St. Jude

The Courteeners and its eternal enthusiasm

Despite that collective The Courteeners was formed only two years ago its popularity both in the native Manchester and the whole Great Britain cannot but surprise. Tickets for the tours the guys made were sold out within hours and none of the viewers had been yet left disappointed. At first sight it may seem even strange as formally the band does not differ much from the multitude of modern indie teams, playing catchy songs, and front man Liam Fray's vocals on the whole do not stand out against the background of the others. Yet a more careful look reveals that the lyrics of The Courteeners has proved to be the closest to Everyman, for none of the band has ever written such down-to-earth texts that would render the detail of everyday life in a wonderfully precise way. It goes without saying that its debut album St. Jude has fallen into a fertile land and its singles has already managed to become favorite songs of most of those fond of joyful, vivid and easy music which is performed by The Courteeners with eternal enthusiasm.

Emotions brimming over on St. Jude

Made in the best traditions of the genre St. Jude offers practically no calm compositions each of the track being filled with brimming over emotions. It opens with a short song Aftershow, melodious at the beginning and gradually gaining momentum and turning into a set of guitar hooks, drums and Fray's powerful vocals. Single Cavorting pleases with a catchy tune which is expected from a single but this composition is special with a definite vividness and gayety that sound in each of the instruments involved in it. Bide Your Time is the track that gets closest to Britpop, here are the guitar roulades, an easygoing text and a contagious singing, and another single What Took You So Long?, remarkable for broad expressive hints at the band's knowing religious texts is rightfully considered one of The Courteeners' most successful song. Quite a heavy song If It Wasn't For Me amazes with insistently penetrating riffs and composition No You Didn't, No You Don't on the contrary can be called one of the lightest and most melodious songs on the record although even here the guys stick to interesting and unordinary guitar solos and keep devotedly beating the strings. Yet you may think you haven't listened to The Courteeners, if you are not acquainted with a great song Not Nineteen Forever, on which it is again the instruments that do the singing and Liam only underlines the complexity of the tune with his singing that has no mercy to vocal cords. The guys give themselves full swing on composition Fallowfield Hillbilly, hiding the melody among a flow of loud sounds so at first it is rather hard to grasp while the song ending the series of album versions Yesterday, Today & Probably Tomorrow has proved to be the only lyrical one on the album finally letting us rest a while from this band's endless energy only to then again submerge into its music listening to original and acoustic versions of album tracks.

Bold enough, smart and unrestrainedly joyful

The line-up of The Counteeners in addition to guitarist and vocalist Liam Fray consists of drummer Michael Campbell who probably changes more than one pair of sticks during a concert, guitarist Daniel Conan Moores performing absolutely incredible guitar parties and bassist Mark Cuppello keeping up with the others as well as another guitarist Josh Waites performing with the guys. Bold enough, smart and unrestrainedly joyful The Courteeners just could not remain unnoticed. The unexpected combination of the musicians' playing that is able to drown everything around leaving room only for the vocals which, too, can by no means be called calm and the lyrics that is either lofty or extremely simple has proved to be sure-fire. Besides the producer of album St. Jude is Stephen Street who worked with such bands as Blur, Babyshambles and Kaiser Chiefs which and has done his best to make the sound of The Counteeners be a success. In general the band that hardly pretends to be a sensation or say a new word in indie music just does what it likes most sparing no effort and the result of its work can be fully appreciated on listening to its great record St. Jude.