IV Thieves - The Day Is A Downer EP (One Little Indian)
2/5
By: Chris Pratt
This Texan quartet are the latest lucky men to inherit the dubious title of 'Noel Gallagher's favourite new band,' and with this, their debut three track EP, it's not difficult to see why the grandmaster of no-frills trad-guitar-rock has given them his blessing.
The Oasis connection isn't a new thing for IV Thieves however - under the name Nic Armstrong and The Thieves they supported the elder statesmen of dad-rock in 2005 at the cavernous Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. Further supports with the Modfather Paul Weller and white-trousered idiots Razorlight to coincide with their album 'The Greatest White Liar' had many pegging them as the next big thing, but an increasingly democratic song-writing process and alterations to their sonic direction prompted the subtle name change.
Opener 'Day Is A Downer' is a well-worn tale of working-class youth: the big night out in the city inevitably followed by the bleary-eyed morning after. Armstrong's pronounced, Lennon-esque vocal overtones are initially a shock until the discovery that he actually relocated to Austin, Texas from Nottingham to draw inspiration from the scorched desert landscape. Not many nods to Country & Western here though - save the odd Nashville tremolo flourish, IV Thieves' influences are rooted firmly in British soil - northern harmonies a la The La's; jaunty, crunchy stabs of guitar borrowed from The Coral and the swagger and poise of early Oasis.
A tight, crisp selection for those who find young men playing confident guitar-pop with extremely familiar influences irresistible - fortunately for IV Thieves, there are plenty out there who do. Perhaps too many...
Your Feedback
Login to post your comment