The Enemy: We'll Live and Die in These Towns
The Enemy's debut is an anrgy rant
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Monday, 09, Jul 2007 04:53
Warner Music, out July 9th.
In a nutshell.
Northern, eclectic, in-your-face
What's it all about?
We'll Live and Die in These Towns is the storming debut album from Coventry's the Enemy. The teenage northerners deliver a brilliantly aggressive narrative of dead-end jobs, chasing girls and dreams of better places. The album consists of 11 eclectic tracks all of which follow a similar trend of a desire to break free and escape the rot of everyday life. The music grows and evolves as the tracks progress, from the brilliant single Away From Here, where pointless jobs, promotions and crappy weekends are all dismissed with total disgust, to the sublime finale of Happy Birthday Jane.
Touted as the next Artic Monkeys or Oasis, the band are already receiving wide spread admiration in their fledging careers. The comparisons don't sit well with lead singer Tom Clarke but he can have no complaints with the claims that his vocal talent is similar to a certain Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols and the influence of the Jam is so blatant they've even gone and got the same haircuts.
Who's it by?
Still not old enough to know better, the three 19 year olds met in the Coventry suburb of Holbrooks. Lead singer and ex-TV salesman Tom Clarke's energy and aggression at all that is seemingly wrong in the world is complemented by the stylish and thumping playing of Liam Watts on the drums and Andy Hopkins on bass.
Clarke's dismissal of his peers appears to mirror another certain mouthy northern front man who has terrorised the music scene for the last decade. All this can only stand him and his band in good stead in following where others have found success before.
As an example.
"Full of 16 year old girls with prams / flickering TV screens / singing old men and fights near fruit machines" - This Song
Likelihood of a trip to the Grammys
Following the success of the Artic Monkeys and the View, the industry and public are likely to lap this effort up. A best new-comer at the Brits next year is a distinct possibility.
What the others say
"The Enemy communicate in a series of Jam-steeped blasts of punk rock. From the McJob baiting Away From Here to the sneering acceleration of Its Not Ok, these boys are seriously fuming." - NME.
So is it any good?
The success of the album as a social statement is undeniable. As a piece of music it starts off as rough and rugged as Clarke's growling vocals. The band and the album appear to mature as the album progresses and by the time we reach the final song the music is simply brilliant. The influence of the Jam will hit you from the start and will leave you appreciating just how good that Weller chap really is.
Lyrically they can't reach the lofty heights of Alex Turner and his damn Monkey's, but who wants to be like them anyway? The Enemy are their own thing and they'll step up and fight anyone who's got something to say about it.
The album is a mixed bag and occasionally misses the mark but with sneering choruses such as "What's the matter with your faacccceeee?" in Had Enough and the brilliant We'll Live and Die in Towns like These and Pressure, the album is an obvious hit.
An angry and aggressive rebellion against all that surrounds them, these boys really know how to play and you better believe they've nailed it.
8 /10
Richard James
Your comments:
"This is the best album I have bought in ages. You can't help but turn the volume up and bang your hands on the steering wheel - it's truly awesome. It's indie rock at its finest and I can't recommend this album enough. If you aren't tapping your feet and singing along to Had Enough you need your ears syringing - 10/10." - Jenny Massingham
"Great album. But since when has Coventry been in the north, I suggest your reviewer buys a map!" - Stuart McKenna