similar to what it was before but the band just sound tired and in fact rather bored. ‘Nine in the Afternoon’ is a really rather lacklustre single from the band and is not one that I would recommend to anyone.
Label: Decaydance/Fueled by Ramen
Release Date: 17th March 2008
Rating:
Simple Plan – Simple Plan
Simple Plan formed in Montreal, Canada back in 1999. To date they have released three studio albums including this latest self titled offering. Both of their first two albums have gone quadruple platinum in their homeland of Canada. I would not generally be in at all a rush to listen to Simple Plan when a new album is released, but with their 2008 self titled album I had been looking forward to listening to it for quite some time now. Since first hearing the track ‘When I’m Gone’ I was greatly anticipating as to what the band would have to offer with this release and have definitely not been left disappointed by what they’ve come up with.
‘When I’m Gone’ first caught my attention as a result of the great change in sound that Simple Plan as a band have incurred. Their music has always been Pop Punk, however before there was always a heavy emphasis on the ‘Pop’ and not so much on the ‘Punk’. Whilst ‘When I’m Gone’ is admittedly still quite bouncy, the band are definitely taking a more mature and serious approach with the track and I feel that this actually benefits them greatly. It is now far easier to see them as a ‘real’ band, rather than being one that in all honesty you’re a little ashamed of admitting to your friends that you actually enjoy the music of. The music of Simple Plan now possesses a great strength that has never before been so apparent, it shines through more than ever now and the maturity of the band is highly apparent as they blast their way through ‘When I’m Gone’ and the majority of the tracks on this album in fact. The only complaint I can have with ‘When I’m Gone’ is that the official video for the track is a bit too similar for my liking to the ‘Beating Heart Baby’ video from Head Automatica. This does not in any way effect the enjoyment that can be gained from listening to the track of course, it is just a side issue that niggles me a little.
‘Generation’ is by far my favourite of all the tracks on this album. Despite this, I still find the lyrical choices a little questionable at times. The lyric of ‘Hey ho! Let’s go!’ for instance merely makes me think ‘You’re not The Ramones and this is no Blitzkrieg Pop’. The lyric is repeated many a time throughout the tracks duration and although there is no doubt that it is powerful, it’s more than a little plagiarised. As I say though; it’s a great track and is by far my favourite from the album. There’s something immensely catchy about this one, and not just as a result of the stolen lyric either. The guitars come across with a great strength, the vocals are excellent, and the Simple Plan sound of old is nowhere to be seen. I quite enjoyed the bouncy Pop Punk approach that their music used to take, however in producing this new sound Simple Plan definitely sound a lot better for it.
‘Take My Hand’ is another track that impresses me from this self titled release. There is just something about it that makes it highly addictive, a track that requests of you that it be played over and over again. It contains a biting ‘Hey, Hey’ and progresses with great pace and energy. Listening to this track is really quite exciting, the sort of track you’d perhaps listen to before performing a bungee jump in order to really hype you up for it. I don’t personally engage in bungee jumping activities, but you get the idea; it’s a track that really gets the adrenaline pumping. To listen to it is to love it, I fail to see how anyone could not like this greatly energetic and always enthralling anthem.
Although Simple Plan certainly show a heightened maturity in this album, there is one track in particular in which they revert back to their old formula. I am referring to ‘Time To Say Goodbye’ here, a track that rolls back the clock a few years and would not sound at all out of place on either of the bands first two albums. I personally feel that this is one of the weakest tracks on the album, however there will no doubt be many people out there longing that the band go back to producing their sound of old that will love this one. It is no bad thing that Simple Plan have matured as a band, but it’s a fact of life that some people just don’t like change and perhaps this is why this track has been included on the album; a track included simply for nostalgic value.
One final track I shall draw attention to individually is that of ‘Your Love Is a Lie’. It is quite a soft track with a driving guitar riff that minds me a little of that utilised in ‘Behind Blue Eyes’ by The Who. It’s a cracking tune that I feel stands out head and shoulders above the competition with its fantastic force of a guitar riff, brilliant progression, and superb use of vocals. I feel that it’s sure to be the second single that the band release from the album, it truly is a powerful track which the band belt out fully committed. You can hear the passion coming across in the music here and it definitely provides for one of the albums stand out moments. ‘Generation’ may well be my favourite from this album, but ‘Your Love Is a Lie’ certainly provides some strong competition.
Simple Plan have never been a favourite band of mine and they still are not in fact, but their new self titled album has definitely made me think more highly of them. ‘Simple Plan’ as an album consists of some great music, tracks that can be played over and over again and always they will be appreciated. There are definitely a few tracks here that are pulled off not quite so well as the others, and then of course there is the track which reverts back to their old sound which I don’t feel works too well, but on the whole it is an excellent album and I shan’t be stopping listening to it for some time I would imagine. Comprising of a total of eleven tracks, this self titled release from Simple Plan is definitely one that I would recommend to all. Even those that have previously not enjoyed the music of Simple Plan may find they like what they hear here, it is certainly a superb change of direction from the band and is one that has made them sound a far more accomplished act in my opinion.
