|
Reviews
Rocksound
8/10
The
Wireless Stores a kind of In At The Deep End superband that
sounds nothing like an In At The Deep End superband first
grabbed Rock Sound¹s attention a few years back with the
release of their ŒHistoric Sites Of Scenic Beauty¹ EP.
Thankfully they¹ve lost none of that affecting quality on
this completely non-revolutionary but nonetheless brilliantly
written album. Frontman Paul Yeadon is a production lynchpin at
the Moot Group, principle recording facility for IATDE, and the
band also number among their ranks zombie chap Duncan Hall of
Send More Paramedics. But apparently when he¹s not eating
brains, Dunc likes nothing better than to forget all that thrash
nonsense and instead knock out sweet melodic rock songs that are
unrepentantly reminiscent of early Foo Fighters and Hüsker
Dü in equal measure. That they¹re not reinventing the
wheel is perfectly forgivable as the quality of songs such as
ŒHello Poisons¹ is consistent and considered. The band
themselves coin it as being an album of ³drunken introspection²,
but while that despairing feeling of alcohol mixed with self-pity
and depression is caught in the bittersweet lyrics and melodies,
if this is indeed ³booze-addled², then the hard stuff
obviously doesn¹t hit Yeadon and co as bad as it does a hungover
Rock Sound. Endearing, engaging, enduring, exemplary. If you¹re
sick of trite feckless nonsense, The Wireless Stores may well
be a suitable remedy.
Big
Cheese
4/5
I
remember seeing The Wireless Stores supporting The Weakerthans
and Brandtson a few years back and being somewhat underwhelmed
– although that could've been because of whom they were
playing with. But now they've really grown into a rock act that
us Brits could be proud of – especially if you like the
earnest heart-on-sleeve rock of the aforementioned acts. From
the bittersweet pop-rock of '43 Pence Worth of Luck' to the outstanding,
strident Brit-rocking 'Las Vegas Days' TWS don't put a foot wrong.
This comes packed with a handful of MP3s and a music video, making
it a nicely rounded package.
Rob Mair
Kerrang
KKKK
Nottingham
Quintet Are A Bit Smart On Full Length Debut.
Fronted by Paul Yeadon of alt-rock nearly men Bivouac. The Wireless
Stores are so sharp they might cut themselves. They spin out wry
tales of everyday life, from the superstition shattering opener
'43 Pence Worth Of Luck' to the country-tinged 'Chewing Gum Stars',
with its view of life from beneath a bar table. But 'Dust Ghosts'
is about much more than revelling in a cleverness that fans of
lyrical manipulation will adore. Musically, WS peddle dusty, harmonic
Americana that belies their hometown. Gentle, subtle and far from
aggressive, this is music for cold beers on hot days, watching
the world go by and finding humour in the weird way it works.
Trashpit
After
the excellent mini album 'Historic Sites of Scenic Beauty # 1'
comes this full length release from Nottingham's The Wireless
Stores, perhaps unusually released on the IATDE label, normally
the home to punk and hardcore acts. Frontman Paul Yeadon, of nineties
rockers Bivouac, has a great style for taking middle American
guitar rock and sprinkling it with a wonderful British flavouring
that is both charming and inspirational. It puts them in a league
of their own which could see them easily break into the US market
by sneaking in the back with a familiar sound but adding the English
twist. Where radio friendly guitar based acts such as Maroon 5
lack soul and substance The Wireless Stores can mix both anthemic
upbeat rockers such as '43 Pence Worth Of Luck', 'The Unlikely
Cavalry' and the foot stomping 'Super8veneer' alongside the subtle
slide guitar fuelled 'Not Going, Gone' making them one of this
countries finest underground bands. It's kind of like Snow Patrol
but with a great deal more identity or an untouched Coldplay in
their most upbeat. The Wireless Stores could easily and confidently
be invading radio both sides of the Atlantic.
Room
Thirteen 10/13
Dust Ghosts' is an interesting prospect: alternative American
country with a British tinge and the English sounding vocals makes
a difference. More interesting still, The Wireless Stores have
an ex-Send More Paramedics person but sound nothing like them.
