*** PLEASE NOTE: THIS REVIEW FIRST APPEARED ON WWW.DOOYOO.CO.UK UNDER MY DOOYOO ALIAS OF DLB74 ***

THE FEELING
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TWELVE STOPS AND HOME
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Have you heard of this relatively new band - The Feeling? If you haven't, I'm sure you will. If you have, I'd say there's more than a fair chance that you like their music.

The Feeling practically appeared out of nowhere towards the end of 2005 when their debut single - 'Fill My Little World' was given a limited release but was played with great frequency on the radio. Hearing this song for the first time, I thought "Hey! Who are these guys? This is great!".

On February 27, 2006, their first fully released single 'Sewn' entered the UK top ten at number 7. Not bad for a first entry into the UK singles chart. 'Sewn' was another instantly catchy song. This certainly boded well for this young, five piece band from Sussex.

Following their first full release, they officially released 'Fill My Little World' on May 22, 2006 where it reached number 10 in the singles chart.

The band members are as follows:

Dan Gillespie Sells - vocals and guitar
Richard Jones - bass & vocals
Kevin Jeremiah - guitar and vocals
Ciaran Jeremiah - keyboards and vocals
Paul Stewart - drums

Their debut album 'Twelve Stops And Home' was released in the UK on June 5, 2006 and reached number 2 in the album chart.

The title of this album is so called because Dan Gillespie Sells grew up in Bounds Green, near the tube station of the same name. The twelve stops referred to in the album title are the twelve stops on the Piccadilly Line of the London Underground (Leicester Square to Bounds Green).

The style of music performed by The Feeling immediately has an air of familiarity about it. I recall my fiancée's sister talking about 'Never Be Lonely' (released on August 28, 2006 and reaching number 9 in the singles chart) when we heard it on the radio and her mentioning that when she first heard it, she thought it was a cover version (I'll give my opinions on this song and all others from the album further below).

This is not to say that the music The Feeling has produce rips off anything - it's because they have a list of inspirations that you can detect traces of even before you know who their musical heroes were. Some of their influences include:

Queen
Supertramp
ELO
10cc
The Beatles

There are probably other musical influences that are so subtle that will only become more obvious after repeated listens… and believe me when I say there WILL be repeat listens.

Despite the impressive list of influential acts and artists that have obviously rubbed off on the band, they still bring their own unique flavour to their music and although you might say "Oh! This sounds a bit like such and such" and so on, you'll feel right at home with their material. If you want to define their genre you would have to say that they are definitely a pop act but don't let that put you off if pop music isn't your particular brand of Vodka… there's a huge dash of 70's soft-rock for good measure. The result of this is an album full of songs that are memorable, sing-a-long-able and uplifting enough to bring you out of a downer if you're having an Emily-ism (private joke) and are feeling "under the weather". Damn those boys in The Feeling… I feel glad to be alive!

The first true joy about Twelve Stops And Home is having discovered it, listening to it from the start to finish for the first time and realising when it finishes that you want to listen to it all over again! It will only take hearing most of their songs a couple of times before you become acquainted with them, and are humming along with them - even if you don't know the words yet. Heaven forbid, you might even be swaying to the music or at the very, very least tapping your feet and if not, you might want to check your wrist to check if you still have a pulse!

Well… before I do a Chas and Dave special and "Rabbit! Rabbit! Rabbit!" on all bloody evening, (as is the point of the day I'm typing this) morning, afternoon etc (depending on when you lovely folks happen to be reading/browsing this!) I'll crack on and give you my humble opinion on this damned fine album.

The album consists of 12 tracks… (Ah… I see what they've done there! 12 tracks. 12 stops (then home) the clever buggers!)

1. 'I Want You Now'

Opens the album in a lively fashion. This is quite a fast-paced song with fairly heavy drums and guitar but still manages to show how brilliant the band's harmonies are. Their voices just fit together perfectly - and strangely manage to suit this faster track.

The strangest question of all I can think of regarding this song is this: 'Why on earth are there little bits of the song that sublimenely bring the theme tune to "Jim'll Fix It" to mind?' Is there perhaps an influence the boys have forgotten to mention? Or… Do I just need to take my medicine now?

2. 'Never Be Lonely'

This track is one of my favourites. Instantly sing-along-able and just a great song, if you're in love with someone, there's a very good chance that you will be able to fully relate to this song (I know I do).

I recall listening to the album with my better-half when we had newly discovered it. I had mentioned to her that this song reminded me of something that Paul McCartney would have released. I can't put my finger on what element(s) make me think that but there is definitely something in this mix that is similar.

3. 'Fill My Little World'

This song is just so happy and bouncy! It's another faster song with harmonies aplenty and is a song that you can sing after hearing it just a couple of times.

I have to admit that I sometimes go to a pub quiz where there is a karaoke after the quiz finishes and on a couple of occasions, I have sung this song. I know, I know… You thought I might be a reasonable enough guy but now you know that I have dished out a few good helpings of ear-drum abuse. What the hell? Most of them are drunk anyway! A captive audience!

Anyway… It's a great song (especially when I'm not butchering it!) with very lively guitar and piano with some particularly nice harmonising at the end of the song when someone has obviously stolen all of their musical instruments! The swines!!!

4. 'Kettle's On'

Now… I LOVE this song. It all starts off quite quietly but features some great lyrics that will somehow make you think of a loved one if they're elsewhere when you listen to it (or is that just me?)…

"Can't you see you're in the wrong place,
won't you please face it and come home?

When I think about your sweet face,
I can't wait for you to come home.

I can see you've got a real taste for that Champagne
but it's all gone, so come home.

The kettle's on."

Doesn't it just make you think of getting home to someone special?

