approach that I feel addresses the the issues posted surrounding this group.I come fom a heavy "Mod" background, so I would say I''m somewhat well versed in 60s British songcrafting, as well as the Mod revival powerpop/Britpop/etc music of The Jam, and the bands that followed that. When this newer version of that style emerged, I was well out of touch with it all, and consequently missed out on some good stuff. I only mention this to provide a reference point from which I am listening to this group, and since both Mark and Collin come from a similar musical place, I had to give this band an honest go. I'm sure glad I did.
Beatles clones-hardly-it's been my experience that most, or all, UK bands with harmonizing vocals gets that "Beatles" comparison. These guys have that 60s flavored pop thing going on, and use vintage type gear, but I don't hear the Beatles thing in the band any more than most others. When I hear anybody straight rip off,(influenced my eye-haha), the Beatles as blatantly as The Jam have, then I'll take issue with it. If Weller gets a walk, everyone else should too.
I do hear, however, the people responsible for the way this album sounds fidelity wise, trying to be clever in that respect.More on them later.
I find the songwriting to be fresh and inventive, and generally not lending itself to playing it safe. I find the playing to be consistantly good, tastefull, and within the context of the song. I find the lead vocals to be of a love/hate nature, not unlike Pete Shelly of the Buzzcocks, but are unique in and seem to fit in with the songs well. All in all, judging by these 2 albums only, these guys did some of the better stuff pop music offered in the 90s. I like this band, and will be listening to more of them. Thanks for the eye opener guys
Ok, now the bad, whoever is responsible for the fidelity of these albums should be shot! The production squeezes all of the life and personality of the playing right out of the songs. It pains me to hear great guitar tones washed away in to the land of bland by knuckleheaded production, as well as bass that is inarticulate, and drums that sound like they were recorded quietly in a preschool. This, combined with gobs of crummy digital reverb, way too much compression, and other "aren't we clever" studio tomfoolery, give these albums a very sterile quality that annoys me to no end. I bet this band ripped it up live, unless these people were in charge of their stage sound as well. Really a shame in my book, I can hear so many great sounds buried in those recordings, just begging to come out. Oh well, what do I know, they were all over the radio, but it's probably why I never got in to them in the first place, the production making them out to be so bland and all.
Like the band, hate the production, but are still in my regular rotation of playlists and records to buy. Aren't you glad I kept it short