Label: Lava/Atlantic
Release Date: 18th February 2008
Rating:
Sonic Boom Six – Arcade Perfect
Sonic Boom Six are a band that have driven through from the underground; their journey began in Manchester in the April 2002, and they finally released their début album ‘The Ruff Guide to Genre-Terrorism’ in July 2006. Having gotten their début out of the way after four years, they are now onto their second studio album and it was in fact released in November 2007 through Rebel Alliance Recordings. Sonic Boom Six have come a long way as a band over the years, and their ‘Arcade Perfect’ album is a testament to that fact.
Combining elements of Reggae, Punk, and Hip-Hop – the music of Sonic Boom Six is a concoction that has to be heard to be believed. Add to that mix the energy of Jungle and the essence of Ska, then you’ll come somewhere close to the sound of Sonic Boom Six. It shouldn’t work, yet somehow it does and the band mix the sounds perfectly in order to provide an innovative sound which is very much their own. Sonic Boom Six are a band that without doubt stand out from the crowd, doing so by mixing the most eclectic range of genres and with each and every track sounding fresh and exciting.
Never dull, always exciting; the ‘Arcade Perfect’ album begins with title track ‘Arcade Perfect’, ends with ‘For 12 Weeks, The City Is Theirs’, and has nine tracks in between which all shine through with their excellence. Fronted by Laila K, backed by Barney and Ben – the vocals of Sonic Boom Six are something that always shine through to me about their music. Not only do the instruments combine together magnificently, but the vocal entourage is always excellent also. The male and female dual assault vocals are consistently fantastic throughout the album and never do they disappoint.
The album consists of many highlights, the track ‘Sound of a Revolution’ particularly having captured my imagination. Everything about this one works, the lyrics are superb, the dual vocals excellent as ever, and the instrumental section is absolutely spot on. From the very first time I ever heard this one I loved it immediately and have not been able to stop playing it since. ‘September to May’ is another that stands out when listening to this album, there is just something about it that is ever so charming and makes it a joy to listen to. The track is just so catchy and will have you singing along in no time. With its chilled out vibe and great use of guitars, it works exceptionally well and is never in danger of being anything but highly exciting and hugely enthralling.
With a band that combine such a variation of genres in their sound, the music is always going to be full of surprises. ‘Ya Basta!’ for example is an interesting collaboration from the band with ex King Prawn member Babar Luck, one that is quite different from anything else present on the release yet supremely effective. Babar Luck is not the only one to have collaborated with the band on this release, Matt Reynolds of Howards Alias features also, as do former Filaments man Johnny One Lung and Itch of The King Blues. The collaborations all work extremely well, and using key figures from the scene that the band have been a huge part of for the past five years was an excellent idea I feel.
The ‘Arcade Perfect’ album combines an eclectic mix of genres and I feel that this is something which is pulled off exceptionally well by the band. It could so easily have all ended in disaster, but it all works and every track on the album is thoroughly enjoyable to listen to. Never conventional, always original; the music that Sonic Boom Six are creating is one that I personally am a huge fan of. I have been following the progress of this band for a good few years now and to have seen them progress and evolve into the band that they are today has been fantastic. Sonic Boom Six are a band that are forever driving forward, and their sound never seems to stop improving. The work that all the members have put into this band over the years is phenomenal, and to hear the result of their ‘Arcade Perfect’ album is proof alone that it has all been worthwhile.
Sonic Boom Six are a fantastic band and all elements of their music shine through superbly in this release. Their dual vocals are something that have always appealed to me about their music, something which I feel comes across extremely well throughout this album. There is never a dull moment with Sonic Boom Six, something which has no doubt helped their cause hugely in a scene where many of their contemporaries have long since called it a day. Laila K is a truly phenomenal front woman, and the energy and passion that she puts in to her performance is absolutely sensational. When listening to this album you can hear that the band are giving it their all and this is something which is always great to hear. Sonic Boom Six don’t do things by halves, and throughout the whole of their ‘Arcade Perfect’ album they go all out in their genre bending mash-up of sounds. You’d never think that with the volume of genres that the band combine that this music could ever work, but it does and their sound is highly innovative and always great fun to listen to. Make sure you don’t let the music of Sonic Boom Six pass you by; it would be a huge shame to let this happen.
