Remember the days of early 2000 when it seemed every garage band managed to open their practice space right up to the open air waves of radio? The Strokes, Vines, White Stripes.....we ate them all up. Now it's time to feast on Tribes.
Pulling a major influence from the mid 90's, they wear their love for Pixies and Nirvana right on their jeans while still giving recognition to bands such as Pulp. On "Baby" (a fitting name for a debut album), they combine the rough sounds of garage rock with the refined elements of 90's Britpop. The term "Gritpop" is now being used overseas to describe this combination of grime and glam.
From the first sounds of distortion on "Whenever", this album grabs your eardrums and doesn't let go. You're on for this leather bound express ride of rock but don't worry, they admit they are on the ride of throbbing bass lines singing "I can't say goodbye when I'm handcuffed to you". On "We Were Children", Johnny Lloyd sings "Oh no stranger you're just like me", his own plea for every person who will hear those words to listen. This song pulls you in with its sing along chorus and reminisces over England's patriotic flair in the 90's ("we were children in the mid 90's").
Just because "Corner of An English Field" and "Halfway Home" slow things down a bit, that doesn't make it any less interesting. These songs project a sense of nostalgia and innocence. "Do you really want to be a part of this?" Yes we do! On "Halfway Home", they tell a folk pop tale of a child-like romance, flirtation, and one's first heartbreak. First single "Sappho" starts off with a guitar riff pulled right from the grunge songbook and lyrics telling a tale of confronting a son over the hard topics in life we face in modern times (religion, lesbianism).
The album continues through stomper "Himalaya" (the closest song on the album to a ballad) and "Nightdriving", a lullaby melody similar in tone to "Nightswimming" and "Starman". "When My Day Comes", newest single, bursts forth from the pack, having been barely contained throughout the album. This song is out to cause damage so get ready. The album closes out with psychedelic country-esque "Alone or with Friends" driven by a steady, stomping drumbeat before final number "Bad Apple" brings out their inner Oasis.
What we get is a pretty solid contender for an album of the year. Will it see the light of day over on this side of the ocean? We can only hope; America is due for some more rock music, and Tribes can bring that much needed vaccination against the disease of redundant pop music we suffer from. I myself am very curious to see this "Baby" grow up.
Overall: 9 (out of 10)
~StEvO
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