Monday, 10 November 2008

Review - The Paddingtons - No Mundane Options

The Paddingtons - No Mundane Options

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6 out of 10

Touted as something of a 'bands' band' in their PR, The Paddingtons (named after the only part of London that is Cockney rhyming slang for itself) certainly pack bags of attitude. How this translates into their new album is in showing the world what Oasis would've been like if they obsessed over the Clash rather than the Beatles. Punk RIP roars in on the coat-tails of Combat Rock, proceeding to grab the ears and shove the face into the nearest speaker. There's very little let-up from then on, with the rest of the album (from a band named after the first animated children's character to say 'fuck' on tea-time television) containing more shouty-lad choruses, sharp guitar riffs and thumping rhythmic insanity than many bands manage in an entire career. You And I is more downbeat but only in the sense that having someone shouting at you slowly is downbeat. The bass madness of Plastic Men stands out, as does the Streets-y semi-TwoTone of Gangs. Heartsong claims to be about love and lyrically it is - musically it's more jump-yourself-stupid. I would write longer sentences but I'm having trouble sitting still for long enough.

Listen: www.myspace.com/thepaddingtons

Tracklist:
1. Punk RIP
2. What's The Point In Anything New
3. Shame About Elle
4. No Mundane Options
5. Sticky Fingers
6. Molotov Cocktail
7. You And I
8. Plastic Men
9. Stand Down
10. Gangs
11. Heartsong

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