Reader Jason Tremain from Northumberland Heath reviews The Courteneers' debut album St Jude
The Smiths had Morrisey. Oasis have Liam Gallagher. Manchester's finest bands have a tradition when it comes to frontmen. Finally, after too long a hiatus, there is a new proclaimer to the throne.
The Courteeners have arrived. A four piece fronted by the self appointed "saviour of Mancunian music" Liam Fray.
The Courteeners have arrived. A four piece fronted by the self appointed "saviour of Mancunian music" Liam Fray.
Is it style over substance? Bark or bite?
The clutch of excellent singles already released, Acrylic, What Took You So Long? and Not 19 Forever have already achieved anthemic status.
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The hype grows, fuelled by Fray's rants at other new bands but does he maintain the impetus through out the album?
Frays' passion and aggression is never in doubt. The opener comes at you menacingly like the bloke in the pub with scary eyes.
Frays' passion and aggression is never in doubt. The opener comes at you menacingly like the bloke in the pub with scary eyes.
Then Cavorting has you in that drunken "I love you man" headlock, revealing another facet to this modern-day slice-of-life collection.
The attempts at tenderness come off as clumsy fumbles in the taxi home. The line 'We could have got married, you could have carried some of my sons' from Please Don't lacks awareness or maturity.
The bands raw, energetic guitar soun is not original, blatantly relying on Frats' barbed lyrics and practiced cynicism. This manages to hold up darker tracks like King of the New Road and Fallowfield Hillbillies.
The attempts at tenderness come off as clumsy fumbles in the taxi home. The track Please Don't, for example, lacks awareness or maturity.
One also wonders at the decision to hide spiky debut single Acrylic, with it's pop at psuedo new bands dreams of fufilling the Libertine Dream.
Tucking it away behind seven silent tracks as a bonus at the end of the album is hardly infitting with the image to date.
This lads' night out social commentary genre has been done before. And better.
This lads' night out social commentary genre has been done before. And better. Arctic Monkeys and Hard-Fi to mention but two of many, have in recent years reflected the society of the suburban angst of generation X.
Not to say the Courteeners have not produced a relevant, solid indie record, packed with great songs.
That is not to say the Courteeners have not produced a relevant, solid indie record, packed with great songs, astute observations, humour and darkness. It's just that they haven't brought anything new to the table.
Except a fervent passionate belief. And that goes a long way.
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