Released 4th April 2005, Go! Beat
What I thought then...
The only album on amongst these 10 that I never got round to buying a physical copy of, but I couldn’t tell you why that is. I remember Nothing But Green Lights being a frequent fixture on 120 Minutes, and the story was he made all this by himself in his garage.
What I think now...
Perhaps this was a spurious inclusion just to bump the numbers up to a nice round 10. However unlike a lot of acts in this list, I Ain’t Saying My Goodbyes and C-C (You Set The Fire In Me) have always accompanied me on my commuting playlist. Perhaps because I’ve always viewed these songs as mp3 files? Anyway, back to this actual album. I used to listen to these songs so much in the small hours, it feels weird to hear them all in daylight - they feel designed either for dancing or late night contemplation.
Standout Track
As mentioned above, I Ain’t Saying My Goodbyes still gets regular rotation and remains a dancefloor classic.
Live Memories
It was either V2005 or 06, one of those early on in the day sets that didn’t seem to match the act. I remember him throwing some thrashy guitar shapes for Goodbyes at the end of the set.
What Happened Next?
The follow up was a very long time coming, Leisure Seizure didn’t arrive until 2011, then came Luck in 2014.
Next Time: You’ll speak when you’re spoken to…
Previously: The New Fellas | Bang Bang Rock & Roll | You Could Have It So Much Better | Employment | The Futureheads | Capture/Release | A Certain Trigger | Introduction
Thursday, 13 August 2015
The Cribs - The New Fellas
Released 20th June 2005, Witchita
What I thought then...
Another sophomore effort, but my first encounter with The Cribs. I remember a friend of mine singing the benefits of them, Yorkshire and the North in general.
What I think now...
I actually re-played this and their first few albums a couple of years back ahead of a York Barbican gig. It’s lost none of its youth and spark - a record full of cutting lyrics and catchy melodies.
Standout Track
Hey, Scenesters! is another song that will never get old, and will always get a dance - even if amongst some of us the lyrics have changed into “hey Stalin, hey hey Stalin…”
Live Memories
Where to start! I feel like they’ve played pretty much every festival I’ve ever attended, right up until this year’s Glasto. But around this time was the aforementioned Norwich gig supporting Maxïmo Park. That and Reading 2006 where my main memory is my companion curled up asleep for the duration of their set, even when it started raining.
What Happened Next?
Follow up Men’s Needs etc etc was a powerful record, and possibly their best to date. Still going strong, they’re the sort of band you imagine never splitting up.
Next Time: Don’t get upset...
Previously: Bang Bang Rock & Roll | You Could Have It So Much Better | Employment | The Futureheads | Capture/Release | A Certain Trigger | Introduction
What I thought then...
Another sophomore effort, but my first encounter with The Cribs. I remember a friend of mine singing the benefits of them, Yorkshire and the North in general.
What I think now...
I actually re-played this and their first few albums a couple of years back ahead of a York Barbican gig. It’s lost none of its youth and spark - a record full of cutting lyrics and catchy melodies.
Standout Track
Hey, Scenesters! is another song that will never get old, and will always get a dance - even if amongst some of us the lyrics have changed into “hey Stalin, hey hey Stalin…”
Live Memories
Where to start! I feel like they’ve played pretty much every festival I’ve ever attended, right up until this year’s Glasto. But around this time was the aforementioned Norwich gig supporting Maxïmo Park. That and Reading 2006 where my main memory is my companion curled up asleep for the duration of their set, even when it started raining.
What Happened Next?
Follow up Men’s Needs etc etc was a powerful record, and possibly their best to date. Still going strong, they’re the sort of band you imagine never splitting up.
Next Time: Don’t get upset...
Previously: Bang Bang Rock & Roll | You Could Have It So Much Better | Employment | The Futureheads | Capture/Release | A Certain Trigger | Introduction
Art Brut - Bang Bang Rock & Roll
Released 20th May 2005, Fierce Panda
What I thought then...
