The Soapbox Album Club! (the resurrection)

JP's up next, if those people have not bothered to review one of the first two records by then we'll put them at the bottom of the list so the people who are taking part can have their choices earlier, if by the end of JP's pick they've still not bothered to comment on any of the three records we'll cross them off the list.

JP, your pick is October 24th.

Given the amount of stick it has received , I'm really looking forward to pounding through this Virginmarys record this weekend

I'm still hoping at least one other person will like it or I'm gonna be like a leper round these parts.

It sounds like something Tob would enjoy tbh

Just back from vacay (I was in TCOTU this morning, yo!) So did I get my spot changed to later on? I can't remember. Will listen to tucker's pick this week sometime in between listening to macca's new one, but mahoney's review doesn't fill me with glee.

Have found myself going back to "Bang Bang", \m/.

I decided to deal with this one last time to write a more well-prepared review and forget it forever.

Gotta say the start of the first song is quite decent, but then the chorus arrives bringing with it the first doubts. After that, it's not long before the voice gets annoying, the simple riffs start to blurry and everything just plods along, Nickelback style. I'm sure with more listens I could appreciate more details and might not be this harsh, so I just won't try to.

The only song that stands out for me is the last one, Ends Don’t Mend, where they manage to create a tension that works for me. Also, the 3 stripped recordings at the end show a better songwriting than what is perceived in their original versions.

I'll give it a 3/10, let's move on.

Yeah I too gave it final listen this afternoon just so I could be done with it.

At first I didn't know if I was even going to make it through the first listen of this but i've persevered and listened to it straight through three more times. My main gripe with this band is the singers annoying voice, it's like a more northern colloquial version of your traditional 70's rock singers voice. The production is annoying too, putting his voice way out front and really loud with these really cheesy straight out of the can backing vocals behind it. The lyrics are generally pretty cliched rock and roll lyrics but not totally awful, there are moments of well worded sentiment in there. The music is sometimes ok but generally quite uninspired and derivative. I must admit that after initially absolutely hating it, a few songs did get through, I quite like 'Portrait of Red' and 'Ends don't mend' was alright. Sorry Tucker but it's a 4/10 from me and i'm probably being generous.

You guys who sat through this more than once after hating it the first time deserve medals. Total pioneers of The Soapbox Album Club.

Lads, I will be contributing to this thread. Don't panic. I shall get the Denim LP review up quick smart.

Lads, I will be contributing to this thread. Don't panic. I shall get the Denim LP review up quick smart.

Virginmarys:

I might as well quote:

"Listened to Virginmary's twice, I can't bring myself to listen to it again. I thought it was fucking terrible The vocals really make me wanna punch the cunt. I probably could of gotten into this if I was 18 again but I'm bored with most indie-guitar acts as it is, but this is the lowest kind. Worst of all though are the lyrics, I just found the entire record cringeworthy. It's like Towers Of TCOTU without the charm, without the bollocks, without the tunes. When they do try to rock a bit harder than your standard indie-rock it sounds really forced, "running for my life" is most guilty of this, a recycled Rage Against The Machine riff, ergh.
Sorry Tux my man, you've recommended me some good records in the past so I will forgive you.
2/10" - KPM, 2013.

A number of indie acts have been mentioned (Jet, Stereophonics etc) but I'd argue they've far more charm than this record. The stage is pretty much set by the end of the second track and it doesn't really improve much. Sorry Tux! I look forward to my record receiving (probably) widespread disgust as well following a JP masterstroke.

Can't wait to hear a sensitive singer/songwriter with a girly voice brad!!

Now that would be a Ben choice FFS Karl. I've narrowed it down to three at the minute and none are "sensitive singer/songwriters with girly voices". Although I was tempted to pound up Learning The Trade.

Punk as fuck.

Also, "Quick Smart" doesn't seem to be that quick Chrissie

Bit like your The Wynd album review, eh Karl?

Download link won't work. Re-up it, some1 pls