Stereophonics
Oochya!

It has been twenty-five years since the wonderful debut of the Stereophonics, that absolute gem known as "Word Gets Around."

The initial intention of the leader Kelly Jones was to release a new collection, fourteen years after the previous "Decade In The Sun." So he started rummaging through hard drives in search of suitable tracks, realizing that many of these shelved songs had potential. That's how the scenario quickly changed, and what was meant to be a simple celebration became, in every respect, the new and twelfth album of the Welsh band.

Indeed, Jones began to write additional new songs and decided to mix old and new, in an ideal dialogue between past and present: this resulted in "Oochya!," a double LP of fifteen tracks produced by Jones himself along with the confirmed George Drakoulias (after his great work on the previous and beautiful "Kind") and Jim Lowe.

The talented frontman had hinted at a return to rock after the more delicate and sophisticated sound of the previous work, and so it is, albeit only in part; while it kicks off with the cheeky hard rock with a ZZ Top vibe of the single "Hanging On Your Hinges" (considered for "Kind" but left out for being too different in style from the other tracks), it then progresses into an album that represents the quintessence of the Stereophonics sound. In reality, it almost feels like listening to a best-of of unreleased tracks, as all the quartet's styles can be found here and there.

Two of the tracks included in the lineup had already been released previously as b-sides, and are here presented with a slightly different but equally effective arrangement: if the fantastic ballad "Forever" (previously released as a b-side during the "Decade In The Sun" era) even earns the stripes of a single, the heartfelt blues of "Seen That Look Before" is reintroduced nine years after its first release, finally receiving the exposure it deserves.

There are also playful tributes to Jones' musical heroes, such as the unabashed "Running Round My Brain," AC/DC to the core, and the fantastic "When You See It," inspired by Pearl Jam and an authentic summary of all the 'phonics' musical philosophy. "Do Ya Feel My Love," an obvious second single, is a mini anthem already ready for summer arenas and rightfully enters the thick quiver of the band's instant classics, just like the other extract "Right Place Right Time" which, with its acoustic delicacies, harks back to the successful "J. E. E. P." era and gives us a punch of nostalgia to the heart.

There is no shortage of memorable refrains ("Close Enough To Drive Home," kind of a mature cousin of "Have A Nice Day") and fertile grounds for the incredible vocal prowess of the leader ("Every Dog Has Its Day," almost a solo episode), in a triumph of rock done well that only serves to confirm the Stereophonics as heavyweights in their category.

Best track: When You See It