Written by Jon Birch
Listen Up Manchester album rating: 6/10
The
Courteeners burst on to the scene in 2008 with their debut album, St Jude. It
was an album full of raw guitar riffs, honest relatable lyrics and homages to
their hometown of Manchester. It was a huge success, reaching no. 4 in the UK
charts and prompting claims they were ‘the next Oasis’. That was followed by
2010’s Falcon which, although retained the down to earth lyrics, was a far more
polished record in terms of production and saw the band’s sound evolve with the
introduction of synths and strings into the mix. It was commercially well
received but is not as instantly accessible and ultimately, likeable, as the
debut.
Anna then,
is The Courteeners third full length album and sees them following much the
same blueprint as Falcon. There are some strong tracks to be found here but
there are too many that pass you by or, worse still, leave you reaching for the
skip button. The production quality is again high, and the sound has now evolved
to a point where, once the next great hope for guitar music, The Courteeners
now seem to be more concerned with embracing the trendy art-pop scene.
Opening
track, ‘Are You In Love With A Notion’, kicks in with an 80’style drum beat and
guitar riff and is a tale of falling in love and getting caught up in the
moment. The beauty of Liam Fray’s signature down to earth lyrics is that they’re
so easy to relate to. We all know someone who’s been in these types of
situations; ‘You told Deborah, that he is the one, you’re going to quit
Debenhams, elope and get married in the sun’. The strong start continues with
the lead single ‘Lose Control’. It’s by no means one of their career best but
it’s got a strong hook and enough synths and drumbeats to become a dance floor
staple at Indie club nights in the months to come.
Van Der Graaff
sees an attempt at a Kasabian style riff and Welcome To The Rave is a
reflection on the rise to fame, the changes it brings (‘I’ve got a pass to
Aladdin’s cave, are you coming with?’), and the fears that come with it. ‘When
You Want Something You Can’t Have’ and ‘Marquee’ are possibly the two songs
here that have most in common with the first album and share bittersweet
experiences.
This isn’t a
bad record; it’s just not exciting or enough to make you want to come back time
and again. There are tracks that will stay with you but there are more that
you’ll forget. Ultimately, if you’re a Courteeners fan, this will fit nicely in
your collection and you’ll sing your heart out to each song. If you’re not, I’d
advise you to give St Jude a listen.
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