Catfish & The
Bottlemen’s 2014 debut ‘The Balcony’ made an absolute storm, it’s an album
that has propelled them to within touching distance of festival headline
status. Their latest outing, ‘The Ride’, could be what puts them their.
‘7’ opens the album and it epitomises the step they’ve made
between albums – a very small one. Other than polishing up the sound from the
first album it’s difficult to see how the band has changed. Lyrically not a
huge amount has changed with songs about girls, partying and regrets. Musically
not a huge amount has changed either other than a slightly less frantic and
fuller sound.
The most glaring thing missing from this album and Catfish & The Bottlemsn’s discography
is a ‘Wonderwall’, a ‘Mr Brightside’, a song that will launch them from a good
band to a great one. ‘Soundcheck’, their first single from the album, is the
one that comes closest. With a sing-along chorus and a theme reflecting the
difficulties of love and touring it’s an absolute hit with fans of the band,
but not one that’s going to convert people that aren’t.
With all this said ‘The Ride’ is an excellent album, it
improves and develops the band from their raw debut, however second albums are
always difficult, especially if your first one is as successful as ‘The
Balcony’ was. However it’s hard not to look at this album as a disappointment because
it could have been so much more.
(8/10)
-Luke
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