Having ridden a mountain of critical and publicist-generated hype as well as U.K. chart success into the North American market like so many other British bands, Glasvegas offer a bombastic, angsty self-titled debut filled with earnest emotion and pounding Wall of Sound dynamics. And as with so many of their peers, the reality doesn't completely match the hype, as the band sometimes struggle to create anything as vital as the work of the artists that influenced them. Still, there's charm and energy to spare, and some wonderful singles on an album that some might consider overly samey and in some spurts seemingly lazy. Getting past the impressionist black-and-white front sleeve that wrongly suggests another Joy Division tribute band, there might be nothing innovative about the Glasvegas' musical style, but at least their influences make for an interesting mix. Though frontman James Allan's accent betrays his Scottish nationality, his delivery and the group's anthemic playing immediately and somewhat uncannily recall Cork, Ireland's comparatively overlooked the Frank and Walters. Where they lack the wit of that band, for better or worse, they compensate at times with urgency and ample doses of '60s era Phil Spector humming choruses that bring to mind a rocking male version of the Ronettes, thunderous percussion, and stream of conscious lyrics peppered with patches cribbed from the past. Many critics have mentioned a similarity to shoegazer gods the Jesus and Mary Chain, but that's mostly a byproduct of Allan and co-producer Rich Costey's busy production. Album opener "Flowers and Football Tops" is the best example of all these elements, with its Spector-like "woo hoos" and everything but the kitchen sink percussion. There are obvious hints of U2 in the song's anthemic, emotional subject matter and equally colossal production. It relates the sorrow of the family of a young Scottish teenager kidnapped and murdered by a racially motivated gang. Knowing the backstory adds quite a bit of power to a song that's already powerful, and the touching conclusion where Allan sings a considerable passage of "You Are My Sunshine" might seem laughable not knowing the song's origin. A handful of tracks pack a similar power, particularly "Geraldine," with its catchy but sorrowful chorus of "My name is Geraldine, I'm you're social worker," and the rushing Brill building-on-steroids of "Go Square Go" with its slightly crude but invigorating repetition of "here we, here we, here we fucking go again." The album's first half has about twice and much energy as its second, and things nearly grind to a halt with the musical misstep of classical piano on "Stabbed," but listening closer to the melodies below the noisy squall reveals songs like "S.A.D. Light" and "Daddy's Gone" to be winning growers. The slower moments of these songs are nearly drowned out by the heavy-handed production. Costey knows his way around a studio and how to extract sonic muscle, but there's a sense of grabbing at times as the Spector aping goes over the top. Some might question why so much sonic assault is necessary when the songs are already so strong. The lyrics and song structures are anthemic enough, and the busy production drives some fine, near ballad-like numbers into overwrought territory. The emotional clarity, everyman anthems, and often glorious melodies of Glasvegas suggests Allan and company have a bright future ahead of them with or without the Baroque production.
.About the death of your child - Have a nice day!.baby why you not home yet baby its getting late i wish you would be home by now. door bell rings who could it be at this time police on my left and right my son's not coming home tonight baby, they don't need to show its over, i know baby, they don't need to show flowers and football tops, i know baby, baby, baby, why you? no sweeping exits no...
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I recently took a few of my old Phil Spector LPs (I hope he doesn't attempt to murder me for this (allegedly)), a VHS copy of "The Commitments", some haggis, and threw them all in an industrial meat grinder. It made a raucous of call-and-response songs, distortion, an old-timey nostalgic sound, and some Scottish accents thick enough to be characters in "Trainspotting". I called this monster Gla...
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Will American audiences gamble on Glasvegas? 6th January sees the North American release of the critically acclaimed debut album from the Scottish four piece. Fortunately, the Yanks won't be subjected to the bewildering hype machine that has enveloped their music on these shores, and will most likely make judgement based on the perceived quality of the product. Frankly, the odds are stacked aga...
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A couple months ago, I wrote a post here on HearYa filled with a bunch of unintelligible random thoughts, including how I wanted to write about the new Glasvegas album but was afraid I'd be chided by Woody and Oz for liking something released on a major label. They've already chided me behind the scenes, [...]
