Like most of the world, I have a healthy liking of both The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. Two great bands that are as relevant now as they were 40 years ago. Whilst I see no problem with bands taking influence from modern acts, there's something about American acts - take for instance, Everything's Gone Green (named after a New Order single apparently) - who play with an overly current British sound. Something there just doesn't come off. Remember Dick van Dyke in Mary Poppins?
Well, let's be fair. Andy Bracht at least gets the vocals right on this album. Never outstanding, never strong, but Bracht nevertheless manages to maintain that painfully boring tone that British indie musicians have perfected in recent years, as if Paul McCartney, at his peak, always had a cold yet still sang through his nose.
This band is probably a good-time pop band at heart. It's the misuse of the neo-Britpop sound that really makes the album insufferable. Britpop, in recent years, has been watered down to the strength of Sweetheart Stout. A potential Tennent's Lager has become a Sweetheart Stout. Oh yes it has!
Available from CD Baby.