What a disappointment ‘QU’ is. If you enjoyed Sherwood for being a summery, uplifting band that wrote great little pop songs, then you’re in for a bit of a shock. On the whole this is dreary, acoustic-based stuff that had me reaching for the skip button. It’s not until you’re over the half-way mark that this album picks up, but even then it’s too little, too late. ‘What Are You Waiting For?’ is brilliant, the best song on the album by far and ‘Around You’ has sampled handclaps and a bit of a cute feel to it, but the songs before it go forward with the pace of a snail. It’s just not what I was expecting – or what I wanted to hear.
Kicking off with the pointless intro ‘Shelter’, the band’s stripped down sound is immediately evident on ‘Hit The Bottom’ which is more uplifting than most here, but still doesn’t sound as ‘full’ as the band on previous albums. It’s like something’s missing in the mix. ‘Maybe This Time’ is boring as Hell, while ‘Worn’ is a real snoozefest. The female vocals (I’m not sure who guests on this song, sorry) fail to lift the mood or the quality at all, making them a little pointless.
I’ve enjoyed Sherwood‘s previous output because they’re quite a fun, summery band. But ‘QU’ is much more of an Autumnal affair. In places it’s downright dull and is only saved by a couple of decent efforts in the second half. A big disappointment.