My listening habits are weird. In a time when most bloggers are replaying the harder to digest albums for their top of 2008 list, or just for pride I turn to simple straight up pop rock power albums that make me feel good. It may just be the new found stress that the holiday’s and other things have brought this year. Anyhow maybe it is that I just want something fun to listen to after a year of digesting pretty much any and everything that was brought my way. If I didn’t get “that album of 2008″ yet, I doubt I will anytime soon.
Back in the day when I got all my news from the NME (I was young ok?) I fell in love with The Subways. Back in 2006 they were just a bunch of young kids influenced by their favorite bands playing a storm of garage rock tunes with some hidden pop sensibility that could be heard if you listened carefully. Their debut album ‘Young For Eternity’ was a good debut showing tons of promise. Now it is 2008 and they came back stronger. Their 2nd album “All Of Nothing” was released over the summer and went pretty much unnoticed. It may not be anything significantly different from their debut album. However the band has vastly improved their vocals and instrument playing honing in on a sound and making it their trademark. The first three tracks ‘Girls & Boys’, ‘Kalifornia’, and ‘Alright’ are powerhouses that should not be missed. The band keeps on screaming and playing rough garage tunes while also adding in some more emotional/melody based songs like ‘Strawberry Blonde’ that show the band working on all cylinders. The lyrics talk about young love and romance and it does pull you in. They got a real good sound going and you will be drawn in.
This Subways will unfortunately continue to stay low on the radar but if anything it will be good for the fans they have already made. They have already gone in the right direction all by themselves. They are still young and have a lot of time to keep getting bigger and better. This album is a solid sophomore album that actually improves on it’s predecessor.
[mp3] : The Subways – Alright
[mp3] : The Subways – Kalifornia
3 Comments
This is the type of post I’ve been looking for around the blogosphere. A post that does not contain Vampire Weekend or Fleet Foxes. Some people say they don’t exist yet I’ve been holding out hope all year.
Thanks for the love but those are my top 2 records there. Hahah I love them man. But each to their own right?
I remeber first hearing The Subways in an O.C episode. Fell in love with them and bought Youing for Eternity which proved to be a great album. Wasn’t really that impressed with All for Nothing though except for maybe Boys & Girls.