Generates the Music That Makes You Feel Better (So This Is Great Britain - Holloways)

Member Name: AllyPally1991

Product:	So This Is Great Britain - Holloways
Date:	05/08/08 (22 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Really uplifting mood about the whole album

Disadvantages: Can be at times too opinionated

2006 was a good year for indie-rock and post punk revival music, with largely successful bands like Arctic Monkeys, The Automatic, The Horrors and Guillemots all releasing their Debut albums. Within this list of talented artists, The Holloways have a tendency to be lost into the abyss, and have seen their supporting artists, such as The Wombats, achieve much larger commercial success.

The band, a four piece from North London, may have had less commercial success than many of the other up and coming bands, "So This Is Great Britain" is a brilliant debut album, really displaying the potential which the band has.

Many of the songs have very strong political messages, which may have contributed to their limited success. After all, songs in which politics do not play a part, in particular "Generator", are the ones which have succeeded as singles.

In some of the songs, the political or social messages are so universal that it can't help but appeal to a grand audience - for example, in the hit song "Generator" the social message about the importance of music is never offensive or determined to push its message upon the listener. The upbeat tune of "Generator" along with its catchy lyrics and uplifting aura are what helped make it a hit.

This pattern is present in much of the first half of the album. The main exception is the opening title track, "So This Is Great Britain", which contains several political messages which may hit a nerve with some of the listeners. Whilst there is no venom in the lyrics, lines like "We'll soon be state Britain/If our Best friends have their way/Just another star upon the flag across the waves" may isolate people who have contrasting views. However, music is not meant to appeal to everyone, and if the album contained no controversy, it would be a lot less interesting to listen to.

The other tracks in this first section of the album are upbeat and genuinely put a smile upon the listeners face. The songs "Two Left Feet", "Dancefloor", and "Fit For A Fortnight" all surround relatively depressing topics, yet manage to maintain a bouncy, catchy and lifting tune, and many of the lyrics are smart as well as funny.

As you move into the second half of the album, the songs take a darker tone to them. This begins with the tune "Reinvent Myself?" which was, at the first listen, one of my favourite tracks on the album. However, upon the second listen, it became clear that the song wanted to push opinion onto the listeners, and it actually ended up being one of the songs I liked least on the album. It sounds fantastic, sure, but the message behind it isolates a lot of listeners due to their political views. However, as I said before, this controversy is part and parcel of the album, and it is impossible to assume everyone will agree or disagree.

The next song on the album is my favourite from the album. "Most Lonely Face" is a melancholic, slow number with truly moving lyrics and a real personality. The lyrics are relateable and the guitars on the track sound fantastic.

The next passage of the album, from "Malcontented One" to "Diamonds And Pearls" returns to the happier structure that the Holloways favour. The middle tune in the passage, "Happiness And Penniless" is a brilliant number, which has a really unique message, and is quite universally approachable about the battle of work vs free time.

The final two tracks, "Nothing For The Kids" and "Fuck Ups" have a completely different feel. "Nothing For The Kids" is unforgiving in its frank-ness, singing about current affairs such as shoplifting and ASBOs. Lyrics like "Why attack the fire brigade/ lure them in a trap with the fire you made/you shower them with rocks cos you've got nothing to do/why should they care when the flames come licking at you?" are designed to really hit a chord with the people who display that sort of behaviour. Whether the lyrics really have that much impact is debatable, but they certainly highlight the issue and attempt to make some difference, which is commendable. "Fuck Ups" has similar lyrics, and attempts to highlight the issues using comedy as opposed to bluntness, such as with the lyrics "A 33 year old grandma/comes up to me and says/ 'my family's gonna take over this council estate/if we keep giving birth at this rate/I'm gonna be a great great great great grandma/at the age of 75'", which highlights teen pregnancy rates in a really unusual and eyecatching manner.

The album is unique and incredibly catchy, with a similar sound bands like The Pigeon Detectives, Little Man Tate, Larrikin Love and The Enemy.

The album may be controversial, but there is no doubt that on occasion it really shines. The album may not be a classic, but it is well worth a listen, and at a price of under £10, it is worth purchasing.

Summary: Good debut