 The Playwrites - www.theplaywrites.co.uk
English Self Storage (released 2006)
Sink & Stove Recordings - www.sinkandstove.co.uk
The Playwrites have gotten a lot of attention for this release, apparently they are the second coming of indie pop and post-punk rock. I can agree that the band has some exceptional talent, and thet their sound is easily indie rock and post-punk, they sound exceedingly similar to XTC. I can't get The Playwrites out of my head! I find myself infected by the band's obnoxiously groove-laced tracks, each track simply hooks you and pulls you into the web that the band is weaving with this entire album. I am torn as to what esteem I wish to place the band, on one hand I've said it, catchy and infectious indie college rock and on the other hand, the band hits on all cylinders of post-punk. I'm not much for college rock music, as I often find it depressing or requiring many drugs to truely appreciate it, whereas the post-punk sound is agreeable and that there are many bands that I adore from that genre. The Playwrites fit into both catagories and it disturbs me that i cannot figure out if I like their sound or not. I can see the hipsters now, dancing down the street, bopping along to their fancy MP3 player to "Fear Of Open Spaces", wishing they could hit the notes that vocalist Aaron hits so easily. I don't want to be a part of that! I can see the non-descript group of college kids, whom think no else has good taste in music, praising the ability of the band to sound like the Smiths without showing too much emotion. I never liked the Smiths. I can also see fans of the Talking Heads pogoing around in excitement that music like that is still being made... I don't fit there either. I'm so torn as to how to appreciate this album. The Playwrites make amazing music, it comes across as catagory-less (is that a word). I guess I can say I find the disc interesting, but I'm fearful that the audience of Hussieskunk will not appreciate the intricate delicate nature of the woven work from The Playwrites. Ultimate, I find myself counted amoung the fans of the focused soundss of Hussieskunk and really find this album just blaise. I'm sincerely indifferent to this album. Find some tracks and judge for yourself. -MG |
