Chronicles Of A Bohemian Teenager, The - Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly > Reviews > You Need This Band

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Groundbreaking
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Outstanding
Value for Money	Excellent

Advantages:	Amazing tracks, fantastic Lyrics, brilliant artist comparisons
Disadvantages:	Perhaps 2 weaker tracks

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Sam Duckworth is one of the most inspiring talents of our generation and is undoubtedly the modern Billy Bragg; he has even covered "to have and to have not" to quite wonderful effect. For someone so young, Sam has the talent of someone far older and the comparisons to Billy Bragg are well deserved. He is much like many of the most talented of the British music scene at present with his observent lyrics being what makes his songs so interesting, however, unlike Alex Turner and that ilk, he is not commenting on what he sees down the pub on a saturday night, his views are much more wide reaching, he comments on fair trade, war and peace amongst other things.

In comparison to other artists, at times this album reaches to the emotion of Bright Eyes, one of the most talented artists of the generation, and I think that comparisons to Sufjan Stevens are not undeserved. However, I think Sam Duckworth has the originality, that Sufjan Stevens at times lacks. Each of his songs is a continuation of the others and yet doesn't blend into one big song. Despite the different tones of many of the songs, the track listing is flawless and the songs flow on from one another quite incredibly.

One of the things that I find very interesting about the album is the fact that like his earlier Ep, This album is not over produced. The vocals are left raw and unfinished and this adds to the emotive nature of the piece. I am not one to say that he is the greatest vocal talent, but as a piece of music this album is really quite incredible.

The album starts with Once More With Feeling which is a bouncy start to the album and creates a fantastic mood for the next track and crowd favourite Oak Tree. it is difficult to quite understand the love that there is for this artist and why it is there until you experiance the live show: it is by far one of the most entertaining and enthralling live experiances that you can ever expect to have and I was fairly suprised by this.

The lyrical content of track 3, Chronicles Of A Bohemian Teenager Part two is perhaps my favourite on the entire album. It is one of the most heart breaking songs that you may ever hear and I consider it one of the strongest tracks on the entire album.

I Spy is probably the most well known track on the album except for the closing track Chronicles Of A Bohemian Teenager Part One. Both of these tracks are full of melodic beats and soulful lyrics that puts Get Cape on a par with the Postal Service; Very High Praise Indeed! "And this song is more, than the self indulgant rantings, closure for the times that have let you down, you know I need you around" is one of my favourite songs on the entire album and can be found in its closing track, it really is a touching song despite the memories it brings back to me of the happiness and times spent singing it with my friends!

Lighthouse Keeper , War Of The Worlds and Get Cape Wear Cape Fly are the tracks that were in danger of becoming the tracks in the middle of the album that were easy to forget. They have avoided this with a quite unbelievable ease. Each is different in its own right and I think this is what makes this album quite so extraordinary; Although every song is undoubtedly different, they come together and combine to make an album which could last for generations. War of The Worlds is a quite prolific song that builds up and could conclude the album quite easily. However, the bravery to put a song such as this in the middle of the album could mean that from there on in the album went down hill. However, I think that some of the tracks after this are the best on the album. Get Cape Wear Cape Fly is probably the most inspiring song on the album and speaks of fair trade saying, "You don't have to be a coat hanger for a corporation in a marker thats lost the plot".

Glass Houses and Whitewash Is Brainwash are probably the weakest songs on the album in my opinion yet they are strong tracks and are crowd favourites at the live shows.

Call Me Ishmael and If I Had A Pound For Every Stale Song Title I'd Be 30 Short Of Getting Out Of This Mess are probably my two favourite tracks on the album. it is their energy, their lyrics, their mood that give them this status and i think it is these qualities that make this album into something very original yet listenable.

This album should be in everyones collection and if you don't have it... why not? For the price you can get it for know, it is definately worth taking the chance. Trust Me, You Need This Band in your life.