GoodBooks - Control Album Review

GoodBooks
Control
Album Review

The shadow-kings of Indie-Pop finally release their debut album and guess what, it's great. This Kent four-piece are constantly overlooked, under-rated and taken for granted, but hopefully not for much longer. 'Control' is the one thing that can save them from their critics and foes. It's bouncy, inspiring and musical brilliance compressed into less than 50 minutes. It's the result of strife, struggle and frustration on the bands part that, if I'm right, will have all paid off.

'The Illness' is an immense track from a minute band. It's forceful, it's rapid and it's a touch of class. The instrumentation kind of sounds like The Automatic 'Raoul'; with it's use of a blistering, heavily distorted guitar and not to forget cowbells. 'Passchendaele', the most recent song to be released from the album, provides a sense of contrast from GoodBooks usual sound but it's equally as good as their other stuff. 'The Curse Of Saul', 'Good Life Salesman' and 'Violent Man Lovesong' form the usual B-side sections of an album but even so they are pretty impressive B-Side tracks. While 'Walk With Me' 'Alice' and 'Leni' are light-hearted, uplifting tracks tossed in for good measure. 'Turn It Back' is made of the kind of stuff that makes every Indie fan drool. It's a juicy, delicious high-pitched tune, that is magical and a pleasure to listen to.

From 'Contrast' you get the impression that GoodBooks are going to be around for a while. Despite their heavy criticisms they are not going to give-in without a fight. This album is a stunning debut from an even more stunning band. GoodBooks are the future of Indie-Pop; cherish them.

9/10

Daniel Black