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8 out of 10
When I first played this album on I really didn't like it. I was shocked to the core that (One of) the UK's finest and most consistent record labels - Big Scary Monsters - had at last dropped the ball.
Having seen Secondsmile live many, many times what I enjoyed most about them was the pure intensity and of them and their music. Given this, I was a also little disappointed by the debut 'Walk Into The Light And Reach For The Sky', and didn't feel that their energy translated onto the record, however it grew on me.
In many ways the same can be said for their second album, 'Years'; it just took less time. I guess when I put it on I was expected the same kind of immediacy of recent live shows. But I've had this album in my car, in my kitchen and on my generic MP3 device, and over a short time it has really managed to seduce me.
Admittedly, this album requires your patience, and despite their press release there's nothing that really 'pushes musical boundaries' per sae. But it really does pay off; it's so subtle and delicate in places and so fierce in others. You get customary British emo-math-Oxford-esque-twiddly-guitar tracks that are all pretty good, special attention to the upcoming single 'Tell Me A Story' and the superb 'Everything And All That's Inbetween'. But these are spliced with some of the most surprising and challenging, yet beautiful musical phrases you are likely to come across in any album this year. There are elements of At The Drive-in, Minus The Bear and This Town Needs Guns; however at times fans of Owen, Smog and Dashboard Confessional wouldn't be disappointed. It's diverse and fascinating, loud and beautiful, tragic and passionate. I guess I'll need to be in the right mood to listen to this album, but I do think it's a keeper. I know everyone said it the first time round, but expect big things; Secondsmile have proved (Again) that they are no passing fad. No only can they write songs consistently, they can write albums.
Listen: www.myspace.com/secondsmile
Tracklist:
1. Smokestaks
2. Long Road Home
3. Tell Me A Story
4. Years
5. Good Night Sleep Tight
6. Stars Away
7. Everything And All That's Inbetween
8. Aspen Gears
9. Halfman
10. The Flaming Heart
11. Soundtrack To Your Life
12. To The Sea
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