Better than the cheesy dross out there but some improvemnets needed. (We'll Live And Die In These Towns - The Enemy)

Member Name: jonnynec

Product:	We'll Live And Die In These Towns - The Enemy
Date:	23/05/09 (37 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A few real crackers on here

Disadvantages: SOme songs that are kind of difficult to get andthe album ends on low note

They where exactly what was needed, amid the cheesy indie music of Scouting for Girls, The Hoosiers, The Pigeon Detectives we needed someone to come along and give it all a quick up the backside.

The Enemy where this, gritty, determined, loud and abrasive.

We live and die in these towns went straight to number 1 on its opening week (July 2007), it sold around 300,000 in it's first year.

Heres the low-down.

Aggro; A good opener. They have went down the route of having a loud song to open the album which many a indie rock band do. There is a cracking chorus in this song..."ahhhh said my streets on fire", very sing along mode of singing(if you get me). Its a solid opener, with a nice we instrumental sol three quarters though, something I always like in a song. 7/10

Away From Here; Outstanding song, with it opening in segment with a line of the song, then pause and this goes on for around 20 seconds then they burst into the chorus and the whole song lifts up. Another sing along chorus. Great song, probably my favourite of the album. 10/10

Pressure; Along the lines of the opener in many ways. This song varies from being heavy and in your face and also has quiet moments. I find this song a bit confusing, you get the feeling there is the makings of 3 song in here somewhere. 6/10

Had Enough; Good song. Nice opening rift with the guitars before the distinctive voice of Tom Clarke bursts in. Very catchy song that you cant help getting in to and again a great little segment in the middle where the song grinds to a near halt before building up and up until it all explodes again! Good song. 8/10

We live and die in these towns; Title track and probably the most popular. Intro for around 30 seconds is all trumpet, this stops and then we get a nice guitar rift, then drums then its all instrumental. The whole intro takes around 1 and a half minutes. Very soft in comparison to what has gone before, a chill out moment on the album. Its a track with a lot of meaning, you can see it many ways, I see it as being broke but just needing optimism to get back on your feet. Superb song. 9/10

Your not alone; A good beat the whole way through this song which you cant help going along to. The chorus is again very mush along a sing along, "your not alone your not, your not alone at all". There is a big Kasabian influence here, well that's how I see it. 8/10

Its not ok; Disappointing song, now well I say this because it again is like a song with 3 or 4 in it. I can never get into it, it takes you all over the place, is it heavy, is it slow and to be honest with you I find Tom's cvocals a bit disappointing here. 6/10

Technodanceaphobic; Very 70's and punk feel to this song. Its a solid song, an album filler that could be great song only for the (again) lack of direction. The ahahahah that goes through this song behind the lead singer's voice is a bit confusing. 7/10

40 Days and 40 nights; Good song, its back to the start again with this song being in your face and abrasive, just the way The Enemy should be. Another good chorus that catches you and makes you listen to this song. 8/10

This Song; Acousticy type tune that the album was crying out for. A cracker, only just shaded as the best of the album. Tom flexes his vocals a lot here, showing us that he dosent just need to shout at us all time. 10/10

Happy birthday Jane; The album unusually ends on a soft note and at that a disappointing note, it is as if this was just thrown in to get the album finished. The album and the song just drift away and you forget that you are listening and well there you have it it's over. 6/10

This is a good solid album opener from a band that show a lot of potential to go far.

The album lacks a bit of direction and you get the feeling that alot of the songs where just put in as fillers to get, but this is an album that was much better than the cheesy dross being served up.
7/10.

Summary: Good opener by a good band, Much needed boost for the indie scene at the time.