Skip to content
Elly Roberts reviews
A&G Records
- March 2008
- Rating: 10/10
Look out! Here come hot-steppers The Cloud Room.
Big on the NY scene, this Brooklyn-based quintet is going to set the pace forAmerican bands in 2008.
Comparisons may be drawn with Brit sensations Kaiser Chiefs, but not quite asedgy, theyre probably closer to Razorlight, mixed with a bit of Magic Numbers,who theyve already supported. This is 21century American pop at its very best.
Taking their name from the speakeasy at the top of New Yorks Chrysler buildingduring prohibition, they J. Stuart, Jon Petrow, Jason Pharr, Dave Horowitzand Steve Milton have put together a pretty darned impressive album full ofanthemic pop gems.
Vocally, Stuart sometimes has tinge of a young Lou Reed especially on the NewOrder-esque We Sleep In The Oceans. The muffled fade-in for UK bonus trackSunset Song eventually reveals a wondrous melodic belter, leaving us tothink its another Coldplay, and thankfully its not as single Blackout showsa band with a totally different ear for a funky and catchy hook.
Hey Now Now (used in the Pepsi Max ad featuring Brazilian soccer ace Ronaldinho)is a swaggering and thrusting out-and-out pop classic that Bowie (whos a big fan)would be proud of from his mid-80s disco period. Showing a tender side, Sunlight Songis a mid-course smoothy followed by a retro-Blondie-like new wave classic fullof easy beats and a big, simple chorus.
Again, Beautiful Mess fits the dance floor bill, matching anything The Killersand BodyRockers have hit us with. Of all the wonders here, Blue Jean isthe jewel in the crown a stirring and happy go lucky chorus complete with stadiumrock guitar solo. Qualifying heir stadium potential, they dare to do a U2 onslaughton Follow Me, which would have been perfect for the Joshua Tree.
File under: Americas next stadium rockers.
Weblinks:thecloudroom.com /myspace.com/thecloudroomuk /agrecords.co.uk
The full list of tracks included are :
(* UK bonus tracks)
1. Sunset Song *
2. Blackout!
3. Waterfall
4. Hey Now Now
5. Devoured In Peace
6. Sunlight Song
7. Beautiful Mess
8. The Hunger
9. O My Love
10. Blue Jean
11. We Sleep In The Ocean
12. Follow Me *
13. Sunlight Reprise
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.