| CD REVIEW The First |
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Band: The First British Alternative Rock quintet The First comes to us from the East England town of Wishbech (situated some 60 kms North of Cambridge) and was formed some three years ago after guitarist/ backing singer Time Crane and drummer/ backing singer Rob Knight left their bands and record labels (respectively Open Fire Records and Skipworth Records), completing a first line-up (with the addition of bassist/ backing singer Trevor Smith, guitarist Sam ‘Woody’ Wood, and lead singer Matt Smith) during Summer 2006. Then still a quartet, the band started work on the release of their debut EP Straight Through Til Morning, which turned out to be a collection of attractive songs blending driving Rock soundscapes with catchy Pop melodies. A sound which led the band to play supports to the likes of Wheatus, Gallows, Brigade, Bring Me The Horizon, Furthest Drive Home, and even Bloodhound Gang. But even before the official release of that self-produced EP on November 12, 2007, Woody decided to step aside as guitarist. For the past 6 months his heart hadn’t been quite into the band, and he didn’t want to drag down the band because of his lack of enthousiasm. Is replacement was announced a week later: former “top tech Punk” act Matter Of Distance’s bassist Ben Knowles, whom made his live debut that same month on the 27th! A new member in the band means renewed interactions, and within four months the band was growing weary of the way their old songs sounded, even feeling like they didn’t sound like their own anymore and were covering their own songs!!! So the happy five toned down their live activities to nihil for a while, taking out the time to write a completely new set of songs! By August the boys were back “on the road”, playing at Wisbech’s Hogfest festival (which hosted a siteload of bands including Dan Audio, Matter Of Distance, This Is My Honesty, 5th Time Lucky, Fast Reaction and many more on several stages). Meanwhile demo tracks of new songs were posted on the band’s MySpace page, as the old songs were being removed. During Autumn the band had some problems with the guy whom was supposed to keep the site updated, but apparently they were at that time already signed to Lockjaw, with recordings already done and plans for the shooting of the band’s debut video in early November were announced. The band was obviously hoping to have the release of their EP come a little sooner (during December), but then it was planned to have the artwork hand drawn (takes time), and they were gonna do a lot of promo work with gigs, radio appearances, interviews…which all needed planning, obviously! Now the end result of the fivesome’s toils is finally on our plate (delivered about a fourthnight ago, actually) and I have to say it’s quite appealing! The five tracks show a band which mixes the Pop Punk sounds of the likes of Jimmy Eat World, Spitalfield, Alkaline Trio, Story Of The Year, and Hot Water Music (all of which named as influences) with a more Rock sensitive guitar-based sound (véry nice solos, man!!!), brough with lyrics which the band feels most people can relate to in their every day lives. Of course, it helps when you’re an oversexed teenager who’s not getting “any”. Personally, I’ve outgrown most of the topics the band’s lyrics touches…which doesn’t mean I can understand youth of today struggling with the issues at hand! Now, I could be wrong, but did the guys actually invite some girl to sing the words “Eat your heart out!” during the EP opening “Lily Allen Keys”? Surf to myspace.com/thefirst nów to check it out for yourself, and also get acquainted with the two other tracks posted there! Vocally, there’s somewhat of an Emo touch to the whole, especially with the abundant backings the lead singer gets…but the Rock content of the music makes my usual dislike for Emo does nót raise it’s ugly little head! Starting the release date, the band is set on promoting the EP through an intensive gigging schedule up and down the UK, although at the moment a lot of dates still need to be booked. So…if you’re a concert promoter in the UK into the more inventive Pop Punk/ Emo Punk sounds of the above mentioned bands, check out the guys’ calendar and give ‘em a call to add to their live dates, will you? 85/100 Tony. |