Scouse Spiders from Space (Spiders - Space)

Member Name: bz2886

Product:	Spiders - Space
Date:	15/02/09 (32 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Some classic tracks, funny at times, definitely a cult favourite

Disadvantages: A couple of weaker tracks but not many

Space are, or should I say, were an indie band from Liverpool who rose to the public's attention during the downturn of the Britrock movement in the mid 1990s and released two albums. This one, 'Spiders' being their debut. The band achieved notoriety due to their quirky lyrics and gritty song topics although their success was somewhat short-lived due to issues within the group and financial trouble.

Spiders was a well-recieved album with 4 UK Top 20 hits and the album itself peaked at number 5 in the album charts and eventually went Platinum. For an album to 'go platinum' in the UK it must achieve overf 300,000 sales so the album is not without it's credentials, despite being somewhat unknown nowadays.

===The Album ===

[Track 1 - Neighbourhood]

This is probably the song that gained the band much of its attention and it was subsequently re-released as a single due to the interest it achieved. The track opens with a glockenspiel playing a seedy backbeat before the guitars open. Didn't think anyone used glockenspiels outside of Year 7 music lessons but this track proves me wrong. The lyrics mock the style of 'Through The Keyhole' a UK T programme where people snoop through celebrity houses and try to guess the occupant. The lyric in question is in the chorus 'and begins each verse. 'Who lives in a house like this?' The rest of the lyrics are charming endearances towards the group's council estate upbringing and some of the delightful characters the song introduces are introduced by the nummbers on the front door of their house. (eg: '...in 999 the make a living from crime, but the house is always empty 'cos they're all doing time. AND in 666 their lives a Mr Miller, he's our local vicar and a serial killer...) Just some of the charming personas on offer.

[9/10]

[Track 2 - Mister Psycho]

The track opens with a resonating bassline and maniacal laughter. the lyrics alude the claustrophobia of the track until the chorus ups the aggro and the laughter returns. The lyrics are pretty simple but the way in which they are delivered is a key characteristic of what made the band so successful at the time. There are numerous sample sounds in the background of this track and it is a little strange, although not the only track on the album to be like this.

[7/10]


[Track 3 - Female Of The Species]

This is probably the group's most notorious track due to its widespread commercial success. The backbeat is quite classical but this is all blown apart when the electric guitars begin all though the aforementioned vibe does not disappear completely. The lyrics detail how deadly women can be in a sort of comical but semi-serious way and the steel drum/glockenspiel from the first track reappears a little in this track. The bridge n the track is quite tropical and refreshing and gives the song a different edge to a lot of the others on the album.

[8.5/10]

[Track 4 - Money]

The track is quite slow-paced with a lethargic drumbeat throughout accompanied by a dwindling synthesis floating around in the background. The lyrics are once again, quite passive aggressive. this is probably the best description I can give without listing the actual lyrics. The vocals sound harmonic in a sort of unconventional, demi-Scouse way. The chorus is rousing at times and the trumpet impression in the middle of the track is brilliant if not just funny.


[8/10]

[Track 5 - Me And You Vs The World]

A kind of Bonny and Clyde homage about a boy and a girl who would rather die together than have seperate cells after their crime spree. The song details the meeting and journey the two encounter together. 'We hitched a ride turn out suicide, I had my .45 replica gun...' is basically the set up for this. The song itself is quite uncharacteristic of something taht would achieve UK mainstream success but its unusual lyrical style and changes of pace seemed to have endeared it to the UK public. The lyrics are pacey yet descriptive and the instrumental becomes quite grandiose at points, especially when violins come into effect in the background.

[7.5/10]

[Track 6 - Lovechild Of The Queen]

The track opens with a distorted 'Circus Bit Top' punky rendition of the British national anthem, which is punctured by the albums first flowing guitar riff. The song's lyrics contrast the lives of the upper classes with those of the poor. For example 'I was born to live upon a throne, instead I sign up on the dole.' The track is catchy and although it was never a single I beleive it is one of the album's stronger tracks.

[8.5/10]

[Track 7 - No-One Understands]

The beginning of this track is slow and builds to a bizarre sideshow music which jumps straight into a distorted guitar and pounding drumbeat bit occasional blitzs of electric from the amps. The lyrics are full of disdain as the title suggests and the tune is a little weird due to its incorporation of the sideshow music. There is even a quote from 'The Elephant Man' tucked away after one of the choruses. Probably the weakest track so far but still pretty good.

[6/10]

[Track 8 - Voodoo Roller]

A solitary guitar opens the track but is soon joined by the rest of the bands instruments. I never really latched on to this track as it seems to lack some of the zest of the earlier tracks although it still remains true to the style of the previous tracks. The vocalist rolls the lyrics off his tongue as he sings although the chorus is a little repetetive at times.

