The Futureheads - This Is Not The World
Artist profile:
The Futureheads
Release Date: 26/05/08
Label: Nul Records
Rating: ****
The spirit of punk still has a heartbeat. If there's one grounding feeling that 'This Is Not The World' leaves you with than it's this aforementioned and over used sentence. The distant memory of 'Anarchy In The UK' may have been rekindled with Rotten's recent re-birth but his ramblings are merely embarrassing nostalgia trips for the once punks.
The current existence of this entity rarely rears its head in the current world, but when it does, there's reason for celebration. The latest example comes from The Futureheads third and quite brilliant offering. And it doesn't bring with it the cliched fast beat, razor sharp guitars of the seventies but instead the sublime layered harmonies and insistent hard edged pop which pedestal The Futureheads above Britain's over crowded indie scene.
'Walking Backwards' mighty intro crashes into a recognisable riff while it's soaring chorus proves how Britain's current sound borrows heavily from the past and how this band piss all over it with ease and maturity. 'Radio Heart' carries the pace along nicely with that trademark 'heads melody before 'Sale Of The Century' mixes things up with a jagged contemporary feel, some fine instrumentalism and another jumping chorus.
Some will point out the dated sound here, fans of The Clash and Paul Weller for example may either lap this up or criticise but their opinions will merely be resting on the surface of this record because within these twelve tracks there's a deeper meaning and fruitful message.
Title track 'This Is Not The World' may burst with pop hooks but also starts a story which runs through the record. It's picked up again by 'Broke Up The Time' cutting the twenty first century along the throat with venomous lyrics before 'Everything's Changing Today' puts to rights what message is left to say with heart warming intensity. Socrates' philosophy it isn't but it hits the target none the less.
The best part of all though is that nothing has changed. This is consistent music from a consistent band that can't help but release solid work with relevance and identity. To top it off The Futureheads released this independently on their very own label sticking the rightful two fingers up at the majors that once harboured them. Why not the full five star rating then? It's not a classic but more importantly it's a bridge to bigger and better things. This is a clever and important return from the harsh critical musical world The Futureheads left two years ago.
Sam Tolley
The Futureheads Official Site
The Futureheads Myspace
Buy The Futureheads CDs | Buy The Futureheads mp3s | Buy The Futureheads Tickets | Buy The Futureheads Merch
Release Date: 26/05/08
Label: Nul Records
Rating: ****
The spirit of punk still has a heartbeat. If there's one grounding feeling that 'This Is Not The World' leaves you with than it's this aforementioned and over used sentence. The distant memory of 'Anarchy In The UK' may have been rekindled with Rotten's recent re-birth but his ramblings are merely embarrassing nostalgia trips for the once punks.
The current existence of this entity rarely rears its head in the current world, but when it does, there's reason for celebration. The latest example comes from The Futureheads third and quite brilliant offering. And it doesn't bring with it the cliched fast beat, razor sharp guitars of the seventies but instead the sublime layered harmonies and insistent hard edged pop which pedestal The Futureheads above Britain's over crowded indie scene.
'Walking Backwards' mighty intro crashes into a recognisable riff while it's soaring chorus proves how Britain's current sound borrows heavily from the past and how this band piss all over it with ease and maturity. 'Radio Heart' carries the pace along nicely with that trademark 'heads melody before 'Sale Of The Century' mixes things up with a jagged contemporary feel, some fine instrumentalism and another jumping chorus.
Some will point out the dated sound here, fans of The Clash and Paul Weller for example may either lap this up or criticise but their opinions will merely be resting on the surface of this record because within these twelve tracks there's a deeper meaning and fruitful message.
Title track 'This Is Not The World' may burst with pop hooks but also starts a story which runs through the record. It's picked up again by 'Broke Up The Time' cutting the twenty first century along the throat with venomous lyrics before 'Everything's Changing Today' puts to rights what message is left to say with heart warming intensity. Socrates' philosophy it isn't but it hits the target none the less.
The best part of all though is that nothing has changed. This is consistent music from a consistent band that can't help but release solid work with relevance and identity. To top it off The Futureheads released this independently on their very own label sticking the rightful two fingers up at the majors that once harboured them. Why not the full five star rating then? It's not a classic but more importantly it's a bridge to bigger and better things. This is a clever and important return from the harsh critical musical world The Futureheads left two years ago.
Sam Tolley
The Futureheads Official Site
The Futureheads Myspace
Buy The Futureheads CDs | Buy The Futureheads mp3s | Buy The Futureheads Tickets | Buy The Futureheads Merch
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