The Hoosiers sure know how to write a good chorus.
That’s obvious to anyone who’s listened to the band’s
previous two albums. Now, dropping the cartoonish
style of their debut and the electro touches of its underrated follow-up, ‘The
News from Nowhere’ sees the band growing up a little with an album of solid
guitar-pop. Having departed from their
label back in 2011, this album is self-released and marks a fresh and more
serious start.
Not that they’ve ditched their pop roots. ‘The News from Nowhere’ boasts some
incredibly catchy chorus hooks – in particular lead single and opening track Somewhere in the Distance, that lurches
from its soft pre-chorus to a funky chorus of noodling guitars and rhythmic
riffs. It’s followed by the sparse sound
of Make or Break – You Gotta Know that
similarly morphs into an upbeat, sing-along chorus. Then there’s Fidget Brain, Rocket Star
and even ballad My Last Fight – each track
is clean, simple and instantly appealing, stripping away the trite trappings of
the band’s early days whilst losing none of their personality.
‘The News from Nowhere’ is a slightly mixed bag,
however. Towards the end the album
begins to lose its way with some tracks that don’t quite hit the same chorus
highs compared to earlier tracks. The
absence of the synths – so prominent in the band’s second offering – also suggests
a lack of sparkle. Instead, the focus predominantly
on guitars feels like a safer route and a step backwards – like a poppier
version of The Feeling, or a more serious Scouting For Girls.
No matter how catchy those choruses, ‘The News from Nowhere’
could well be too little too late for the band who clearly have talent but have
been somewhat shunned by the mainstream.
I for one am still very worried about Ray.
3/5
Gizzle’s Choice:
* Somewhere in the Distance
* Make or break – You Gotta Know
* Rocket Star
Listen: ‘The News from Nowehere’ is available now.
