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Rating: Released with little fanfare and timid curiosity (at least in Italy, it's a different story for England) at the beginning of the summer, the first album by Sons And Daughters, while not representing anything new in the contemporary rock scene, has turned out to be a fresh and convincing debut.
The Scottish combo moves on territories already traversed by others (the first direct comparison that comes to mind is Violent Femmes), but with renewed energy and a lively and engaging attitude, without falling into pure citation. Sons And Daughters play something halfway between punk (as an attitude) and Scottish folk, sprinkled here and there with light noise. A mixture that, presented as such, can make many cringe, as it is not a new musical formula and always difficult to combine, given the contrasting elements it comprises.
However, strangely, Sons And Daughters manage quite well, producing a short and compact work (just under half an hour), and enriched by a beautiful female voice, sharp guitars, and a no-frills rhythmic setup.
As mentioned, the specter of Violent Femmes looms over the entire album, sometimes quite evident as in the sustained folk of "Red Receiver", other times less so, as in "Monsters". The rest may not be entirely their original work, but Sons And Daughters put all their effort into reworking their various musical influences, stringing together short and catchy tracks, many of which are potential hit singles. Take for example "Taste The Last Girl": an indie-rock 4/4 rhythm, a simple yet captivating guitar riff, and a dual vocal chorus that sticks immediately in your head.
And there are many others, the initial "Medicine" with its "velvet" rhythm, the frenetic stomp of "Hunt", the almost noise crescendo of "Choked", or the Morricone-like "Rama Lama".
Of course, at times the male voice sounds like Morrissey while the female counterpart approaches PJ Harvey, but the overall effect is not the expected one of a reheated broth from a retirement home, but more of a light soup with a good dose of parmesan on top.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Red Receiver (02:53)
Phone phone the red receiver at the end of the bed it keeps getting clearer
Rings run running around me
Untying the ribbons for the good of the family
And your dear friends gathered together
You were looking for trouble now your losing your temper
Cold feet in London
Useless confetti
No groom
No first kiss
No diamonds for the girl
Don't look in the side of the wardrobe
The white dress hangs tall as a tightrope
Clothes piled high in a suitcase
Better get moving fast for it's too late
And you dear friends gathered in darkness
Formed a search and followed their partners
So phone phone the red receiver at the end of the bed but no one will be here
03 Hunt (03:02)
One year in five we'll stay alive it's a reason to behold
When it's just another fear to fry within this sacred fold
I am innocent
The sweat pours in like an ancient grin and laughs like a suffering one
It's colder now as my mouth runs out
How many times are we taken over?
I am innocent
There's one of us in the middle and there's two now on the end
Do you have the guts to falsify as you stand up on the ledge?
You are innocent
Sentencing can't save me and I shuffle to the night
The curtains closed
My substance old
I am innocent
04 Dance Me In (02:41)
Dance me in
Show me the first part
I'll pay close detail
To every note in every chart
An escaped voice speaks from the corner of the room
It's avoiding the plans
Sneaking past the narrow truth
Everyone else follows through
You speak for all men
The hopeless telling of sorries cling to your lungs
In the print of tomorrow what reminds me of them does not remind me of yours
Remind me of the young
Just dance me in
Just dance me in
Just dance me in
Dance me in
Dance me in
You speak for all men
The hopeless telling of sorries cling to your lungs
In the print of tomorrow what reminds me of them does not remind me of yours
Remind me of the young
Just dance me in
Just dance me in
Just dance me in
Dance me in
Dance me in
Lose on both sides until there are two
I'm sat at the last table
My talk wearing thin
I'll wait for answers
I'll wait for answers
Just dance me in
Dance me in
Just dance me in
Just dance me in
Just dance me in
Dance me in
Dance me in
07 Monsters (02:56)
Where did you come from?
What have we started?
Maybe I call you a liar
Held in command
Taken by hand
Mistaking the words on the wire
Take me down again
Pull me down again
Take me down and then a a a a a
Don't go and ask your sick little questions
I can't find the cure for desire
If this continues
I'm saving myself
By putting my hands in the fire
Take me down again
Pull me down again
Take me down and then a a a a a
What's natural and real
Like monsters we
Like banshees
That's what we've become
There's half a discussion and then we ask
What kind of love we have
You know where the door is
Can't give you myself
Compassions just a word in a dictionary on your shelf
Monogamy to you it seems is just black and blue
All the best psychotic lovers ain't got nothing on you
Take me down again
Pull me down again
Take me down and then a a a a a
What's natural and real
Like monsters we
Like banshees
That's what we've become
There's half a discussion and then we ask
What kind of love we have
09 Royally Used (03:41)
She said it's all you'll need to be disheartened
Go over the words
Repeat
We'll get it started
You made the first move
When I was near you
We turned wrong to right
I'd heard people say he was a good man in his day
All I can say
All I concede
The smile disappeared into his straight face
You made the first move
When I was near you
We turned wrong to right
And now that I can hear
It all has past
I thank myself for seeing it out
The next will last
You made the first move
When I was near you
We turned wrong to right
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