The Cheap Thrills - 'Keep Cheap' Album Review
Tracklist:
hairs
walton vale
looking
run
reborn
air breathing mammals
take things back
codependence
electric fences
last orders
something for nothing
paranoia
calypso blue
The Cheap Thrills are about to release their debut album which sounds a bit strange given like they have felt omnipresent recently.
It’s madness that they can headline a show to 2,000 people but haven’t yet released an album.
There are, however, a number of reasons why they play to such large audiences, they are a brilliant live band, they write fantastic songs, they are very much proud of where they come from and who they are and they’ve released bangers like 'Codependence' that have become anthems.
The big question over this debut was whether they would be able to translate their momentum on to an album. Spoiler alert for the rest of this review, the album is emphatically yes.
They have a unique knack of taking the ordinary, the banal and writing great songs about it while being open and honest about their own feelings and being vulnerable. Guitars, at times haunting keyboards and a driving rhythm section underpin what they are doing but what really takes it to the next level are the lyrics. Confessional, at times romantic, at other times political but always delivered in a way that you know every word has been properly thought through, considered and chosen precisely to work for that song and have the maximum impact.
The main thing is, however, that they write bangers, whether they are emotional acoustic songs or the kind of songs you are going to go mental to in a gig they just have it. In this age when music is either overhyped or ignored there is something very real and very honest about this album that demands your attention.
They are going out on tour in support of this album; you shouldn’t miss it. The combination of knowing already what a great live band they are and the new songs here take everything to a new level. Mosh pit down the front anyone?
This generation needs its own big bands, the Oasis or Blur for now and I think The Cheap Thrills have got as good a chance as anyone of taking that mantle on. I’d love to be talking in 20 years time about The Cheap Thrills announcing a new tour in the way some older bands have just been hyped up.
They are a band who are very much from Liverpool but rather than shy away from that they’ve embraced it, accepted who they are and where they come from and leant into it in a way that give them an edge. It worked for Madchester, it worked for Merseybeat why shouldn’t it work again.
The Liverpool music scene right now is incredibly vibrant with so many good bands part of it that it can only be a good thing that The Cheap Thrills embrace it but also carve out a niche that is very much their own and show, as they have on this album, just how good they are and what they are capable of. I loved this album, nuff said, go buy it!
Review - Iain McClay
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