[5.5/10]

[Track 9 - Drop Dead]

The song starts quite hip-hop until the guitar state it's real aim but the tune becomes a very funky piece of music. The lyrics are hushed but threatening in content and the song is quite 'cool.' I think it could be used in a movie somewhere, I might remember that one day. Whilst the lyrics are quite aggressive in content, when put into context against the band's jokey nature the song is pretty unique and as a result, pretty good. The chorus is catchy and if you're not creful you'll be telling invisible people to 'drop dead.'

[7.5/10]

[Track 10 - Dark Clouds]

The tone of the album relaxes on this track and the guitar slows significantly. The song alludes to a holiday feeling and the song feels like a break from the pace and adrenaline of many of the other tracks. Quite easily listening in comparison to the preceeding songs and quite a welcome break just to give you a chance to recharge the old batteries. The drums are a little slower as well, although I suppose this is essential to slow he track down from its peers. A good track with a wider appeal.

[7.5/10]

[Track 11 - Major Pager]

The drum beats heavily over a mild guitar until the lyrics come in very Oasis-esque. The likeness to Oasis in the lyrics is uncanny it really is. The track isn't the best, in fact its unmemorable but the lyrics are full of pop-culture references and cheeky lines if thats your kind of thing.

[5.5/10]

[Track 12 - Kill Me]

The track is uptempo and upbeat with a speedy bassline at the start and rousing lyrics and guitars. The chorus utilises the 'She Killed Me Man' quote from reservoir Dogs, one of my all time favourite movies and the lyrics are strewn with little cult references in many of the album's tracks. Some may see the chorus as repetetive but again it's another track that wouldn't do badly in an action film montage. A simplistic track that somehow grabs hold of me and makes me love it.

[8/10]

[Track 13 - Charlie M]

A sysnthesised guitar over a repetetive drum beat is joined by some weird tribal chanting. The pop culture references are on overload on this track and serve to make it more accessible. The track isn't exactly brilliant but it definitely has its strong points and is worthy of some note. It is quite simple altogether, although it does stand out as the strongest of the album's weaker tracks.

[6.5/10]

[Track 14 - Growler]

A quite mature opening of calmness and serenity is shattered by the influx of a pounding 90s club style beat and a much dancier tone to the rest of the album. It punctuates the end of the album really well although I'm not sure if it sounds more like the theme tune to an old kind of computer game or a bad rave song from about 15 years ago. Either way, it is very different to the rest of the album and lacks any particular lyrics.

[6/10]


=== Overall ===

Spiders is a very good indie album and has been one my favourites from the its time since I was a little kid. The lyrics are very down-to-earth and raw with a generous pinch of comic intent and the likes of which don't tend to be written much any more. Most bands now try too hard to be funny or are just to far up the own arses to take themselves less seriously, in the way Space did. The floods of pop-culture references give the album an honest and comparative perspective and only make it easier to conjure up a mental image from the track playing.

The arrogance and cheek of this record was never really reproduced on the band's follow up album and this may have led to their demise and departure from the musical realm under the guise of Space. The album is a cult classic and its Platinum status demonstartes this. The covers of a crew of tarantulas trying to escape a bath tub does no favours for the arachnophobics but has always stuck with me as quite memorable. Although it was a cassette when I first bought this album. Good times.

The album has some very good tracks which stand up brilliantly against some of todays overblown media sensations and I would sooner listen to this album than one by Kaiser Chiefs or Razorlight or any of that garbage that passes for indie nowadays. Space are from the school before all the 'cool' kids in 'cool' bands went to public school and this shows in their worldly lyrics and the way that they poke fun at their own culture. I think this lack of seriousness in parts and their understanding of their own roots gives them an advantage over some of the newer school of indie bands. The album avoids topics of angst and unrequited lust in favour of aggression and a realism.

Neighbourhood is probably my favourite track, especially since I used to live in Liverpool and I know its not too far from the truth, although Female of the Species, Lovechild Of The Queen, Money, Kill Me and Dark Clouds all have their own niches and occasions and will undoubtedly have their own pioneers.

The album is rammed with media references, Throwing baked beans and 'Woman's Weekly' at a security guard in 'Next,' Huckleberry Hound needing help with his rabies, Madonna considering becoming a Nun, Mr Blonde and Mr Blue having a chat, Saddam Hussein living next door and many other obscure links. If you're wondering how these lyrics fit into the album's tracks then I suppose that it will probably appeal to you just out of sheer curiosity.

Spiders is still well thought of by many, but isn't well-known enough as far as I'm concerned. Hence, why I wrote this review. If you liked this review and are a fan of either Oasis, Ocean Colour Scene, Kula Shaker, Blur or any other band from that Indie Britrock genre or the 1990s then I'm pretty confident you will see the merits of this album and I would definitely recommend it.


also posted on ciao.co.uk

Summary: Great offering from the 90s, the golden age of rock music.