Attention must be one of the most prolific bands out there at the minute, with an EP and two albums released in the space of about 18 months. Impressive stuff, all the more so when you realise they’re all of a high standard. The ‘Stand Strong’ EP was majestic and consistently fantastic, while ‘Everything Takes Forever’ had a number of high points too. ‘Through The Wire’ was recorded during the month of January and was released on February 1 – for free. So there’s no excuse for not checking this out.
For those unaware, Attention is made up of ex-members of Gratitude, New End Original, The Stereo and The Gloria Record so you just know from the get-go this band is going to be great. And they are. While this record isn’t as overtly poppy as some of those bands, or the first EP, it’s still good old fashioned melodic rock. There are riffs, there are hooks and there are good times. It’s maybe slightly more melancholic and reflective than some of the previous material and that’s shown in the number of ‘slower’ songs on the album. There are perhaps two or three I’d maybe have cut, maybe they grow, maybe I just like the band when they play a bit quicker. Who knows. Anyway, there are plenty of great songs here so I won’t dwell on the negatives.
Attention love to write a driving guitar riff and there are lots of them on this record. ‘Your Heart’ and the album’s title track are simply great tunes, while ‘Whispers’ and ‘Ready To Pretend’ follow suit. The vocal melodies are strong and the choruses clever and catchy without being ridiculously so. If you like any of their former bands you’ll know exactly how Attention manage to hook you in without being too upfront. It’s all very subtle as the tracks grow on you every time you listen. And yes, while I do think the album gets a little bit dry by the end and personally think a track or two could have been cut, this is still a great record and fantastic value for money. Recording and releasing the album, for free, within a month is a very interesting concept. It’s one that has worked too. Make sure you take the time to pick this up.
You can download this album for FREE from http://attention.bandcamp.com/album/through-the-wire