Ok I dont usually check my guestbook on here, so if someone needs to ask my anything at all, could t...
Ok I dont usually check my guestbook on here, so if someone needs to ask my anything at all, could they please e-mail me, penypicker@gmail.com TY :-)
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Of the very few things my ex ever gave me that was any decent Stars of CCTV by Hard-Fi was probably the best (the rest of the time it was take take take), so with memories (and my phone playing the album) I've decided to share with you one of the gems of the indie revolution of the early 21st century in Britain.
Hard-Fi were formed in 2003 in Staines (yes the home of Ali G), as a 4 piece ( Richard Archer (vocals and guitar), Kai Stephens (bass guitar), Ross Phillips (guitar) and Steve Kemp (drums)) alternative rock band. Their debut album was Stars of CCTV released in 2005 but it wasn't until 2006 that the album peaked (reaching #1 in the UK charts) after the success of their singles. The album was followed in 2007 by the bands second one “Once Upon A Time In The West” and in 2009 a new album is meant to be released. soon (though no release date has been mooted yet).
Stars of CCTV featured 11 tracks of which 5 found their way onto the UK singles chart between 2005 and 2006 and all getting into the top 20 (1 top 10 hit too). Which faired significantly better than the follow up album which featured 3 top 50 singles, 2 top 40 and 1 top 10.
The album opens with Cash Machine which tells the story of a cash strapped protagonist living life by scraping the barrel, from not having money for a train ticket to being unable to pay for the consequences of having a child. The sound musically is typical of what the album brings to the table, and sounds much like a social commentary of the poor working classes who do struggle through times whilst also sounding like a typical British indie track of the time (like Franz Ferdinand, Kaiser Chiefs, Arctic Monkeys). Archers voice is allowed to be impressive through out with a rather simple lyric to play with but the way he does it is brilliantly.
Middle Eastern Holiday is second and takes a more up tempo feel to it, despite the fact it's about
war and fighting in the east (Afghanistan and Iraq presumably). The song focuses on the song's protagonist knowledge he may not come back home yet knowing his mates are there singing and dancing, questioning whether his family and girlfriend are missing him and knowing his life could be taken any moment. A political undertone is apparent in the lyrics as the song seems to speak out slightly about the fighting.
Tied Up Too Tight personally I felt this was the closest the album got to being filler (though apparently Zane Lowe loved it). The song seems to depend on a lyrical hook more than the over all feel of each song of some of the earlier tracks, though it still maintains a solid musical body the hook is what gets you tapping your toes. The lyrics are about going out to the city from the rather dull and monotonous towns, Archer (the singer for those who have forgotten) said it was about getting out of Staines, he should try where I live if he thinks Staines is boring.
Gotta Reason is fourth on the album and is the shortest song (the only track on the album less than 3 minutes) despite being the first track on the album not to be released as a single I personally feel it's a gem. A high tempo track with a rather gun shot feel that never really seems to relent on a break neck pace, as with many of the shorter indie songs of the time it can seem repetitive lyrically though it must be admitted that the song has a true gritty indie feel to the sound quality and as the songs at break neck speed it's easy to forgive the repetition.
Hard To Beat was the bands top 10 hit (#9) and the song that really brought them to the foreground in Britain. Though it's the song that most accurately allows you to sum up the band, it shows off the bands regularly social themed lyrics, as well as the indie theme. The song is about a boy and a girl, though personally I feel it's about meeting a random stranger on a night out and falling for each other others may disagree but the fact is it's a high energy song that seems a relatively slowed down one from some of the break neck stuff on the album. A treat and a great example of what the band are capable of.
Unnecessary Trouble marks the mid way of the album and keeps with the similar sound of soft alternative/indie rock sound and feels like the idea song for a rock nightclub, a high energy track, the singer has actually said it's one of the most fun to play live as the crowd loves it and listening to it shows why. The song shows everything about the band musically, from great vocals and a solid musical sound to a catchy lyric and a somewhat dancey rock feel another great track on the album.
Move On Now could well be considered the albums ballad track with a much slower controlled sound as Archers voice plays over a piano backing for the vast part. Lyrically it sounds like the singer is either splitting up with his girlfriend or is just generally moving from a life he's lived for a long time. The chorus is one of the most poetic on the album and the delivery of it is immaculate, showing the Archer can do slow just as well as he can do fast. The song really stands out on the album, not for quality (as on the whole the album is of the highest quality) but for the actual feel and sound of it and it's a blessing that it's also the longest track on the album (only track over 5 minutes).
Better Do Better the song is quite a dark one compared to much of the album and seems to revolve around a cheating ex girlfriend (for those wondering no that's not what the opening of the review was getting at). The lyrics portrays the idea that the singer was cheated on by the girl, who's since been cast away by the fella she was seeing behind his back, the song goes through the emotions of the guy and talks about the way we've all felt when we couldn't eat or stop crying. The song still maintains the pacey indie sound though does sound a little angrier and at times the singer seems to spit out some of the words as much as singing them giving them a great feel.
Feltham Is Singing Out personally I'd say this is my second favourite from the album (only behind Move on Now) with a trademark social commentary feeling to the track that keeps a great sound, brilliant lyrics and another amazing delivery from Archer. The song seems to be about a mate of the singers who's got himself into trouble and gone of the rails from drinking every night, to getting into the wrong crowd and being behind bars to even the allusion of suicide. Lyrically the songs a bit of a juxtaposition with the relatively high tempo of the music.
Living For The Weekend sums up the typical every day life of a 21 year old bored with work and only working to have the funds to fund the weekend, as with most of the album a social commentary on the every day life of those of that age group. The protagonist's weekend starting at 6pm on a Friday night (lucky for some) and he's sneaked into a club through the back window and he's going to enjoy it all he can (as he's spent the week at work he deserves it...right? The song was one of the bands big hits.
Stars of CCTV is a political song about CCTV cameras and their over usage in the UK where we have more cameras than anywhere else in Europe, and it's often seen that the amount is no longer their for safety of the population but for a big brother Britain. Considering the subject of the song and the emotions it can draw from people the band seem to have done the track with a somewhat calm and relaxed tone almost taking the mick out of it saying that we are the stars of a national TV show as opposed to the cameras always helping to catch the crooks (though they do mention it does somewhat). A nice ending to the album, though far from the best track it's probably ideal for a final track as it's slowed down and quite a nice close.
Overall I must admit I have to thank my ex for the album as it really is one of my favourite CD's and definitely one of the best albums released in the last few years, especially on the more mainstream of the musical markets. As far as the more successful bands like the Arctic Monkeys and Kaiser Chiefs are concerned, they must feel lucky that quality of music has never meant much to the British album purchasers as Hard-Fi would easily have dwarfed either of them
Facts: Cash Machine had 3 music videos.
Middle Eastern Holiday and Tied Up Too Tight we're seemingly released as double A side.
Living For The Weekend was covered by The Sugarbabes (though it must be said their version is frankly terrible).
Living for the Weekend as a single never contained a parental advisory sticker despite foul language, a complaint that also was made at the album.
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Sep 21st, 2009
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