RIYL: Blur, Elbow, Weezer, Andrew Bird
Why is it that the best British bands always seem to have a habit of breaking up? The Beatles? Check. Pink Floyd? Check. Oasis? Well, scratch that last one. Regrettably, the London trio South follows in this ill-fated tradition, and their 2008 LP “You Are Here” is stunning not just for its addictively-good songwriting but for the fact that it was the bands last hurrah.
The three members of South (Joel Cadbury, Brett Shaw, and Jamie McDonald) thrived on democracy for nearly a decade, with each playing a variety of instruments and sharing songwriting credits. With Joel Cadbury on lead vocals, the band fine-tuned their unique brand of guitar-based Brit-pop and “You are Here” is brimming with the fruits of their labors. Almost every track is a finely realized gem of clever hooks, catchy choruses, pitch-perfect vocals and fantastic percussion.
On a number of tracks, including the strong opener, “Wasted”, the band employs a miniature horn section with trumpets and trombones providing some added gravitas and giving the tunes a fuller sound.
Fast on the heels of “Wasted” comes “Opened Up”, an intoxicating track that blends strummy guitar verses with a potent piano-based chorus. Cadbury is the rare vocalist with enough vulnerability and smarts to actually say something with his lyrics, as he wistfully croons, “Is it time to go back home?/Can you laugh and still be strong?/Accept it when you’re wrong?/I think ill just open up.” Add some well-placed atmospherics and a killer beat and you’ve got a miraculously moving piece of songwriting that deserves a place at the top of any music lovers’ playlist.
The rest of “You Are Here” is similarly mouthwatering, with each track taking a slightly different turn and coming up roses regardless. “Soul Receivers” easily rivals Weezer’s “Buddy Holly” for grungy goodness and “The Pain” is equally enthralling. At this point, there’s really no other option here but to buy this album and bask in the pleasures of money well spent. While the dissolution of such a powerful act is certainly something to be mourned, it seems that all is not lost, as two of the members have gone on to form a new band called “The Hug”.
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More Information
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http://www.south.uk.net
http://www.myspace.com/southofficial
http://www.bluhammock.com
http://www.yamrecordings.com