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The buzz surrounding Glaswegian band Glasvegas is palpable. The band is being touted all over as the next Big Thing. The band's debut self-titled album was released in North America this week. So the question is, does the music live up to the hype? Glasvegas' sound is a combination of wall of sound guitars and '50's inspired pop sensibilities. The press accompanying the band would have you
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In Britain, a culture has grown up around urban, working class white guys that's almost religious in its fervor. Glasgow quartet Glasvegas are a product of this world -- frontman James Allen is even a former semipro footballer -- and their remarkable debut gives voice to its fears, frustrations, and heartaches without succumbing to its clichés. He's greatly helped by the band's tsunami of guita..
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Tracklist 1. Flowers & Football Tops (6:56) 2. Geraldine (3:45) 3. It's My Own Cheating Heart That Makes Me Cry (4:25) 4. Lonesome Swan (2:43) 5. Go Square Go (3:26) 6. Polmont On My Mind (3:51) 7. Daddy's Gone (4:23) 8. Stabbed (2:22) 9. S.A.D. Light (4:00) 10. Ice Cream Van (5:56) Sigh. Where do I where do I... where do I... start? Attempting to review an album that so much ha...
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Ahoy there, Mog Mates!I'm just back from New York City, where I had the vacation of a lifetime ... save for one regrettable incident: I got married to The Girlfriend.But enough sentiment. Time to get back to business. In the video below, Mrs S and I discuss the self-titled debut album from Scottish surf-poppers Glasvegas.Luckily for some, the vid doesn't show up in certain browsers. To witness ...
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~ Music: see red buttons in post and comment areas.~ City: Leeds. I am not a tourist.~ Venue: The Cockpit (http://www.thecockpit.co.uk/). I promise to haunt it for as long as I'm here, whether it's for shows, or usual good music nights. The stage room is of 400 capacity, and it was sold out.~ The crowd: UK, indie band, indie venue, you do the indie math ;P~ The band: To characterize where this ...
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Let's strip back the hype and approach this album in an unblinkered way. The debut album from Scottish four-piece Glasvegas is a fractured and splintered contemporary view of modern Britain. Their sound takes cues from a whole range of influences, from the Joy Division aping guitars and drums to their Phil Spector "Wall of Sound" production. It's certainly an accomplished sound, one that's way ...
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Glasvegas // Daddy's Gone..Glasvegas have been shortlisted for the XFM Live Breakthrough Award at this year's Vodafone Live Music Awards(UK). The band are competing against Foals, The Ting Tings and The Wombats and voting is already open!Cast your vote and you could win two VIP tickets to the event, with a night's stay in a top London hotel and five-star treatment on the night. One hundred runn...
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Out of Glasgow, Scotland, Glasvegas are busily hammering together the Surf Pop sound of Jesus and Mary Chain colliding with Phil Spector. As yet un-signed, I think you may hear more of them next year....Check out this video: Daddy’s GoneAdd to My Profile | More Videos.http://www.myspace.com/glasvegas .glasvegas.net.
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Welcome to this year's first session of the MOG therapy sessions. This is where you can share everything that troubles, pleases, shames you, or all the above when it comes to musicians.I'll start. Hello, my name is Anna and I've been trying to fight my feelings for a long time, but I eventually caved. Resistance was futile, really. I'm referring to me and James Allan {singer, song-writer, and r...
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~ Music: see red buttons in post and comment areas.~ City: Leeds. I am not a tourist.~ Venue: The Cockpit (http://www.thecockpit.co.uk/). I promise to haunt it for as long as I'm here, whether it's for shows, or usual good music nights. The stage room is of 400 capacity, and it was sold out.~ The crowd: UK, indie band, indie venue, you do the indie math ;P~ The band: To characterize where this ...
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The talent bookers who call the shots on "The Late Show with David Letterman" went all MOGgy again, as rousing Scottish rockers Glasvegas made their American network television debut on Monday night with a roaring visit to Dave's stage. Although Glasvegas is not yet mainstreaming it in the States, they have been celebrated here at MOG by connoisseurs of clever, ear-wrenching goodness since way ...
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Ahoy there, Mog Mates!I'm just back from New York City, where I had the vacation of a lifetime ... save for one regrettable incident: I got married to The Girlfriend.But enough sentiment. Time to get back to business. In the video below, Mrs S and I discuss the self-titled debut album from Scottish surf-poppers Glasvegas.Luckily for some, the vid doesn't show up in certain browsers. To witness ...
