After releasing their debut single only three months ago, Sons Of The City demonstrate just how quickly they’ve turned heads by dropping a twelve-track album with the title ‘The Glue That Held Us Together’.
A true sonic experience, Sheffield’s latest exports waste no time in showcasing their talent by placing ‘She Brings Me The Light’ at track one, a Stone Roses-esque number that runs for five minutes, capturing an ethereal energy and trapping it in the body of a modern indie song.
One of the stronger album openers i’ve encountered of late, the theme of light continues into track two with ‘Under The Lights’. Less otherworldly than it’s predecessor, the feel-good indie vibe takes centre stage and distances from the cinematic feel from before, which although a little disappointing, still has great potential for the big stage.
A complete shift sees track three takes the acoustic route, reminiscent of a softer sounding Chris Rea, whilst ‘Can’t Get You Out My Mind’, their debut single, follows up with a more energetic but slightly darker sound, creating an 80’s feel and promising to be another hit for the live audience.
‘The Sun Will shine On You Again’ takes the album in yet another direction, combining a love ballad with the soundscape of the opening track to create something heavy in emotion. For the first time so far, track six follows suit and keeps the throwback ballad vibe going, as if Gary Barlow made music for people who liked music. Weaker than it’s teammates but still a respected figure.
Next up is ‘Where There’s A Will There’s a Way’, returning to a sound similar to the Stone Roses and even keeping things on brand by making it the longest song on the album. An impressive full-band performance but despite the jokes, it does drag on a little too long in my opinion.
‘Another Life’ follows, which though vocally excellent feels a bit too much like a filler track, whilst ‘Does It Wear You Down’ shapes itself into the body of Richard Ashcroft and three quarters of the way into the record, shows itself as my personal favourite. Hopelessly miserable and yet the haunting guitar and desperate vocals pull you back in.
Track ten, ‘Fm’, is another slow burner that build its way up to a modern indie chorus and then drops back into a pit of despair before the penultimate track, ‘Falling Down’, takes it back up agai- oh wait, never mind. Another shortcut to sadness, the vocals continue to not only excel, but shatter the hearts of all who listen. Powerful, poetic genius.
To wrap things up for ‘The Glue That Held Us Together’, track twelve’s title tells you exactly what to do. Close your eyes. That’s exactly what I need to do to reflect on the emotional weight of this record. Straight from the soul, gut-wrenching lyricism that finds itself back in the same box as Mr. Ashcroft.
A complete rollercoaster of emotions, ‘The Glue That Held Us Together’ has everything. Songs for the summer, the winter and some for never. A few hiccups in the middle third hold back the overall ratings but as a whole, the product is outrageously good. Emotive songwrting, tight instrumentation and pure passion highlight just how these lads sold out Record Junkee before ever releasing a song.
Sons Of The City, remember the name.
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