Stars Of CCTV - Hard-Fi > Reviews > "There's a hole in my pocket."

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	Flawless
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Not applicable
Value for Money	Excellent

Advantages:	If you like rock music, you'll love this .
Disadvantages:	Not much variation; songs are very similar .

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

***INTRODUCTION***

I bought the Stars of CCTV album the other day because of the seemingly unstoppable flow of adverts on channels 3 and 4. The "Q" magasine describes Hard-Fi as "the next major British band," and I have to agree with them. I bought the album in one of my study periods (tut tut!) in the supermarket, Tesco. I couldn't wait to get home and play it because of the great things TV ( and television NEVER lies) and my friends had told me about it. I was certainly not disappointed...

***OVERVIEW***

The four lads in Hard-Fi are Richard Archer, Ross Kemp, Kai Stephens and Ross Phillips. They are from a very poor background, and indeed some of their songs express what it is like to have no money.

***FURTHER DEPTH***

But don't get me wrong, this is no melancholony gothic-type CD only for those hell-bent on being miserable. No, this album appeals to anyone with a sense of rhythm! Each song provides a strong riff pattern that renders the listner totally helpless; you just have to headbang along to it.

Archer's singing is incredibly diverse when you consider it is essentially a raw talent; never-before trained, he has nevertheless got the ability to provide his own interpretation of the lyrics he himself wrote (an amazing achievment!)

***MY FEELINGS***

My favourite song on the album is "Tied Up Too Tight;" it is a really toe tapping piece that combines some of the best guitar playing of this era with some awesome accompaning drum-work from Steve. My favourite "thing" in this song is the chorus; Archer's singing crescendos up into this awesome climax time and time again, literally making me bang my head in time to themusic every time.

There is not a single song that I do not like, nor that I like less than the others; the album really is that good! There is some quality to Archer's singing that ensnares the listner time and time again. One of his greatest assetts is his range; he has a fantastic range of notes at his disposal at any time, and his voice is not at all strained in the album.

There is no clear-cut equivalent to this album; it is not as plain "weird" as OK Computer from Radiohead, but certainly heavier than X and Y from Coldplay. It's a kind of mix between the two, with an extra dimension that is literally breathtaking.

Along with this is the feeling that the fame and success could not have happened to any more deserving people; portrayed in the lyrics are feelings of truthful moments of poverty, and you think that you're buying the CD was worthwhile not just for your enjoyment, but for theirs too!

***DISADVANTAGES***

There are no lyrics included with the CD; all you are given is a link to the site where you can download lyrics. Now this may not be a major problem to most people, but I like to sing along to the music I buy, and was not suitably impressed that there were no lyrics included. Considerable time was wasted as I found the website and printed of the lyrics.

There are only 11 tracks!!! Ok, so this is pretty much standard, but I guarantee you will be disappointed when you get through the whole CD in a mere 45 minutes. Time well spent though!

The album art is really rather uninspiring; what is meant to be the shadow of a CCTV camera set agianst a glaringly yellow background. If a teacher was marking her first grader's work, they would undoubtedly scrawl, "Could do better" across the work. You'll just have to take my word for it that what lies on the inside is far better than what represents it on the outside.

***ADVANTAGES***

The music is original; in an era where every other band is producing covers of other songs, this iss incredibly refreshing.

This is only Hard-Fi's first album! We can look forward to great things from this British band. (At least I hope so-I would be devastated if their second album was something of a letdown.

There is a consistent quality to all the tracks that is inspiring and attractive; I was encapulated by the modern lyrics so befitting of my (and most people's) unsatisfactory lives.

***PRICE***

I got the album in Tescos for a reasonable £7.97. Definitely worth the money on retrospect, but it is possible that other outlets such as HMV may offer you the CD for a bit less. Nevertheless, I am glad I bought the CD, and would have willingly paid twice what I did!

***RECOMMENDATION***

Buy this album! Specifically, if you like music, buy this album. More specifically, if you are into music that you can sing along to, with a good rhythm and fantastic lyrics, buy this album. One of the best music purchases I have made in my life (and this is alongside greats such as OK Computer and Morning Glory), you'd be mad to miss it.

I welcome your comments.