If you like to listen to jangly pop music you’re in for a treat with this selection of tunes. Former Bullies are not a band I was previously familiar with and was surprised to read they are from Manchester rather than somewhere in the USA. With their new album Stranger, they give us eleven songs to lift your spirits and generally make you feel good.
Since coalescing around singer Nick Ainsworth in 2003, Former Bullies have been a regular presence in Greater Manchester’s pop underground, becoming spiritual godfathers to more recently emerged gems such as Kiran Leonard, Irma Vep, and Pins. Though prolific performers, this new release “Stranger” is only their fourth long-player in all that time.
As soon as I heard the opening chords of the opening track, Oh World Of Love, I immediately had thoughts of 60’s pop/surf music and times past. And as the songs continued I was happily sucked into feeling this more and more.
The 60’s feel continues all through this album. Listening to the individual tracks, you get the feeling you’ve heard these songs before, now happily rediscovered from what were previously lost and forgotten. The second track 'Rose Of Destiny' has a slightly more haunting sound and feel, but then continues to bounce along. 'Little Tear' is where we start to hear the Former Bullies singer Nick Ainsworth sounding like a younger Michael Stripe. It’s easy to imagine REM playing these tunes in their formative years, and before they became just a little too polished and clever. 'Little Tear' has some slower but very good guitar going on which might be initially overlooked by the Michael Stripe type vocals. Well worth repeated listening.
The next track 'They Were Waiting', starts off with a great and catchy rocking and jangling guitar ...”Shining like a star that you are” There are no long songs or guitar solos on this album. You could easily listen to any of the individual tracks fully during the ad breaks of your favourite TV programs. But it’s much more worthwhile to listen to the entire album at once and catch up on your TV viewing later!!
All eleven tracks stand up on their own merits and at times made me wonder what the Yardbirds or Them might have done, without the rough edges or blues and with cleaner recording. The Former Bullies sound much more mature and if they are rebels they don’t seem mind not having a cause.
The Former Bullies have an excellent and very tight sound all the way through this album. Although it’s a short set of tunes there so much to go back to time and time again. 'She' is a great track that has a good kick along that could easily be extended and rock out more. The Former Bullies manage to resist this as a temptation and I can only assume this is a deliberate. Same goes for the next couple of tracks, 'Under Your Nose', and the title track 'Stranger'. The closing track 'Head & Shoulders'..”Come for your soul tomorrow”....
Clever catchy songs, well played and sounding fab. I will put this on my Ipod and when the songs come up on random play, I won’t be pressing the skip button.
Alan
8/11
