With the massive amounts of mail we receive here at Punktastic, not many CDs get me excited when they arrive. ‘Hi-fi Serious’ was the exception that proves the rule, and found itself making the transition from jiffy bag to CD player in one smooth motion. One of the most eagerly awaited releases of 2002, British popsters ‘A’ are back with their third studio album, and it promises to rank as highly as the two previous offerings.
The band waste no time getting down to business, with the raw sound of ‘Nothing’ announcing their arrival to your ears. A big departure from the usual cheerful ‘A’ sound, it’d be shock if we hadn’t heard it all a million times before from heavy radio rotation. It spells dark times for ‘A’, both musically and metaphorically, with a sound less out of place on any number of recent “nu-metal” releases; as it is, the track sits un-easily, with both feet firmly in a heavier camp. That said, it’s not particularly bad, it’s just a shock to hear the radical new direction ‘A’ have experimented in.
Track 2’s ‘Something’s Going On’ immediately allays any fears die-hard ‘A’ fans will undoubtedly be harbouring following the previous track. Returning to the tried-and-tested ‘A’ formula of simple, crisp guitar progressions with JP’s clear melodies fusing together to create three minutes of unashamed upbeat pop. ‘6 O’Clock On A Tube Stop’ slows it down slightly for another helping of more of the same, although it’s not as immediate as its predecessor, it’s still not a bad offering.
It’s just four minutes into the disc that we’re treated to the first standout track; ‘Going Down’ employs a quieter, more subdued ambience, and contrary to the sexual connotations the title conjures up, describes the last thoughts of a plane crash victim. Again, the vocals combine well with some truely haunting lyrics, “I ease the seat back, and start to pray, to the same God that puts bombs in cargo bays”; if you’re ever entertained such thoughts on a flight this is guaranteed to send shivers down the spine.
‘Took It Away’ could almost be lifted from one of the band’s previous releases, proving how little their style has changed over the years. Given the company it’s in, the track does little to disappoint, and leads nicely to ‘Starbucks’, the second standout of the album, and the track most likely to be released as the second single from the disc. Played live for a while now, ‘A’ have finally committed it to a recording, and capture the energy and enthusiasm exuded in those performances with ease, to call the chorus “infectious” would not do it justice – “ebola” would be more apt. Great vocal layering and confident backing come as standard, ‘A’ once again proving they’re capable of writing world-class material when required.
With such an exhausting three minutes past, you’re almost thankful for ‘The Springs’, a tranquil number which finely balances out the experience – ‘A’ know how not to blow it all at once, pacing the listener through the whole record; which is just as well given what’s coming up. ‘Shut Yer Face’ once again sees ‘A’ dabble in the darker side of their writing, toying with a mixture of rockier verses and melodic choruses – it’s a recipe that works well together and binds the whole track together. Moving swiftly on brings us to ‘Pacific Ocean Blue’. As is so often the case with ‘A’ tracks, it’s the vocals that elevate the track’s standing head-and-shoulders above similar offerings.
‘The Distance‘ is unique on the CD in that it’s the only sub-par track offered. It’s not by any means a bad track, but given the quality of it’s siblings it’s disappointingly average, despite the best efforts of JP’s strong vocals. ‘W.D.Y.C.A.I.’ on the other hand sees ‘A’ back at their peak, with a tune that must surely go down as a modern classic for them. As good as the best of ‘Monkey Kong’ or ‘…Buildings?’, it’s an aural treat and with a sing-a-long chorus like this it’s a prime candidate for a slot in the live show.
The final track shares the album’s title, named after the shop comedy TV character Alan Partridge purchased his stereo system from. It’s more funked-up rock than the other track, and is a powerful outro to a great disc, supported well by the rarest of things – a two minute instrumental ending that doesn’t become terminally boring after the first minute.
All in all, it’s a great disc. ‘A’ fans cannot possibly be disappointed, and new listeners will find the album a good entry point into the world of ‘A’, let down only very slightly by a couple of non-perfect moments. But I’m being over-critical, picky for pickyness’ sake, any self-respecting pop-punk can ill afford not to have this record in their collection. “Your New Favourite Band?” Quite possibly.
Dan