There seems to be two types of band in Britain at the moment: those who shop at Topman before brewing up potent lad-rock in their bedrooms, and those who raid the vintage stores, then return home to their lavishly decorated flat to work on their latest 60’s influenced pop-tune. Greenwhich’s Lucky Soul fit into the latter category, right between Pipettes and The Long Blondes. This debut album is a veritable feast of idealistic, savvy pop tunes. As the opening drum crash explodes into a scintillating keyboard and vocal mix, lead vocalist Ali Howard draws you in with sweet melodies that serve as the perfect veneer for doleful lyrics. The album’s title is a great clue to the bulk of its subject matter, as The Great Unwanted tells of all kinds of unrequited love and failed relationships. One Kiss Don’t Make a Summer is the ideal ode to might-have-beens, while the sexual shyness of Struck Dumb is something we can all relate to. Lips are Unhappy combines an anthemic and heartfelt chorus with the most danceable staccato beat on the record in it’s celebration of lustful longing. My Darling, Anything is a brilliant lounge song of utter devotion, while Get Outta Town! is a funky piano led testament to the band’s “if all else fails, party!” mentality. The title track continues in this vein, serving as the battle hymn of the rejected, but Baby I’m Broke returns to the downbeat side of things, lamenting for a life half-lived, while My Brittle Heart tells of relationship paranoia. The next two tracks are the most introspective on the album as Aint Never Been Cool does exactly what it says on the tin, and The Towering Inferno is a testament to destructive passion. The closing tracks It’s Yours and the inventively named Last Song bring both the album and the relationship we feel like we’ve followed to a close, with a finality that is the mark of great album composition. The Great Unwanted feels like it should be a soundtrack to a classic movie. Howard’s voice is impressive and endearing, while the entire band’s composition is extremely tight. Lucky Soul manage to create beautiful songs with both style and substance, the beats and melodies (whether slow or fast) have been made to be danced to, while the lyrics are perfect for quiet examination. The interlacing of vocals and music creates a powerful patchwork that leaves you longing for a fifties cocktail bar and a tall martini to enjoy it with. With a debut like this Lucky Soul are not going to be unwanted for long._This is a re-post of a review from last year_