In an effort to mimic the straightforward appeal of Hard-Fi’s debut album “Stars of CCTV,” I’ll sum up my thoughts on the group in one brief introductory sentence: the work is an upbeat compilation of catchy tunes with just enough originality to keep things interesting. While this isn’t the most radical buffet of musicianship out there, it’s extremely listenable, which isn’t easy to accomplish, and deserves applause in its own right.
I’d gotten a little bit of a sneak preview on this album, I must admit. But I genuinely tried to hold all biases aside when reflecting on the album as a whole. Several months ago, I’d heard Hard-Fi’s single “Tied Up Too Tight” on a compilation, and was immediately hooked. The same can be said for virtually every other song on the album, which you’ll be singing almost immediately.
The production values are tight, the melodies super catchy and the sound distinct enough to differentiate the group from comparable bands like Keane, Hot Hot Heat or Snow Patrol. The lyrics are agreeable, and at times rather thoughtful, particularly on “Cash Machine” and Living for the Weekend.” In cahoots with what the overall aim of the album is, such prose is slightly out of place, but nonetheless resonating.
In the vein of Hot Hot Heat, the group is fun and outgoing. The music is punchy and radio-friendly without being so friendly as to offend the most pretentious of listeners. The group definitely establishes themselves as a quality band with mainstream potential with this effort, which seems to be precisely what they set out to do. For better or for worse, the group does not alienate any listeners here, which may be my only complaint; one or two risks may have added an additional injection of credibility.
It would probably be easier to just name the songs that don’t immediately latch on to you like a frightened barnacle, because they are few and far between. “Living for the Weekend,” and “Feltham is Singing Out” are slightly generic. While I wouldn’t denounce them as mere space fillers, they didn’t enhance the album in any way. Accordingly, these two songs bump the overall album’s rating down a couple points.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Hard-Fi had a breakthrough summer full of airplay and groupies. If that were the case, they’d definitely deserve it. Contrastingly, if they had a low-key summer complete with indie venues and disenchanted twenty-somethings, I also wouldn’t be shocked. The band could forge ahead on one platform or the other, and I’m confident success would ensue. Either way, I advise you to stay posted. |