Weekly > Reviews
The Music - Strength In Numbers
The Music have had a real journey already despite being relatively young (still in their early to mid twenties) they’ve had two albums out, one that was brilliantly received the other was if i’m being kind, a fairly lukewarm response they received for Welcome To The North.
Around those two albums they’ve shifted a million copies, played countless gigs and built up a reputation as one of the best live bands around (even blowing Kasabian offstage last year), been dropped by their old label Virgin and bouncing back with Polydor this year…oh and their have been the rumours over the bands four year absence that they’ve had personal issues including drink and drugs.
The scene and musical landscape has changed an awful lot in that time as well of course, dance and rock are regular bed fellows now, so what they do can no longer be seen as trail-blazing and their home city of Leeds has undergone a musical revolution of it’s own, where as when they left the scene four years ago it was basically them and The Wedding Present flying the flag.
As the year has progressed though the group have gradually started to show their increased confidence and renewed love of music (they may never have fallen out with it, but it certainly had them a few years ago) through a series of brilliantly received gigs in the four cities they’ve chosen to play. Now though it’s time to really step forward and show what they are made of, it’s third album time and after the lengthy break it’s an important one for the bands.
Despite their self imposed hiatus, their fan base has never left them or lost faith and it seems with Strength In Numbers that loyalty is well rewarded. It may not feature as much of the bluesy guitar that strove for attention alongside the electronic and organic beats of the first album, but it more than makes up for it with an even dancier sound than previously, something I would guess the band have Flood and Paul Hartnoll to thank for in part.
- The Music
- Strength In Numbers (2008)
- Category: Album
- Label: Polydor Records
- Reviewed by: Kev
- Published on: 16 Jun 2008
- Comments: 0
- Beat Surrender Rating:
Weblinks
Add to favouritesI don’t think the title track is the strongest lead single or opening track, but when it’s followed up by The Spike and Drugs which both add further weight lyrically to their supposed past issues, then it’s easily overlooked. I’m still not sure about Idle as a track, but again they follow that up with two belters in the form of the claustrophobic sounding dance of The Left Side and the album highlight Fire, a song that was equally as ballsy and intense live.
If Fire is my favourite then it’s probably closely followed by No Weapon Sharper Than Will and The Last One, both of which would make good singles. Inconceivable Odds is another track that warrants a mention, it changes pace perfectly almost like a chill out at the end of a big night out.
It’s a very good comeback from a band that have almost been written off in some quarters, if it is enough to put them back towards the top of the musical pile will remain to be seen, one thing is for sure though they’ve got some cracking new tunes to bang out live and if you can catch them in a tent aty a festival this summer you’ll be in for a major treat.
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We waffle on enough without letting you lot do it too. Comments are limited to 300 characters.
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