Album Review: The Cribs - Ignore The Ignorant

Judged purely on the results of their previous three long players, the Wakefield trio have yet to make the high quality collection the media (particularly NME) and the powerful singles would have suggested they should have achieved. "The New Fellas" for example suffered from sizeable inconsistencies, summed up by the memorably biting zip that burst from the breakthrough single "Hey Scenesters", to the inconsequential Lager boys whoops and hollers of "Martell". 2007's "Men's Needs, Women's Needs, Whatever", produced by Franz Ferdinand's Alex Kapranos showed the inevitable ironing out of the more shambolic tendencies, and hinted that the band were moving towards a contrasting maturity that would shape their future releases. And now, to further cement their position as potential mainstream Indie Rockers they've recruited legendary guitarist Johnny Marr as a full time member. It's a decision that makes perfect sense, given that Marr has an inkling for melodic potential, and in addition to the inevitable kudos points he brings, his guitar work adds an increased depth, enabling Ryan Jarman's angular riffs a freedom yet envisaged. The resultant coalition of a two pronged guitar attack manifests in an album that effectively steers towards the mature Indie Rock the band have striven hard for. "Ignore The Ignorant" is less a reinvention, more a defined evolution that constitutes expansive darker overtones rather than unecessary aggression.

"We Were Aborted" kicks the album off in rousing style, a snide attack at the "lads mags" that fill the newsagent's mid-shelves with booze, boobs and blood and little other substance. "Cheat On Me" may just be The Cribs most fufilling and memorable single so far, and bears more sonic resemblance to mid eighties jangle pop , than early noughties Yorkshire. Marr's guitar adds refreshingly tuneful support to the Jarman brothers' limited vocal ability, particularly on "Last Year's Snow" and "Emasculate Me", which interestingly address male ennui. "City Of Bugs" at over six minutes, carries an uncompromising beast of a groove that proves the progression The Cribs have made from raw potential to realised craftsmen. If there is a fault, then it doesn't lie with the band. Nick Launay's (Nick Cave) production effort is at best colourless, at worst dull and lifeless. Songs like "Hari Kari" and "Victim Of Mass Production", which should have bore the more traditional trademark zest and razor sharp directness, are left sounding devoid of energy, stodgy and limp. Overall, "Ignore The Ignorant" is The Cribs best effort yet, but it could have been so much more.

7/10

1 - We Were Aborted (8)

2 - Cheat On Me (9)

3 - We Share The Same Skies (6)

4 - City Of Bugs (7)

5 - Hari Kari (6)

6 - Last Year's Snow (7)

7 - Emasculate Me (7)

8 - Ignore The Ignorant (7)

9 - Save Your Secrets (6)

10 - Nothing (7)

11 - Victim Of Mass Production (6)

12 - Stick To Yr Guns (6)