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DVDfever.co.uk – 1990s: Kicks CD reviewElly Roberts reviews
Rough Trade Records
- Released: March 2009
- Rating: 10/10
- Vote and comment on this album:View Comments
Whopping power-pop. Could be new pop kings 2009.
Art rockers 1990s are a Glasgow trio with similar ambitions to Franz Ferdinand creating memorable pop, with a twist.We all know that pop has become a dirty word. I dont know why.
Anyway, this outfit seem to straddle the indie -pop divide, which is good news for them, and us.In many ways, theyre a more accomplished band than FF. Their repertoire is far classier and broader. On an interesting historical note, singer Jackie McKeon and bassist Jamie Mc Morrow (now departed and replaced by new-boy Dino Bardot) were in The Yummy Fir, along with no less, FFs frontman Alex Kapranos and drummer Paul Thompson. So it looks like Kapranos and co. beat 1990s to winning-post of stardom. Things could change.
The content of Kicks? Well, its a bit of a teenage thing in some ways really ex, current, future and fictional girlfriends the usual rocknroll stuff. Also, theres more exotic and topical references to Mongolian Warlords, Bears, Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink (a Dutch footballer with Celtic), former German terrorists Baader-Meinhoff (oddly) and the mysterious world of Scientology. A fair old mix then boys.
Still, they know how to bang out a belter, and thats their mission statement on the opening track Vondelpark. It has all the danceable qualities FF have been striving for on their last album. This has more edge and rasp though: a catchy indie pop record with dollops of oh, oh, oh and blistering guitar solo. Again, Tell Me When Youre Ready is another foot-tapping gem, funky bass-line and sharp chord crunching with an even sharper solo. This could be Bowie during his Ashes To Ashes period.
Bardot, the (lucky?) bassist was once propositioned at a San Francisco party, so I Dont Even Know What That Is humorously tells of his near alarming encounter. Something to do with a Halloween party and outfits borrowed from a porn studio. RocknRoll eh?
59, is one of their finest moments. Bardots bass is creamy and funky which drives this honeyed gem, about a bus journey from Glasgow suburb Pollockshields to Brigadoon and Narnia with drummer Michael McGaughrin checking-out the chicks. The melodies and harmonies are sucked somewhere from the West Coast of California.
Riffs and picks are all over the next whopper, Everybody Please Relax, though they find some space for stylish collective harmonising mid-way.In their day Blondie had some great basslines, and thats what Bardots introduced on thrusting pop classic Balthazar. Why not a single guys?
In total contrast, Local Science is a brooding ballad that has shades of the darker side of Led Zeppelin keyboard (melotron) outings, in parts.Of all the tracks, the harmonising here is sensational.Matching FFs power-laden single Ulysses, The Box is an absolute monster. Big drums, choppy riffs, and big chorus – Another single guys!Duffy producer Bernard Butler worked this. It shows.
The verdict Infectious. Great album.
The full list of tracks included are :
1. Vondel Park
2. Tell Me When Youre Ready
3. I Dont Even Know Even Know What That Is
4. 59
5. Kickstrasse
6. Everybody Please Relax
7. Balthazar
8. Local Science
9. The Box
10. Giddy Up
11. The Kids
12. Sparks
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.