This is a record with a sense of fun, but it's also sweet and
touching; at the same time, it's as quiet as it's lively even
if the vocals can be rather on the strained side.
When '43 Pence Worth of Luck' starts up, you could be forgiven
for thinking it was something straight outta Nashville, all eager
keyboards and lively guitars - and then Paul Yeadon's vocals kick
in and the song becomes rather better. So it continues, as upbeat
tunes rub shoulders with the more melancholy. As you listen to
the album, there's a nagging feeling that they sound like 'Dizzy
Up the Girls'-era Goo Goo Dolls. 'Unlikely Cavalry' is a case
in point, except for the lyrics; you won't hear Americans singing
about tea ('If the drugs don't kill you, they'll drown you in
tea').
A few listens to the 'Dust Ghosts' reveal that The Wireless Stores
can do quiet and melancholy just as well. In fact, 'Scissors as
Fingers' is one the best songs on the album. It's unassuming and
sort of minds its own business but slowly lays claim to your heart
with you realising. The same could be said for 'Chewing Gum Stars'
but for it's distinctly upbeat chorus and the Goo Goo Dolls sound
which comes out again. There's a gorgeous melody and the whole
track swells with passion and love. Then we're thrown a curve
ball; 'We Rattle' is a bit Feeder-like, gone all serious and with
different vocals. There's no trace of the American country rock
so evident elsewhere and to be fair, it's a relief and a shame
there's not more of it.
'Not Going Gone' almost usurps 'Scissors as Fingers' as the best
track on the album, and indeed it's lush and romantic (in a good
way of course). By turns acoustic and electric, this spare but
filled song will coax tears from the hardest heart. 'Dust Ghosts'
is a journey of sorts, lively at the beginning and quieter and
subdued at the end with 'The Dust Ghosts' a perfect ending. That
doesn't mean it's not uplifting, instead it's everything the album
is distilled in one song.
If Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly. is your thing, then this should be
just the sort of thing you want. This an album of many moods and
a few surprises - well worth the money.
Punktastic
5/5
Good
things come to those that wait. It’s been over three years
since The Wireless Stores first came to my attention, with their
fantastic debut ‘Historic Sites of Scenic Beauty #1’.
The band’s first full length effort ‘Dust Ghosts’
is finally here, and is once again released through In At The
Deep End. So, for those of you yet to be acquainted with The Wireless
Stores, we’ll start with a very brief history lesson. The
band are the brainchild of former Bivouac man, Paul Yeadon. They
started life as a three-piece but have now added a couple more
band members to enrich what was already a very warm and full sound.
There is a very strong American influence in much of what the
band do, but it’s delivered in a uniquely British style.
‘Dust Ghosts’ takes everything that was so good about
the band’s debut and improves upon it. The Wireless Stores,
seamlessly blend a mix of musical styles, great song structures
and fantastic lyrics to produce something you’ll want to
listen to time and time again. Album opener ’43 pence worth
of luck’ gets things off to a great start. It’s a
supremely infectious slice of pop rock that showcases everything
that is so good about this band. ‘Hello Poison’ is
even better, mixing bags of energy and the band’s trademark
great lyrics with a simple and very effective song structure.
The band’s country leanings are brought to the fore with
‘The unlikely cavalry’ and ‘Scissors as fingers’
slows the pace down to a standstill, with a song dripping with
emotion. So, in the space of their first four songs, The Wireless
Stores manage to show more versatility and talent than most bands
could dream of. To be honest, there’s not a bad song on
here. ‘Chewing Gum Stars’ brings the country element
back into play, and features some of the best lyrics on the album.
‘We rattle’ sees us return to driving, melodic rock
territory and ‘Not going, gone’ is every bit as beautiful
as it was first time around. The album is rounded off perfectly
with the title track, which proves to be a fitting swansong to
a special album. The Wireless Stores’ first album may have
been a long time in coming but it is certainly well worth the
wait. ‘Dust Ghosts’ is stunning. Do yourself, and
your music collection, a huge favour and buy this as soon as you
can.
Punkoiuk
Following
up 2003’s mini-album ‘Historic Scenes Of Beauty’,
Nottingham five-piece The Wireless Stores first full album is
an album of post hardcore, rich in imaginative and notable songwriting.
