A are one of the more successful pop punk bands to come out of the UK, and with good reason. Why? well, pick any one of their records and you’re guaranteed several good tunes. ‘How ace are buildings?’ is no different. Beware though, this is probably unlike any other record you’ve ever bought.
For starters, we’ve got ‘Turn it up’ to get the album going, a slow, quiet falling-asleep kind of song, which lasts about a minute and a half; instantly turning into the roaring ‘Foghorn’, with Jason Perry’s vocals providing the distinctive british edge to what is powerful and fast paced pop punk. Cheeky monkey is as likeable as it is, er, cheeky, followed by track number four, or ‘no.1’.
This is the real gem of the album – ‘No.1’ possesses a solo guitar which preceeds a song that will have you well and truly converted to an ‘A’ fan; the number of instruments used is extraordinary, keyboards, guitars, samples, whistles (!?) – a number of crescendos and drum beats that could make this the song of anyone’s upcoming summer. Hey, it reminds me of good times anyway.
‘Bad Idea’ continues in a similar vein to the first half of the album, showcasing the Perry brothers’ mutual dislike for various stuff in society, with vocals at full volume; ‘sing-a-long’ is exactly what its called – a much slower affair yet still melodically great.
Towards the end of the album the pace picks up with ‘Out of tune’ – composed of that trademark ‘A’ enthusiasm and strong vocals which eventually calm into the chill factor 10 ‘Fistral’.
This is an album that gets in touch with the listener so well, you almost feel like you know ‘A’ by the end of it; basically what i’m trying to say, is that this album should be in your collection – ‘A’s unique way of making music is something everyone should experience. If you don’t have this, its time to dust off your wallet once again.
nick