Violent Soho Album Review
Violent Soho – Violent Soho
Words by Ian Dickinson
Grunge has been steadily creeping back into music and fashion over the past couple of years. Violent Soho’s second self titled album is confirmation of this. If this trend is to continue I only pray that others can uphold the high standard that VS have set with this catchy, nostalgic and utterly fierce collection of tunes.
It has been said already that the bands influences are blatantly obvious. They do sound like a collaborative karaoke evening put on by the Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins and Weezer official fan club members, who at the end of a long night all rush to the stage to singer together as one melancholic, frustrated, pop collective.
Two things really struck me about this album. Firstly it was far more accessible than I imagined, I had expected unclear ear raping vocals, furthermore it felt like an old friend had returned home to visit after only a couple of listens. This is probably down to the fact that this is essentially the music of my youth.
The tracks are crafted with a ferocious pop sensibility and are instantly memorable, they provide hours of sing-a-long enjoyment coupled with enough feral bile to maintain an intense aggressive atmosphere. Normally there are clear stand out tracks but the level of tunes on this release in consistent through out. Personal favourites of mine are ‘Generation,’ ‘Jesus Stole My Girlfriend’ and the acutely moving finale ‘Narrow Ways.’
Violent Soho aren’t doing anything new here but what they are doing is brilliant. This is an album rammed full of hits. There has not been many albums this year that I have had on such heavy rotation. Could Jesus continue stealing peoples girlfriends so we can have more music like this please!
7/10