5. 'Sewn' (Album Version)

I instantly loved this song. It's so jaunty and carries you along and makes you just want to sing along with it.

You have to wonder what inspired the lyrics.

"Give me the song and I'll sing it like I mean it.
Give me the words and I'll say them like I mean it.

'cos you've got my heart in a head-lock,
You stop the blood and make my head soft
And God knows, you've got me sewn."

I'm not totally sure what that means but if it can make you sit and ponder it later when you think about the lyrics, then that's really pretty rare.

Musically, this is another slice of perfection with brilliant harmonies and a seamless combination of guitar and piano.

God knows, they've got me sewn.

6. 'Anyone'

This song starts quite softly but picks up pace once it reaches the chorus. It's mostly a fairly subdued track - with soft guitar and muted drums between the choruses.

The style of this track brings to mind some bands such as Savage Garden and The Rembrandts (who famously sang the theme tune to Friends 'I'll Be There For You'). To be honest, it's not my favourite song on the album but it's still bloody good! How many albums can you say that about?

7. 'Strange'

I love this song. It's a slower track - kicking off with only a single vocal and piano. Then some fairly subdued guitar and vocal harmonies.

This track has often reminded me of The Manic Street Preachers at the chorus. I can't put my finger on which of their songs it reminds me of but I'm certain it makes me think of something from the Manics' 'This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours' album.

The lyrics are great in this one too.

"Cause people gonna see you
How they wanna see you

People gonna rate you,
People gonna hate you

People gonna shove you,
People gonna love you

People gonna do whatever
Makes them feel they own you better."

Great stuff!

8. 'Love It When You Call'

This is a cool song and sounds like some soft rock from the 80's and is the sort of song you could imagine playing in a car on a scorching hot summer day…

Not the best track on the album but still very good. Some very 80's sounding rock guitar that ought to take some people back to the likes of Whitesnake and the like… It even has hints of the guitar playing style of Brian May…

9. 'Rose'

One of the best songs on the album. Starting off with some very soulful, moving piano and guitar with a subtle vocal, you might be fooled into thinking it's going to be a depressing song for the first few seconds.

As it turns out, it's one of the softest and genuinely emotional songs on the album. As it continues building up in soft layer upon soft layer, the song sounds like something that you might expect from the likes of Coldplay in some ways…

This song is like an aural version of a soft pillow on which you could rest your head and just drift off.

"I love you… especially today."

Simply gorgeous!

10. 'Same Old Stuff'

Another slightly Coldplay-esque song at times with some very slight hints of other artists and bands - some Bowie, ELO and so many other subtle styles that shouldn't combine but work bloody perfectly.

11. 'Helicopter'

This is a really cool song but I have to confess something about it before I go on… At the start of the song there are a few odd honking-like sounds before the piano kicks in.

Now I know this sounds mental (and it very probably is!) but I'm into very strange humour and always loved Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer in the BBC series 'The Smell Of Reeves And Mortimer' and the honking sounds at the start of this song remind me of the two farting French blokes that Reeves and Mortimer portrayed (they would walk around lifting their legs and looking like some sort of deranged contortionists whilst being accompanied by all manners of squeaking, quacking and honking sound effects to simulate the art of flatulence. Bless.)

Anyway, back to the bloody song! It's such an odd one. Starting off with some farting Frenchmen, a piano and quiet drums accompanying the vocals. It then goes into quite a bouncy number which sounds very odd with some very peculiar almost nonsensical lyrics.

Some electric guitar gets quietly introduced throughout the song until… wait a minute… what's this?!?

A very heavy, ROCKING guitar section that will make you want to fill your bedroom with lots of people and pack them in like sardines before growing very long hair and moshing wildly - giving the poor buggers whiplash from your sweaty tresses!!! ROCK AND ROLL!!!

And from this slice of rock we unbelievably segue into…

12. 'Blue Piccadilly' (Including hidden track 'Miss You')

This song is a very deep and meaningful track where the band's influence of The Beatles is felt most. It's a very quiet song that is so reminiscent of The Fab Four at their most mellow… mixed with some Queen (slight elements of 'We Are The Champions' perhaps?).

This song is like so many of the others on this album in that there are so many different styles mashed together it simply shouldn't work - but it does. It shouldn't be great - but it is.

This song ends on a strange note where you hear the band exchanging goodbyes with people as they vacate the studio… but…

Someone comes back in and has a little tinkle on the ivories (presumably Ciaran as he's The Feeling's keyboard/piano man). This is a lovely little treasure titled 'Miss You' tucked away at the end of the album.

This song is one of the most emotional on the album and could move some people to tears (me included) if it happened to catch them on a low ebb… but it is beautiful and so sad.

"Well, I hope you know that I miss you
And I wonder where you've been
And I wonder who you've seen
And I hope that he's a friend

Do I miss you? (yeah)
Do I miss you? (yeah) Yes I do
And I wonder where you've been
And I hope you're with a friend"

Well that's 'Twelve Stops And Home'… or in my case Twelve Songs And Bed!!!

Many thanks for reading this. I really hope it might help introduce this great band to people who haven't yet heard their stuff… and that they'll enjoy it as much as I do.

I bought tickets for my lovely fiancée and myself to go and see the feeling at the Edinburgh Corn Exchange on Friday, February 23rd, 2007 and must confess I'm really looking forward to it. I'm sure it will prove to be a memorable night for us both!

I guess that means you can look forward to a review of the gig up here shortly thereafter… and if you happen to live in Edinburgh or are travelling here to go to the concert then we will see you there! Don't forget to say "Hello" or if you're at the other side of the venue, at least wave to us. We'll be keeping our eyes open!

Take care!

Derek.