A bloody big racket with life lesson poetry for lyrics. This was a band I remember following through MP3 blogs and borrowed copies of the NME, plus the blessed fortnight our NTL cable box had MTV2.
What I think now...
At a mere 32 minutes, this is the shortest album on the list. It sounds mighty beefy compared to some of the demos and early singles I remember getting off Soulseek. Prophetic though - we not only stopped buying albums from the supermarket, we stopped buying albums in general! And enjoyable charming racket that can’t help but put a big stupid grin on my big stupid face.
Standout Track
“I’ve seen her naked...TWICE!” Got to be Good Weekend.
Live Memories
One in particular, being chased off by venue security after their Lincoln uni gig for reasons I won’t go into. But they seemed to follow me around various festivals after that, and they were never anything but powerful. Their gigs always felt like massive bonding experiences for anyone I brought along.
What Happened Next?
To my shame, I stopped paying attention. They’ve released four albums and a Best Of now, and I could only tell you a couple of singles of the second record. Just seeing their name makes me smile, I’m glad they’re still at it.
Next Time: Because a guy I used to know…
Previously: You Could Have It So Much Better | Employment | The Futureheads | Capture/Release | A Certain Trigger | Introduction
What I thought then...
A bloody big racket with life lesson poetry for lyrics. This was a band I remember following through MP3 blogs and borrowed copies of the NME, plus the blessed fortnight our NTL cable box had MTV2.
What I think now...
At a mere 32 minutes, this is the shortest album on the list. It sounds mighty beefy compared to some of the demos and early singles I remember getting off Soulseek. Prophetic though - we not only stopped buying albums from the supermarket, we stopped buying albums in general! And enjoyable charming racket that can’t help but put a big stupid grin on my big stupid face.
Standout Track
“I’ve seen her naked...TWICE!” Got to be Good Weekend.
Live Memories
One in particular, being chased off by venue security after their Lincoln uni gig for reasons I won’t go into. But they seemed to follow me around various festivals after that, and they were never anything but powerful. Their gigs always felt like massive bonding experiences for anyone I brought along.
What Happened Next?
To my shame, I stopped paying attention. They’ve released four albums and a Best Of now, and I could only tell you a couple of singles of the second record. Just seeing their name makes me smile, I’m glad they’re still at it.
Next Time: Because a guy I used to know…
Previously: You Could Have It So Much Better | Employment | The Futureheads | Capture/Release | A Certain Trigger | Introduction
Franz Ferdinand - You Can Have It So Much Better
Released 3rd October 2005, Domino
What I thought then...
The first second album of the bunch, if that made sense. Franz Ferdinand laid out their stall with their 2004 debut, and this provided the gin-laced decorative cake. It was more of the same, only more so.
What I think now...
Still sounds pretty crisp and smart, each song delivered with an arch eyebrow. Possibly one or two tracks too long, but this is the most I’ve enjoyed re-listening to an album so far. It’s made me curious to go re-listen to the rest of their catalogue, which again hasn’t happened so far. As is the way these days, several of these tracks will now work they way into my daily playlists.
Standout Track
Once every couple of years, slap bang in the middle of a night out, I’ll suddenly hear Do You Want To for the first time in ages. And it makes me dance like an idiot.
Live Memories
I saw them co-headline V with Scissor Sisters, both of them riding off the back of largely successful debuts released some time before, and playing new songs of albums still a way off from release. It was an odd experience going into a headline set and not recognising a large chunk of the material, but I do remember them arriving on stage to the 1980s Doctor Who theme, and Do You Want To was already a family favourite by then. I’ve also got a strong memory of Evil And A Heathen echoing around the stage. Plus they joined Scissor Sisters right at the end for a cover of Suffragette City.
What Happened Next?
Third album was a while coming, but managed decent returns. The fourth album passed me by completely, and now they’re in a supergroup with Sparks. As you do.
Next Time: TOP OF THE POPS!
