I tried really hard not to fall asleep listening to this CD, I really did. There’s nothing wrong with Hug The Coast per se, it’s just infuriatingly boring. Well, I say there’s nothing wrong with it but when I heard the line: “And I head home to headphones and red phones…” Excuse me. What? Well, that one sort of pushed it a little too far.
In its defence, Hug The Coast offers up ‘Steadfast and Sure’ which actually gives you a few memorable lines and something to hum along to, and ‘Grasshoppers’ with its catchy Gratitude-like guitar work. I’m afraid to say that those two songs are where this record starts and ends for me and, on a CD of 13 songs, that’s a distinctly poor effort in anyone’s book. After a few listens I couldn’t actually tell you which track was which aside from the two mentioned.
Why doesn’t this work? Well, I’ve sat and thought about it for quite a while and it’s just really, really camp. Now, there’s nothing wrong with melodic music but to do anything other than wash over you it’s got to stake its claim with at least something remotely memorable. This record does not make such an attempt. It’s like Copeland, Mae, Coldplay, Braid, Death Cab For Cutie and every other limp-wristed band around having a liquid gold-induced love-in beneath a roaring fire in a big country house… belonging to Mark Oaten.
If you like your music slowed down, sleep-inducing and camper then Christmas then you’ll love this. Everyone else I’d point you towards the above bands as they carry off this sound with a great deal more credibility and style.
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