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"We'll Live And Die In These Towns" is the debut full-length by the Enemy, a band from Coventry.
The trio, consisting of Tom Clarke, Liam Watts, and Andy Hopkins, quickly gained significant recognition from both the public and the specialized press; having secured a contract with Warner and one of the best producers from the UK (Owen Morris), the three released their debut in July 2007.
The early Oasis seem to be a very important reference point for the sound of this much-discussed debut (even visually the band seems determined to follow in the footsteps of the early, “street-oriented” Gallagher brothers), although it would be reductive to consider the Enemy merely a faithful cover band.
The tracks, despite a somewhat pervasive monotony in today’s British music scene, manage on more than one occasion to veer toward more unexpected paths, yet still embed themselves surprisingly effectively into the sonic fabric of the album. The guitars, as is often the case in works of this genre, are fundamental to the economy of each individual track: ranging from typically indie and danceable pieces like "Technodanceaphobic" (excellent), to a catchy, snappy and very effective single like the sly "Had Enough". "Aggro" kicks things off with a riff reminiscent of the latest Kaiser Chiefs style (see "Retirement" from "Yours Truly, Angry Mob"), but the most "unusual" touches by the Enemy are reserved for the typically U2 epicness of "This Song" (almost a new version of "Where The Streets Have No Name"), the acoustic subtleties of the title track and the closing "Happy Birthday Jane", as well as an unusual Muse/Editors hybrid like "Pressure". "You're Not Alone" seems lifted straight out of a mid-'90s britpop album, as does the initial wall of sound of "It's Not Ok" (which, however, shifts toward a more contemporary refrain). "40 Days And 40 Nights" (the band’s debut single, released in a limited edition of 1,000 vinyl copies in 2006) is the weakest episode of the album, as it excessively mimics the older Arctic Monkeys.
"We'll Live..." is a decent debut, which can be enjoyed quite well. Only time will tell whether the Enemy are yet another seasonal comet, or something more enduring.
Key tracks: "Pressure", "Had Enough", "Technodanceaphobic"
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Aggro (03:16)
Call the police
'cause things are getting ugly
Get on your feet
I want you running with me
Do what you like
Say what you mean
Do what you please
Ahhhhh
We'll set the streets on fire
And when it comes on top
We'll give it lots of aggro
We're giving it lots of aggro
Ahhhhh
We'll set the streets on fire
And when it comes on top
We'll give it lots of aggro
We're giving it lots of aggro
Blood on the streets
You see the trouble happening
Get on your feet
You see the crowds are gathering
Do what you like
Say what you mean
Do what you please
Ahhhhh
We'll set the streets on fire
And when it comes on top
We'll give it lots of aggro
We're giving it lots of aggro
Ahhhhh
We'll set the streets on fire
And when it comes on top
We'll give it lots of aggro
We're giving it lots of aggro
Ahhhhh
We'll set the streets on fire
And when it comes on top
We'll give it lots of aggro
We're giving it lots of aggro
Ahhhhh
We'll set the streets on fire
And when it comes on top
We'll give it lots of aggro
We're giving it lots of aggro
02 Away From Here (03:02)
Im so sick sick sick and tired
Of working just to be retired
I don't want to get that far
I don't want your company car
Promotions ain't my thing
Name badges are not interesting
Its much easier for me see
To stay at home with Richard and Judy
A way a way oh, oh oh, away from here
A way a way oh, oh oh, away from here
A way a way oh, oh oh, away from here
A way a way oh, oh oh, away from here
I'm fed up of early mornings
Wake up calls are getting boring round here
Feet dragging on the pavement
The same people with the same arrangements
*Irony* can be quite funny
Making other people money
My working day has just begun
It's not exactly what i'd would call fun
I want to wake up in the afternoon
With daytime tv and my favourite tune
Cause it is much, easier for me
To stay at home with Richard and Judy
A way a way oh, oh oh, away from here
A way a way oh, oh oh, away from here
A way a way oh, oh oh, away from here
A way a way oh, oh oh, away from here
A way a way oh, oh oh, away from here
A way a way oh, oh oh, away from here
A way a way oh, oh oh, away from here
A way a way a way, away from
Saturday is your only highlight
When you go out and live the high life
Meeting up with other people
Get interaction with the weekend people
*At least when all is* said and done
You wouldn't been the only one
*to be* a slave to the modern wage
Your crappy weekend is your only escape
I want to wake up in the afternoon
With daytime tv and my favourite tune
Cause it is much easier, for me see
To stay at home with Richard and Judy
A way a way oh, oh oh, away from here
A way a way oh, oh oh, away from here
A way a way oh, oh oh, away from here
A way a way oh, oh oh, away from here
A way a way oh, oh oh, away from here
A way a way oh, oh oh, away from here
A way a way oh, oh oh, away from here
A way a way a way, away from..... here
03 Pressure (03:16)
Pressure, Pressure, Step Into The Pressure Zone
Let The Pressure, Let The Pressure Get You Better
Keep A, Measure, Measure On Your Pressure
Better Check The Pressure, Watch Out For The Pressure !