Label: Rebel Alliance
Release Date: 12th November 2007
Rating:
Scouting For Girls – Scouting For Girls
Scouting For Girls are a Pop Rock band from London. They are currently signed to Epic Records, and with lyrics exploring subjects such as wishing to be James Bond for the day and lusting after Michaela Strachan when they were the age of twelve; it is clear that Scouting For Girls do not take themselves too seriously. They formed in 2005, released this self-titled album in September 2007, and already they have shifted over 300 000 copies of it. This is a really great achievement for a band few had heard of little over six months ago. They truly have come a long way as a band in a very short space of time.
The sound of Scouting For Girls is one that you will either love or hate; I feel that there is generally no middle ground with this sort of music as you will either take on board and be amused by the cheesy lyrics, or this will be a factor that will make you despise and detest the band. I personally don’t mind the lyrical content of the band at all, it actually adds to the charm and enjoyment that can be gained from listening to Scouting For Girls I feel. One complaint I do have with the lyrics however is just how repetitive they can be; it’s one thing the lyrics not being particularly intelligent, but when repeated over and over again they can certainly become a little irritating. I’ve noticed that repetition is something that Scouting For Girls seem to be huge fans of, and whilst repeated emphasis of words will certainly make you remember their music; it can sometimes be for all the wrong reasons.
The album consists of a mere ten tracks, plus one extra tagged on as a ‘Bonus Track’ at the end of ‘James Bond’. The album clocks in at a total of just under forty Minutes including the ‘Bonus Track’, and despite my grievances with the repetitive nature of the lyrics, I am actually quite a fan of this self titled début release from Scouting For Girls. There are a number of tracks that stand out strongly to me, most notably ‘Heartbeat’ and opening track ‘Keep On Walking’. That said, it is actually exceptionally hard to have favourite tracks when it comes to this album as pretty much all the songs sound the same and therefore if you like one you’ll probably like them all, and in the same sense; if you’ve heard any track by the band and not been a fan then chances are that you will not find this début album from them to be too impressive.
‘Heartbeat’ is one that captured my attention when listening to this album due to the exceptional nature of its chorus. The majority of the bands choruses on this album are very much the same and follow the same general patter, however there is something that stands out about this one as being just a little bit different and it is therefore a definite favourite of mine from this album and a clear highlight. ‘Heartbeat’ is a track that you can go back and listen to time and time again without ever tiring of I feel. It really is an infectious little number and once I start listening to it I find it hard to stop. ‘Keep On Walking’ again stands out to me as a result of its fantastic chorus, a track which works exceptionally well at the beginning of the album and sets up the mood fantastically. There is nothing particularly ground breaking about it, it just really appeals to me as it is so incredibly catchy, something that can actually be said about the Scouting For Girls album as a whole in fact.
When listening to this album you tend to get the impression that something is missing from the sound of the band. When you listen carefully, you soon discover that the band are devoid of a guitarist; the three instruments that the band possess are keyboard, bass, and drums. It is strange that the music works so well given the absence of a guitar to drive their sound forward, however I feel that the main reason the music does work is because of the great nature of the bands choruses. It is here that Scouting For Girls thrive, and not a single one of the tracks on this album disappoint in the chorus department. Always incredibly catchy, never short of enthralling; Scouting For Girls make the most of what they have and pull through with an incredibly well rounded sound which never fails to impress.
Although the band have only released one album so far, they are already causing a massive stir and are loved by people all around the country (my wife for one is a huge Scouting For Girls fan). Whilst the band have plenty of fans though, there are also a lot of haters out there as well. I explained earlier that Scouting For Girls are either a band that you will love or you will hate, so therefore it is really no surprise about the divide of opinion that the band cause. I do appreciate that Scouting For Girls début album will not be for all, but if you’ve not come across the band before then I would suggest that you give one of their tracks a try. If you like what you hear then go ahead and purchase their self titled début album as you can expect to hear plenty more the same. Scouting For Girls are not the most original of bands and they are certainly not the most intelligent, however the music that they are making is good fun to listen to and their album is therefore one that I would recommend. Listen to this album with an open mind, but don’t expect to find too much variation or lyrical intelligence or else you’ll be thoroughly disappointed.
Label: 14th Floor
Release Date: 17th September 2007
Rating:
The Enemy – We’ll Live and Die in These Towns
The Enemy are an Indie Rock band from Coventry and can be seen to have had it very, very easy. They formed in 2006, and after playing a mere 10 gigs the band sought the help of ‘Grand Union Management’, the people that had helped Boy Kill Boy to success the previous year. They were soon the opening act at Coventry’s Godiva Festival, and shortly after this they became the first signing on Stiff Records for twenty years, a subsidiary label of Warner Records. This album was released through Warner in July 2007, and hit Number 1 in the album charts; a great achievement for the band. They are loved by the NME, hated by XFM’s breakfast show presenter Alex Zane due to altercations during a television interview, and although I personally do not like how they shot to success so quickly, I must concede that I really do quite enjoy some of their music.
