THE SUBWAYS – MONEY & CELEBRITY
The English trio with a New York transport moniker have released their third studio album Money & Celebrity. It’s just not geography the Hertfordshire three piece have muddled up either, chronology seems to be an issue too. Forming in 2003 and releasing their debut album Young for Eternity thrust upon the world in 2005, this noughties band has a distinct mid-to-late nighties post- grunge feel and sound – minus the apathy and bleakness. The energy and attitude is akin to Seattle based post-grunge rock outfit Harvey Danger. Guitar driven with chunky sounding strummy riffs, kind of like early You Am I or a more mellow version of Grinspoon. Lead man, singer/songwriter Billy Lunn is a very good pop-rock composer and his vocals are adequate. I suppose he could be likened to a poor-man’s Jarvis Cocker. An integral element to The Subways sound and I suppose their branding is bass player Charlotte Cooper’s back up vocals. Sometimes chiming in with some harmonizing or just singing along with Lunn. Every now and then piping up with a “yeah yeah yeah” I couldn’t imagine this album without it. It’s a relief to hear heavier sounds without being so damn angry.
***1/2
