the Long Blondes: "Couples"

This album is my early contender for album of the year; lead single 'century' kicks off in grandiose style an album full of lyrical quirks and anthemic chants.

"you were driving off in a taxi,
leaning out the window,
and shouting your number back at me"

I even love the classic brit quotes that kickstart the later tracks, theres a real wit in this band thats is so clearly lacking in all the indie bands out there. Kate Jacksons delivery shows how performative her rock persona is, she lives it on stage for that track, not necessarily living the role herself in order to prove the realness of this creation, a la whinehouse and doherty, instead giving different voices amongst the guilt-ridden, lonely and jelaous characters within the stories on "couples".

"your friends a genius,
she even made up the spare room bed for us"

Each song tells of a couple of sorts, but the long blondes clearly view any cosy romance with an ironicly squinted eye:

"we moved to the country,
my husband and i,
he drives,
it works out cheaper"

"I liked the Boys" is an amazingly punchy short track, making next track "Here comes the serious bit" the most raucous shout along, with a hook that screams out almost as a warning, as right around the bend is the centrepiece of the album, track 6 "Round the Hairpin". This track beats out a tatto that fits with Dorians lyrics but becomes spun in a whole new direction.

The next three tracks are perhaps my favourites on the album, while "round the hairpin" is the masterpiece here it isnt what im mostly in the mood for, that being namechecking models, scathing put downs and the sound of high heels walking off over the littered bodies of these fickle couples. I'l leave you to discover these tracks yourself.