View The Review
7 out of 10
Despite their being plenty of bands in Liverpool that don't sound like The Beatles, The Las or The Coral; that sound modern and exciting, like Hot Club de Paris, Indica Ritual and Elle s'appelle, the Fab Four are still a millstone on the city's music scene and skew perceptions of what Liverpool sounds like in 2008. If you're a band in Liverpool it seems, most people expect you to sound like The Zutons or old fashioned. Rising four-piece The Sporting Life don't shake off Merseybeat's spectre entirely, but there are signs that could do if they really push themselves. The opener on this three song EP, 'Black Eyes' sounds like a rowdier Fran Ferdinand and Ste Lewin's voice resembles Alex Kapranos'. The Scouse jangle and retro rock are present, but towards the end the mix of harmonies and yelps, the quieter fuitar breakdowns and the way the drums smatter and build rhythmically to nothing suggests something more subtle and refined. 'Knockout' (TSL like fights, it seems) is enjoyable jitterbug post-punk blues, but the shouty bits are just like The Zutons. The last song, the Hot Club-ish 'U No?' with it's ripples of guitar and wonderful "My heart's in your handbag" chorus, is a lovely close and shows that The Sporting Life are actually better when the drop the bluster for something a bit quieter. Listen: www.myspace.com/thesportinglifeband
Tracklist:
1. Black Eyes 2. Knockout 3. U No?
No comments:
Post a Comment