Which, compared to their contemporaries, is still a damn good pile.The gruff Welsh rockers present more dreary, run of the mill guitar rock tunes on album number seven, with a handful of redeeming moments preventing it from being truly dreadful. I suspect this album, much like Pull the Pin and Language Sex Violence (excepting the amazing Superman and Devil), will end up towards the middle/bottom of my Phonics pile. Personally, I think it's hard to eclipse You've Got to Go there (though Just Enough Education certainly gives it a good run for best Sterephonics Album), but since Pull the Pin, the Phonics have moved away from their rock-blues-pop roots towards a more mainstream sound that may work better in a stadium, and makes the tweeners and teens hold their arms up and sway along, but these style of songs utimately lose something in the transition to stadium rock. Nice and pleasant, but it doesn't rock you the way 'Leaving Las Vegas 2x' does, nor does it grab your ears and make you listen the way Devil does, or make you shriek with joy and turn your invisible amp to 11 the way Help Me did. 'Beerbottle, Trouble, Could You be the One, I Got Your Number, and Uppercut leave me feeling the same way I do after listening to a ColdPlay album, where every song is only a slight deviation of the others. Where's the whisky addled blues riffs ala 'Since I told you its over' or I Miss You Now? Instead, the closest we get is the slightly less anthemic 'Live and Love' which, besides 100mph, is probably the best song on the album. Too many songs on thi album try to replicate this anthemic, crisp style. And that's probably my main beef with this album. It would be right at home on a Friday Night Lights episode.

The next song, Innocent, is classic Sterephonics anthemic rock, but softened up for the masses. A few less 'She's alrights' would have made this tighter, but I still like the overall energy and bounce of this cut. But after two times through the chorus, I'm thinking it is kinda gimicky: 'She's alright she's alright she's alright' Ok, I get it.

'She's Alright' opens the album with a great catchy guitar and bass line. Sigh.will have to jury rig this somehow on my computer. While this may make sense for a movie it does not on an accompanying music bonus. I was thrilled to get the DVD.until I tried to play it in my DVD player and it was rejectd, probably because the DVD has Euro region codes which don't work in the States. More artist should do this: I would GLADLY pay for this type of release. The pictures and lyrics are so nice to see, and recalled the great vinyl albums of the last generation. The import is beautifully packaged in an oversize booklet that makes you think you've mistakenly ordered the box set. That would certainly have to be 'You've Got to Go There to Come Back.' If you disagree with me, have your ears professionally cleaned and run the CD through your hifi several more times. Well, I've listened three times through, and while it certainly has improved, it is not their best to date. After the amazing reviews for the new album, I was looking forward to my import.

Kelly Jones could sing the phone book and I'd probably buy it (wait.he sort of did sing his personal phone book in the solo project 'Only the names have changed, and yes, I bought that). So far this is the best thing I have heard yet in 2010!įirst, I am a die-hard Sterephonics fan. With the release of, 'Keep Calm and Carry On' Stereophonics have made a major leap in showcasing their talent for writing music and lyrics that hit home.And, thanks to Amazon for making it available too. Even if they say Kelly Jones can't sing a lick (ever hear Bob Dylan.jeeeish, what a voice but, yet it has a certain appeal.) I like his raspy somewhat nasal sound as it fits the music to a 'T'. Who cares! Those of us whom are fans can still enjoy a band that offers something that is not cookie cutter, mainstream, too popish, yet it is with a style all it's own. Kelly Jones' history with the media might be the killer there. There are no fewer than at least 3 tracks that could really be added to any radio station playlist. It's got a flow to it that, well, entices you to want to hear more! This latest release is by far the most cohesive effort the band has done. I was first introduced to Stereophonics when I heard 'Have A Nice Day' way back in 2002 on David Letterman.

Stereophonics keep calm and carry on