The XCERTS - 'i think i want to go home now' Album Review

7 hours ago
4 min read

Tracklist:

1. i think i want to go home now.

2. do it to myself

3. wow

4. sinking feeling

5. bury you

6. rinse repeat

7. pretty ugly

8. dream you in

9. losing it

10. breathe in what was

11. in your eyes

Brighton-based Scottish alt rock trio THE XCERTS are back with their sixth album 'i think i want to go home now.', released on July 10th via FLG Records, their first album for the label.

Things kick off with the brief emotional title track intro, with bassist Jordan Smith on piano and distant, haunting vocals from frontman/guitarist Murray Macleod, which transitions nicely into 'do it to myself', injecting more energy into things, bringing Tom Heron's powerful drumming into the mix. Theres some nice light and shade to the track, with a short piano build up into the final chorus that sits really well, bringing a good variety into the album early on.

'wow' is the first instance that really harks back to the band's earlier albums; it feels like it could be a cut from 2014's 'There Is Only You', with subtle acoustic verses melded with brasher, more fervent choruses that really fit Macleod's vocals. The production is phenomenal, with those choruses sounding absolutely massive, particularly in Smith's bass sound.

Next comes 'sinking feeling', which slows things down a touch, but doesn't lose any of the momentum built so far, with Macleod's guitar tone taking on a faintly grungy flavour in sections where it's fairly isolated. There's a certain power to it from the combination of Heron and Smith's rhythm section, punctuated in the stop-start final chorus, and Smith's bassline, while understated, has some brilliant little moments of flare.

'bury you' ramps things back up again, taking on a punkier edge, coming back to that nostalgic feeling, bringing us back even further to the 'Scatterbrain' era, but with much improved production. Macleod's guitar and Heron's drums are equally punchy, set to the backdrop of Smith's bass in the verses, with things amping up in the choruses, with Macleod's vocals and lyrics being as reflective as always.

'rinse repeat' slows things back down, even more so than before, to provide an even more reflective and pondering atmosphere. It's definitely a more understated track, but that's where it shines, and each member has their own moment to shine, with some particularly beautiful vocal moments courtesy of Macleod, making the song powerful in a vastly different way to the rest of the album so far.

Things ramp up again for the intro and verses in 'pretty ugly', returning to the 'Scatterbrain' vibe once again, but blending it with the bands more recent softer side in the choruses, creating a great dichotomy that sums up the bands journey in one track. And if you know me at all, you'll know that pretty well all of the final third of the track being a breakdown will almost always be a point in the band's favour.

Once again slowing things down, we come to 'dream you in'. Solidly in the running for the most emotional track on this record. The chord progressions and vocal melody scream 'Comfort In Sound' era Feeder in the best way, with a chorus that would feel right at home alongside tracks like 'Just The Way I'm Feeling'. Simply put, it is absolutely beautiful.

One smooth transition later, we come to 'losing it'. Staying at a slower tempo, it does take on a bit more of a swagger, with an infectious chorus and a bridge that once again makes brilliant use of piano, gently underscoring Macleod's guitars in a fantastic pairing. My only complaint would be it feels even shorter than it is, and at 2:49 it's already a short cut.

Penultimate track 'breathe in what was' ever so slightly picks up the pace, while still maintaining that more vulnerable, emotional atmosphere, with the guitars taking on what I would describe as a jangliness in places, and almost verging into shoegaze in others. There's a dreamy quality to the track that I really dig, which compliments Macleod's lyrics of "I'd give anything to feel anything at all" in such a good fashion.

Things slow right back down one last time on final track 'in your eyes', providing serious competition for 'dream you in' for most emotional track. It starts stripped back and builds slowly, very gradually adding in different elements, like swirling, ethereal strings that fade out in a near nightmarish way, and just past the halfway mark the track transforms, bringing the full band in for a powerful emotional crescendo, with Macleod maintaining the same muted vocal styling before begining to soar as the song progresses towards its final moments, letting things ring out to close out the record.

I've been following THE XCERTS since 2014 when my brother and I saw them support Twin Atlantic on 'The Great Divide Tour', and I have to say I think this might be my favourite album they've put out. There's no doubt that there's a great deal of reflection and reminiscing on this record, but they've blended it with their current sound in a way that's both subtle and outright, which is a very difficult thing to pull off, but they have managed to in spectacular and highly emotional fashion.