Another Yorkshire band, another dose of life "Up North". This time with a different twist. The Kasier Chiefs led the way with their predictions and statements, weekends out and declarations of losing that loving feeling. The Cribs differ from the rests by the virtue of being in possession of staple ingredients that infuse the Wakefield trio's second album. The Cribs have that curious feel about them, the ability to make the perfect record, to have the perfect songs detaching themselves from the mothership and firing off into the unknown. The blend to which this mix takes place is simple to understand. Catchy melodies and killer lyrics throughout and hey presto, a damn good album. The sole record which will be prope led into the strastosphere by a jet laden rocket laucher! Easy!!! And The Cribs know it!!! The band comprise of three brothers - Gary (Bassist), Ryan (Guitarist) and Ross Jarman (Drums). The Cribs have been quoted by NME as blowing the roof of an insular scene with their ambition, vision, wit and drive!
The albums is blasted into spaced from a Cape Canerval lauch site by opening number and first single "Hey Scensters"! This is the song to get very drunk to! A song which calls to you and says hey you! Enjoy, get drunk and have fun!! This is the best way to lay down your intentions. This track is a statement of intent and you will enjoy this, you will have fun ( note there is no need to feel intimiated by the last statement, this song truly is a great pop record!) I'm Alright Me is the second song off the album. This is a bouncy, uplifiting track, which has a easy going melody. The lyrics reflect a view which claims that it's good to see or experience certain situations from a different angle. "It's cool to be an outsider/Cause I was always uncertain/but tonight, all that will change/As I'll be a new person/. Martell has a lively, catchy beat to start things off. Ryan claims that Leeds is dead! "The Clean and the green/Will make up the music scene": this presumably refers to the music bands emmineting from the city. The town is dying, the music is it's hope. It's the chorus of the song which realy grabs you. Lots of whoa a oh oh!!!!! ing!!! is also a crowd pleaser, a good old fashioned singalong!!! This will be a definite go down a storm at future Cribs gigs.
Most Cribs songs have a common theme running throughout. The bouncy, catchy tunes and melodies which entice you into listening. It's an album of gems throughout. The band have stuck to their guns with this winning recipe which they use to good effect. It Was Only Love has a slightly different style to it. It's has a kind of Sea Shanty feel to it. A vision of Blackbeard himself playing the accordium! The slight smell of Rum in the air as you feel you head bobbing from side to side to in time with the tune. Arr mee ladee! The Wrong Way To Be is another specialist Cribs number. A tale of hanging around someone who's actions and thoughts and deeds are socially inappropriate but they have a profounding effect on you. A again the killer chorus comes into play and will have you humming the melody for eternity!! " Because a guy I used to know/Is returning now to show/that the wrong way to be/is rubbing off on me/.
One song on the album which had me reminising (about what Im not to sure) is Hello? Oh... The tune and guitar riffs are very similar to The Kinks' Sunny Afternoon. Immediately when the track is playing you get the strange mix of Ryan Jarman and Ray Davies in your mind. Strange but intriguing combination. Play both songs back to back and see for youself. Haunted is the only song on the album which is completely acoustic, and it fits in really well! The vocals have a slightly static edge to them, which rises and falls with the dymanics of the songs. The slow jazzy drumming in the background integrates that easy/bluesy feel into the mix. Things Aren't Gonna Change is a fitting finale to the album. This could probably be a future single in the making. The irony of it is that The Cribs declare that things wont change, but on the evidence of this record, things clearly will be changing! And how!!!!
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