The UK has come up with a diverse range of bands in 2002 from a wide selection of up-and-coming labels. Capdown probably still lead the way, but with the likes of Fletcher, Lightyear, Jerry-Built and NoComply throwing their ecletic styles into the ring, you can’t fault some of the originality. But one band have refused to rewrite the rulebook, sticking to a style that is known to work if it is done well. And for Southampton’s Not Katies, well they are firmly part of that latter group. It’s perky pop-punk anthems for them – and they do it as well, if not better, than any other UK pop-punk band.
A foursome that would fit snugly on to the Drive Thru Records roster of bands, Not Katies sound like ‘Nothing Gold Can Stay’-era New Found Glory. The songs are a little rough and ready round the edges, but in the most part these are guitar driven pop songs with choruses so big their hooks could land whales. And energy? There’s enough here to run a small African nation for an entire year! ‘At Every Turn’, the band’s first release for Deck Cheese Records, is a fast paced selection of 11 songs, featuring hook-filled anthem after hook-filled anthem, plus of course the now obligatory quieter track.
The song I’m sure many of you will already be acquainted with is the catchy ‘2 Halves of 2’ which has already been doing the rounds on Trouble TV. It’s perfect pop-punk – soaring melodies, dual harmonies and buzzsaw guitars combined with a chorus to die for. At just shy of three minutes in length, I’m surprised that the likes of the more mainstream music channels haven’t picked up on it. But then that’s our gain I guess. ‘Safe With Me’ is a little edgier as it dosn’t have the extra sheen of the opening song, but it still has all the hallmarks of the Not Katies sound and the “I’m not giving up on you” refrain is as singable as any other moment you’ll hear this year.
‘November Girl’ is perkier than Jordan’s most famous body parts, while the crunchier ‘Gratitude‘ is a personal favourite of mine. Rich and Dave’s guitars scythe their way through the song, with Luke’s drumming creating a battering ram effect that adds a little more punch to the sound. Lightweight is not in the Not Katies dictionary. ‘Letters To Carla’ is a fan favourite, and while the subject matter is straight from The Ataris school of songwriting the band do it well enough to avoid the odd grumble. ‘Have Car, Will Travel’ is more riff based at the outset, but fear not pop-punkers, the track kicks off and is sure to be a pit enducing monster live. Of course there’s the now familiar Not katies chorus, one which will cling on to the brain and refuse to budge.
‘Burn Your Photos’ is one of the worst tracks on the record, slowing down the pace and ferocity in favour of a meander which doesn’t suit Rich’s vocal style at all. But the classy ‘Bad Side Of Alicia’ makes up for it and although it’s another song about girls the band launch into the track with everything they can muster. The million miles an hour drumming during ‘A Few Short Days’ is a highlight, even if the song itself seems to take a little to get into. But once you reach the chorus you cannot fail but to fall in love with the track and the band, who seemingly have a penchance for memorable hooks and melodies. ‘Always Them’ is another singalong tune, before the closing moogtastic ‘Summer Break In San Remo’, which surely was named after a drunken Ataris listening session. Uber-producer Iain Wetherell provides the keys and the track amazingly sounds like Idlewild at their most tender. A great song in itself, but I’m not sure that it’s the best way for ‘At Every Turn’ to end. My abiding memory is that this is a band that plays hard and rocks hard – and I feel that they should have ended on this note. But hey, what do I know?
Not Katies certainly haven’t reinvented the wheel at all, but they carve out some pop-punk gems in a UK stylee, perfect refreshment to swill away some of the garbage the US bands seem to serve up. A band that won’t leave a sour taste in the mouth, Not Katies have come up with a record that for New Found Glory or Ataris fans will be well worth every penny.
Paul