Previously: Employment | The Futureheads | Capture/Release | A Certain Trigger | Introduction
What I thought then...
The first second album of the bunch, if that made sense. Franz Ferdinand laid out their stall with their 2004 debut, and this provided the gin-laced decorative cake. It was more of the same, only more so.
What I think now...
Still sounds pretty crisp and smart, each song delivered with an arch eyebrow. Possibly one or two tracks too long, but this is the most I’ve enjoyed re-listening to an album so far. It’s made me curious to go re-listen to the rest of their catalogue, which again hasn’t happened so far. As is the way these days, several of these tracks will now work they way into my daily playlists.
Standout Track
Once every couple of years, slap bang in the middle of a night out, I’ll suddenly hear Do You Want To for the first time in ages. And it makes me dance like an idiot.
Live Memories
I saw them co-headline V with Scissor Sisters, both of them riding off the back of largely successful debuts released some time before, and playing new songs of albums still a way off from release. It was an odd experience going into a headline set and not recognising a large chunk of the material, but I do remember them arriving on stage to the 1980s Doctor Who theme, and Do You Want To was already a family favourite by then. I’ve also got a strong memory of Evil And A Heathen echoing around the stage. Plus they joined Scissor Sisters right at the end for a cover of Suffragette City.
What Happened Next?
Third album was a while coming, but managed decent returns. The fourth album passed me by completely, and now they’re in a supergroup with Sparks. As you do.
Next Time: TOP OF THE POPS!
Previously: Employment | The Futureheads | Capture/Release | A Certain Trigger | Introduction
The Kaiser Chiefs - Employment
Released 7th March 2005, B-Unique
What I thought then...
When I first heard I Predict A Riot on a night out, it stayed in my head all the following day. At the time, they fitted in with everything else around them, and I sung along just like everyone else did.
What I think now...
This is probably the most I’ve moved away from a band reviewed here. I’ve even given away my copy of Employment. Listening to this album again it’s hard to feel anything.
Standout Track
Outside of the big disco hits, I always used to find You Could Have It All quite charming. Without wanting to labour the point, it all blurs into one now.
Live Memories
The main time I saw them was at V festival, which says it all really. But then at Glastonbury 2014, there we all were gathered at the Other Stage to see who the big mystery opening act was...and it was Kaiser Chiefs. Who were already playing later that day. Not much of a surprise, but we were too boxed in to move. So I had to sit through a very uninspiring set.
What Happened Next?
I started losing interest from Ruby onwards. Fair play to Mr Wilson, he went on The Voice to raise the profile of his band, and it probably worked. They’re most likely the “biggest” of all the ten bands I’m reviewing.
Next Time: Lucky lucky, you’re so lucky...
Previously: The Futureheads | Capture/Release | A Certain Trigger | Introduction
What I thought then...
When I first heard I Predict A Riot on a night out, it stayed in my head all the following day. At the time, they fitted in with everything else around them, and I sung along just like everyone else did.
What I think now...
This is probably the most I’ve moved away from a band reviewed here. I’ve even given away my copy of Employment. Listening to this album again it’s hard to feel anything.
Standout Track
Outside of the big disco hits, I always used to find You Could Have It All quite charming. Without wanting to labour the point, it all blurs into one now.
Live Memories
The main time I saw them was at V festival, which says it all really. But then at Glastonbury 2014, there we all were gathered at the Other Stage to see who the big mystery opening act was...and it was Kaiser Chiefs. Who were already playing later that day. Not much of a surprise, but we were too boxed in to move. So I had to sit through a very uninspiring set.
What Happened Next?
I started losing interest from Ruby onwards. Fair play to Mr Wilson, he went on The Voice to raise the profile of his band, and it probably worked. They’re most likely the “biggest” of all the ten bands I’m reviewing.
Next Time: Lucky lucky, you’re so lucky...
Previously: The Futureheads | Capture/Release | A Certain Trigger | Introduction
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