The well-crafted approach, a good distance away from the formulaic
verse/chorus/verse method means there’s certainly a lot
to appreciate on this eleven-track collection (augmented by three
bonus acoustic mp3 tracks). Whilst their desire to move beyond
standard stylings can’t be faulted, not everything here
works that well, although a track like the sure footed, banjo
and cello coloured ‘Scissors As Fingers’, the alt-country
flavoured warped Americana of ‘Not Going Gone’ and
the shimmering atmospherics of the title track are all prime wee
small hours fare. Brave and not a little outstanding. The other
side of the coin are a few indie-pop rockers like ’43 Pence
Worth Of Luck’ and ‘We Rattle’ that lack a real
distinctive identity, but display another side to the obvious
songwriting talents of frontman Paul Yeadon (ex Bivouac). Certainly
an attractive and engaging album, and although marked by a series
of high and low points, taken as a whole, TWS display a quality
and talent they’re obviously very capable of building on.
4 out of 5
Last
Hours
Whenever
I put these guys on I can't help but let a smile creep across
my face. Reminiscent of bands like the Weakerthans and Cursive
they play restrained indie-punk, with hauntingly simple drum-lines
and soaring guitars. Whilst subdued and melancholic the band still
manage to create something really beautiful and emotive, which
seems to a feat rarer than a Can-can dancing dodo. If you'd like
something slightly different from your usual hardcore or punk
record I can't recommend this highly enough. (edd)
DieShellsuitDie
I don’t know what’s baffled me more, the fact that
this album has been released on In At The Deep End or the fact
that it contains ex/members of Send More Paramedics, My War and
Sanzen. You see when a label that you associate with the term
’hard case’ sends you soft rock you start to wonder.
It’s to their credit that they’ve picked up a wonderful
example of good song writing and composition. As far as the album
goes, it’s not to far the norm and comparisons can be drawn
to Train, Tom Petty, Semisonic, Dixie Chicks and Jackson Browne.
I could of gone on but I think you get the picture after that.
Occasional vocal leanings toward John Wetton (of AOR giants Asia)
and odd Neal Casal country tinge aside, you can guess how this
album is going to pan out: It’s the sort of thing your missus
wants to listen to while you’re cuddling on the sofa. If
you like or appreciate soft rock, or know someone who does, this
is well worth picking up.
Unpeeled
All
the way from Nottingham with a kind of punked up Greed On Red
sound. Some of you will have an idea of how damn fine that could
sound and believe, it does sound good. From "43 Pence Worth
Of Luck" that drives off the grid on a riff laced guitar
carpet that grinds, growls, sparks and above all, drives a cocky
rock tune along. There's more, which, quite frankly, you'd expect
on an album, but what you might not expect is for a band you've
never heard of to be so cool, accomplished, tight and melody n
muscle packed. Top tune here is the organ drift and guitar snag
of "Super8veneer", a steel-wired road ballad with fat
guitars and hovering feedback, very Nick Cage, very snake eyed
and hipped, very Tarantino and it explodes nicely too. Get this
and do likewise.
Raw
Nerve
Well,
after reviewing quite a few metal / hardcore / technical releases
in a row, this comes out of the blue to push me back into my chair,
give me my slippers, put the lights down low and asks for an open
mind. Featuring members of Bivouac (yes, the 90s band that I recall,
that you may not remember being all young and energetic), My War
and Send More Paramedics. I hasten to add that TWS sound nothing
like any of those last 2 bands before you get completely the wrong
impression. What we have is a nice slab of quite upbeat but melancholic
sounding indie / emo rock that features occasional keyboard touches
and sweet harmonic vocal choruses, with influences and comparisons
including later Husker Du, The Pixies, Sunny Day Real Estate et
al. 'Hello poisons' is an album highlight, but 'Not going, gone'
shows a different angle, being very bluesy / country tinged and
really downbeat, with an emotion akin to a cleaned up Afghan Whigs
and Lemonheads in their acoustic moments. I've surprised myself
by liking this CD, but it has been a long while since I heard
a release in this style that was so well done. Nice work.
|
