Search - Glasvegas :: Glasvegas

A Brilliant Debut From A Stunning New Band

Andre Reynolds | Nashville, TN USA | 01/06/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album was easily one of the most surprising and stunning debuts of 2008 in the UK, and will surely act as the same here in the States for 2009. But I must warn you, if you're not a fan of thick Scottish accents, it may take you a few spins to warm up to this band. With that aside, Glasvegas delivers an album full of emotion, spirit, and meaningful lyrics... a rarity among today's rock scene whether you wish to admit it or not.



One of the most refreshing aspects of this album is that it is made by musicians who know their craft and use real instruments. As ridiculous as that may sound, today's music scene seems more and more crowded with bands who have adopted the laptop as a musical instrument, flooding the airwaves with the newest crackles and synths courtesy of a make-shift bedroom studio. Glasvegas takes it back to basics and delivers what has been eluding modern music... heartfelt tales of average people told alongside well thought out and skillfully composed music.



The album kicks off with what many listeners deemed an easy pick for song of the year in 2008 among the UK, "Flowers and Football Tops - a song about a mother left without a son due to violence. The song clocks in at nearly 7 minutes, but not a second is wasted. The track is immense, giving off a sense of space with the help of some of the best placed reverb I've heard in a while. The track is topped by the raw emotion within the ending, where the refrain of "You Are My Sunshine" lingers on a chord that is sure to send chills down your spine. Other notable tracks include "Geraldine," "Daddy's Gone," and "Go Square Go." Geraldine and Daddy's Gone showcase the soulful aspects of Allen's voice (lead singer). The tracks also show his knack for recognizing social aspects in his songwriting, rather than penning songs that are self-consumed and repetitive in nature. Each track is cleverly put together and exhibits a sense of restraint that will have you begging for new material after the album has run through its 42 minutes.



There has been much hype surrounding Glasvegas worldwide, and often that's a sure sign to a brief 15 minutes in the limelight. But this band is an exception. Upon listening to this album, you will find yourself thoroughly consumed in its near perfect orchestration and commentary on human nature. I guarantee that this will be an album that you'll find yourself listening to 1... 5... 10 years down the road. It's an album of timeless rock and roll without the filler... an album you will find yourself listening to track by track without feeling the need to skip or fast-forward. It's rare that you can say such things about a debut album, but then again, it's rare that a band like Glasvegas comes along and delivers on such high expectations.



Simply put, buy this album. It will be one of the best purchases you make for your music collection this year. The album follows through on all the hype and curiosity from critics and listeners worldwide. This will definitely be an album to remember for 2009. You and your headphones will be happy."

Twilight sadder

Roy Pearl | Vancouver, BC | 12/02/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"There's not a lot of variation here, but variation is a crutch for the uncommitted, right? Just ask the Ramones. Or Motorhead. Or Sousa. Or the republican base. Thing is, what these guy do may be limited, but they do it like the next three minutes are the most important 179 seconds in the universe. Almost every song seems to rise out of a morose static drone that bleeds between tracks, and when the embellishments arrive - a nervous acoustic strum, 60s girl group beat and harmony vocals, the constant threat of Mary Chain guitar violence - they're just faintly familiar enough that they cradle everything in the comfort of nostalgia. And then that voice - an untrained working class Scot burr that doesn't so much confess its sins as declare them. The end result shimmers with a luminous melancholy that contains a fair amount of magic. Definitely a mood piece, but it's a mood that most of us are committed to whether we like it or not."

An ambitious debut!!

Nse Ette | Lagos, Nigeria | 11/13/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Glasvegas are as their name implies from Glasgow and their stunning self-titled debut comprises just ten songs, but what a collection they are.



Their style is highly melodic Pop/Rock with a heavy sixties Doo-wop sound, and a dense wall of sound similar to the legendary Phil Spector's; loads of organ, fuzzy guitars, chiming guitars and spectacular drumming. The group is a quartet with James Allan on lead vocals and Caroline McKay on drums.



Opening cut is "Flowers & football tops", inspired by the murder of a Glaswegian teenager. It is a towering Sixties-sounding number with a chorus a-la Ronettes or "Grease" (Sha-Na-NA especially) ending in a few notes of "You Are My Sunshine" depicting the harrowing heartbreak caused by his loss. "Baby why you not home yet" sings the mum as she slowly comprehends the fate of her son.



The autobiographical "Daddy's gone" is an awesome Doo-wop ballad with lyrics touching on the pain felt by a son due to his absent father. Allan's vocals fleet from derision to heartache, and the bridge reminds me a bit of the "La la la la la" from Elton John's "Crocodile rock". "Stabbed" is a dramatic Cathedral-sounding piano ballad with a cryptic narration (partly cryptic due to Allan's strong Scottish accent which makes it tough to decipher what he's saying). It uses Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata as backing. The sunny "Go square go" tells of a schoolyard scrap, set to a stomping beat and a sing-along "Here we f***ing go" refrain at the end.



The melancholic ballad "S.A.D. light" (for Seasonal Affective Disorder) is bewitchingly beautiful, while closing is the haunting Coldplay-style hymnal "Ice cream van" which gradually builds from swirling organ to a crescendo of Stadium-esque proportions.



They manage to marry a sunny exhilarating sound with deep, sombre lyrics. An ambitious debut which they successfully pull off, and definitely one of the better albums you will hear this year. Superb!!!"