Hop on Board
Richard Hine | 03/27/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Standard Fare, Sheffield's newest musical export, leap out of the gate with a sound that's at once familiar, unique, melancholy and energetic. The three-piece band consists of Andy Bez on drums, Danny How on guitar and Emma Kupa on bass and vocals. It's a sound that will likely please anyone who's a fan of lyrically driven Brit/tweepop. On most songs, Kupa's distinctive vocals carry the day. (With shades of The Long Blondes, Kenickie, even Florence and the Machine.) On others, Danny How joins in to give the album a Belle & Sebastian/Camera Obscura vibe. This is an album that combines youthful exuberance, intelligent/smart-alecky lyrics with the knowing undertones that, "Fifteen"-age kicks aside, "we're all getting older so much faster." Hopefully this debut album will be the start of a long and successful musical journey. So hop on board. Cough up the Standard Fare. Take a seat at the back of the bus. And give it a listen."