More >
.About the death of your child - Have a nice day!.baby why you not home yet baby its getting late i wish you would be home by now. door bell rings who could it be at this time police on my left and right my son's not coming home tonight baby, they don't need to show its over, i know baby, they don't need to show flowers and football tops, i know baby, baby, baby, why you? no sweeping exits no...
More >
Glasvegas // Daddy's Gone..Glasvegas have been shortlisted for the XFM Live Breakthrough Award at this year's Vodafone Live Music Awards(UK). The band are competing against Foals, The Ting Tings and The Wombats and voting is already open!Cast your vote and you could win two VIP tickets to the event, with a night's stay in a top London hotel and five-star treatment on the night. One hundred runn...
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SHOCKWAVES NME AWARDS TOUR 2009 FT.GLASVEGAS + FRIENDLY FIRES + WHITE LIES + FLORENCE AND THE MACHINESaturday 21st February: Carling Academy Brixton, London.It has discovered the likes of Muse, The Killers and the Arctic Monkeys and next year's Shockwaves NME Awards Tour is back and bigger than ever.Glasvegas scoop the much coveted headline slot alongside Friendly Fires, White Lies and Florence...
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Out of Glasgow, Scotland, Glasvegas are busily hammering together the Surf Pop sound of Jesus and Mary Chain colliding with Phil Spector. As yet un-signed, I think you may hear more of them next year....Check out this video: Daddy’s GoneAdd to My Profile | More Videos.http://www.myspace.com/glasvegas .glasvegas.net.
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.http://www.mencapmusic.org.uk/.I know it was for charity, but after paying £44 ($75) for a ticket to see Glasvegas at Mencaps, Little Noise sessions, I was expecting more than a 20 minute set without a encore. It seems I was not the only one thinking this as I heard a number of people complaining on the way out.The only plus was that 'surprise' guests The Killers, only played 3 songs....Have a..
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Some of this stuff is remarkably specific: * "Remember to fuck around a lot, when I was growing up we weren't allowed to." * "Never look at your mum when she's eating a banana." * "If anyone in Brazil tries to mug you, kick them in the balls till they drop to the ground, then stamp on their throat." * "You learn something every day... and then forget it every night" * "Never try shitting i...
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OK, so I've totally bought into the Glasvegas deal. They're from Glascow, Scottland, which is cool, and more important, their debut self-titled album rides on variations of that "Be My Baby" beat (they even covered the old Phil Spector classic). This album opener pretty much tells the whole story. If you dig it you'll probably like the whole album.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uSdQxKaBfUand this one toohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMT418TyRiASHAME ON THE PRODCERS ! Sony BMG yet again turns good art into smelly turds. Thank GOD I never signed to a stupid imperialist label. I would be pulling my hair out listening to this if were the singer.As for the band, please record this again at home without auto-tune and release it on the bla...
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Back again. No affiliatin to Best Buy, just a shout out to support these bands w/your pocketbook if you like 'em.The big one for me, the one I bought today, was Glasvegas. Awesome CD and only US$7.99 GO GET IT.Also for US$7.99 are Ida Maria, Airborne Toxic Event, Cage the Elephant, Metric, Utada, The Script, Tinted Windows, K'Naan, Framing Hanley, Saving Abel, Jason Michael Carrolll, Carolina L...
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Will American audiences gamble on Glasvegas? 6th January sees the North American release of the critically acclaimed debut album from the Scottish four piece. Fortunately, the Yanks won't be subjected to the bewildering hype machine that has enveloped their music on these shores, and will most likely make judgement based on the perceived quality of the product. Frankly, the odds are stacked aga...
More >
Scottish retro pop revivalists Glasvegas drew some significant buzz in 2008, thanks to several 7" releases and their eponymous debut that saw them poised to take the baton of "Wall of Sound meets distortion pedals" from The Jesus & Mary Chain.Sporting the kind of brogue you could chop like haggis, lead vocalist and songwriter James Allan displays a Springsteen-worthy penchant for cramming 18 sy...
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| Title | Lyrics | Buy |
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| 1 Flowers and Football Tops |
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| 2 Geraldine |
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| 3 It's My Own Cheating Heart That Makes Me Cry |
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| 4 Lonesome Swan |
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| 5 Go Square Go |
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| 6 Polmont on My Mind |
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| 7 Daddy's Gone |
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| 8 Stabbed |
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| 9 S.A.D. Light |
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| 10 Ice Cream Van |
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Click to purchase…
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 "Glasvegas")
