- Label
- Polydor
- Release date
- 22nd February 2010
- Genre
- Indie
- Buy this album
- Order CD
Second album from new bigmouths of Manchester.
From lad rock wannabes to genuine contenders, The Courteeners seem to finally be living up to the hype. A hype largely emanating from their own lead singer Liam Fray, whose mono-brow and cocky swagger will be familiar to seasoned watchers of Mancunian rock stars. The Opener, like much of the album, is a tug between the big and the small, a wide open guitar sound and slick production counteracted by lyrics about leaving your hometown behind: “I’ve been having an affair with LA and New York,” Fray sings before ruing the mood somewhat by continuing “Dundee and Doncaster”. Doncaster? Are you sure?
Lacking Morrissey’s wordplay or Alex Turner’s sense of lyrical mischief such parochial lyrics often sound laughable. The Rest Of The World Has Gone Home even manages to shoehorn in a mention of “the RBS cash machine” while Will It Be This Way Forever rhymes “after dark” with “Victoria Park.”
Despite this, here’s much to admire here with Take Over The World, Scratch Your Name Upon My Lips and Good Times Are Calling, suggesting they could yet compete with the upper echelons of stadium indie and entice fields full of believers to sing along come festival time.
More to try:
Reverend And The Makers: A French kiss In The Chaos
Arctic Monkeys: Favourite Worst Nightmare
Elbow: Asleep In The Back
Stephen Fretwell: Magpie
