New-Gazing rockers The History of Apple Pie return with a second album, that shows their debut wasn’t a fluke. Last year when I first heard Out of View (The History of Apple Pie’s debut) I could have sworn it was going to be massive. I could see them playing bigger and bigger venues, being on TV and winning awards (the Mercury Music Prize for example). This never happened. And I still don’t really understand why?
Now THOAP have a new album and what’s more it’s better than Out of View! With Feel Something they have produced a record that shows they weren’t a one trick pony. Nothing from their debut has been lost. The songs are still female fronted new-gazing gold, but there is an added element of fun. And why not? They’ve done what so many other new bands have failed to do. They’ve written a better album than their first.
The album opens with Come Undone. The first few bars of drums are like a fist to the face. These aren’t muted, muffled drum. Oh no. They’re big and brash. They say “WE’RE BACK”. The resulting 3:16 is wonderous. As an opening track it’s brilliant and possibly the best I’ve heard all year. Come Undone is a statement of intent: the guitars sound like they’ve been put through a power drill, the vocals are more dreamy than anything they’ve put out before and the outro is a masterpiece in drone.
Lead single Tame has a quaint piano riff then a massive guitar comes in. Nothing new here, but the counter play between them is a great touch. This isn’t just mirror playing. There is a playfulness to it too. It says “Hey, we make great music, but we’re fun. You like fun right?”
The stand out track is special girl. It sounds like a fuzzed out Keith Mansfield. This sums up the new THOAP. It’s possibly the most aggressive track on the album, but there is something about it, just bubbling below the surface, that keeps it on side. You know, like Rudd Van Nistelrooy. Just when you think he’s gone too far, he gets a pin point pass and scores the winner. It’s the same with this track. Just when one element is pushing it too far, it drops off and another element slots straight in. This is clever songwriting (and playing).
‘Feel Something’s only downside is that at times the lyrics are either too muffled to hear properly or when you do; they don’t live up to the brilliant music. This is fine though. Not everyone is Scott Walker and most Ride lyrics weren’t that great either. With music this good, who needs lyrics?
[Rating:4]