Over rated; probably, but a decent band nonetheless, The Enemy’s 2007 début album ‘We’ll Live and Die in These Towns’ is one that is well worth listening to. Of the eleven tracks present on the album, six have already been released in some shape or form already, and with a seventh due out in March; it would seem that The Enemy may well be on a mission to release every track from their début. Would sure be an interesting one if they did, and I personally would love to see them do it. That said, a couple of the tracks they have not already released aren’t exactly the best of tracks so I doubt that they’d do too well if they were released upon the world as singles.
‘We’ll Live and Die in These Towns’ begins quite weakly with the track ‘Aggro’, one of which I am really not at all a fan of. I just feel that the track never really gets going and is therefore not very interesting at all to listen to. I never like to hear a weak opening to an album, it generally means that the album ahead is going to be rather disappointing, however this is not so with The Enemy. Despite the dodgy opening they then go on to produce quite an impressive display in the rest of the album. They don’t wait long to prove their worth as the second track on the album is actually ‘Away From Here’ which is probably my favourite from this release. It’s such a fantastic track and right from the very first time I ever heard it I was a huge fan. The track just captures my imagination entirely and has me hooked from beginning to end as the band blast their way through this superbly catchy ultimate Indie anthem.
‘You’re Not Alone’ is another highlight from the album for me. Although it only reached Number 18 in the charts, I feel that it definitely should have been at least a Top 10. It is a hugely powerful track, one where the vocals really shine through and the driving guitars really make the track stand out to me. The lyrics aren’t exactly ground breaking, however they work and somehow possess a great power about them which makes them sound more important than they perhaps are. It is warming and reassuring to hear the band belting out the lyrics of ‘You’re Not Alone You Know’ in a vocal tone so deep that it will rock the very foundations of your existence. The Enemy have a great talent for producing intensely powerful music and ‘You’re Not Alone’ is no exception to this rule.
When a band have released six singles from an album and are soon to push that number up to seven; you’d imagine that with only four remaining tracks to pick from there would be little or nothing of interest remaining. In thinking this however, you’d be completely wrong as ‘Technodanceaphobic’ for a start is absolutely excellent. It is not a conventionally appealing track; it has quite a slow pace and a rather repetitive musical back beat, however it works and actually sounds absolutely excellent. This is a track that I’ve played many times over the months and is one that I would wholeheartedly recommend to all. Given that it has not been chosen as a single, maybe I am out on my own in my love for this one, however even still, I somehow doubt it and perhaps the excellence of this one has been carelessly overlooked.
One thing that does strike me when listening to this album is that the last two tracks are really quite disappointing. The album begins badly with ‘Aggro’ and the closing tracks ‘This Song’ and ‘Happy Birthday Jane’ are equally irritating to listen to. They just don’t appeal in quite such a way as the rest of the album, and these three tracks alone I feel detract from the overall quality of the ‘We’ll Live and Die in These Towns’ album as a whole. Bad openings and closings are something that I hate to hear when listening to an album, and this one possesses both which really is a great shame. The Enemy are a decent band and had they hidden these three tracks in the middle rather than putting them at the beginning and end of the album then I probably wouldn’t have minded so much, but for me these are very important points and can make or break an album for me. Whilst I’d find it very hard to dislike a decent album purely on the basis of a bad opener or closer, I do find it greatly irritating to hear and am disappointed with The Enemy for their decision to use these tracks in the places that they have.
The Enemy make terrific use of their instruments on this release and prove themselves to be really quite proficient performers at their trade. Their brand of Indie Rock is not always successful as at times it can sound a little dull in my opinion, but for the most part the band sound great in doing what they do and should definitely look to continue on with the same formula in the future. Front man and champion guitarist Tom Clarke is in possession of a fantastic voice and his vocals really shine through in this release. His guitar work is also greatly impressive, and with the ever powerful drums, and booming bass lines to back him up; the music of The Enemy is absolutely fantastic and for the most part listening to this album is therefore a joy.
Although this début album from The Enemy contains a few tracks that will probably not impress you as much as others, the album as a whole is really rather excellent and I feel that it is definitely worth checking out. Success came a little too easily for The Enemy as far as I’m concerned, however I shall not be holding that against them as I think that it is great when Rock bands do well for themselves. Whether a band has been together for 5 minutes or 5 years; cracking the mainstream is a great achievement that should not be belittled in any way, shape or form. If you’ve not yet listened to this début album offering from The Enemy then why not give it a go? There’s bound to be at least the odd track or two here that will put a smile on your face, and if you happen to be a fan of the Indie Rock genre then I’m sure that you will find great enjoyment in this release. There are a lot of bad Indie bands out there, but The Enemy are not one of them.
Label: Warner Music Group
Release Date: 9th July 2007
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