Take A Little Walk Outside
To See You Now
Pressure Let It All Slip Away
Chorus
Working Nine To Five She Was A Dancer
She's Got It In Her Mind
She Has The Answer Now
Oh That She's Always A Show
To Make Your Breathe Go Faster
Working Nine To Five She Was A Dancer
She's Got It In Her Mind
She Has The Answer Now
Oh That She's Always A Show
To Make Your Breathe Go Faster
Pressure, Pressure, Step Into The Pressure Zone
Let The Pressure, Let The Pressure Get You Better
Keep A, Measure, Measure On The Pressure
Better Check Your Pressure, Watch Out For The Pressure !
Chorus
Working Nine To Five She Was A Dancer
She's Got It In Her Mind
She Has The Answer Now
Oh That She's Always A Show
To Make Your Breathe Go Faster
Working Nine To Five She Was A Dancer
She's Got It In Her Mind
She Has The Answer Now
Oh That She's Always A Show
To Make Your Breathe Go Faster
Vocals
04 Had Enough (02:35)
Give me a, good enough reason
Why i should not, cut you down
You're been taking too much, ever since you started hanging round, this crowd
And i've had enough, had enough
Yes you let me down, let me down
And now i'm giving up, giving up
Yes i'll see you round, see you round and now now
Hey hey
What's the matter with your face, face?
When you have it your way, way
Won't you give me some time, to understand you're mine?
Ooooo it's alright
ooooo it's alright
Let me say what I want
Don't you know what was on the tip of my tongue?
If you ?? take a look outside
You will see, you're wrong
And i've had enough, had enough
Yes you let me down, let me down
And now i'm giving up, giving up
Yes i'll see you round, see you round and now now
Hey hey
What's the matter with your face, face?
When you have it your way, way
Won't you give me some time, to understand you're mine?
Ooooo it's alright
ooooo it's alright
Had enough
Had enough
Had enough
Had enough
Had enough
Had enough
(Let me down
Had enough
Had enough
(See you round)
Had enough
Had enough
(Let me down
Had enough
Had enough
(I'll see you round)
Hey hey
What's the matter with your face, face?
When you have it your way, way
Won't you give me some time, to understand you're mine?
06 You're Not Alone (03:41)
Don't let the sun go down, On an Empire,
It's too much to waste. Don't let the walls come down,
Round an Empire, It's too much to wave goodbye.
We've been working for a long time,
We've been fighting for a way,
Now in the streets men standing in lines they're all wasted anyway.
You're living in an incestuous world,
Where you're conscious holds no weight,
You sold us down the river like rats then,
You drowned and beat the brave.
You're not alone you know, you're not alone you know
You're not alone no no.
Don't let the sun … too much to wash away.
We've been working for a long time,
We've been fighting for a way,
Now in the streets men standing in lines they're all wasted anyway.
You're living in an incestuous world,
Where you're conscious holds no weight,
You sold us down the river like rats then,
You drowned and beat the brave.
You're not alone you know, you're not alone you know
You're not alone no no. (yeah,yeah)
(Not alone, not alone)
There's just too many dreams in this wasteland for you to leave us all behind.
There's just too many dreams in this wasteland for you to leave us all behind.
(You're not alone no, no)
You're not alone you know, you're not alone you know (yeah,yeah)
You're not alone no no.
You're not alone you know, you're not alone you know
You're not alone no no.
10 This Song (04:23)
Half the kids who you grew up with
Were pushin' prams by the time that they were just sixteen
If love is a drug then where is the cure
For the girl who used to talk to you about her dream
And all the boys with all their toys
Couldn't see the signs as we scorched out eyes with nicotine
And the grownups said, listen to your head
But our hearts were crying out for heroes on TV screens
Now this song is about you
Now this song is about...
Changes in your mind
Changes in your life
Changes in the times
And the reason you can't sleep at night
Changes in your mind
Changes in your life
Changes in the times
And the reason you gave up the fight
Half the kids that aren't pushing prams
Are pushing pills to boys and girls who are half their age
And the pubs and clubs are full of drunks
They don't remember the day the were born or even their mum or their names
An old man sings a tune
but he's drowned out by a fight next to a fruit machine
And all of this, our hearts, our nation
A total lack of civilization
Will it ever be the same
Now this song is about you,
Now this song is about...
Changes in your mind
Changes in our lives
Changes in the times
And the reason you we cant sleep at night
Changes in our mind
Changes in our lives
Changes in the times
And the reason we gave up the fight
Now this song....is about, is about, is about you
Now this song....is about, is about, is about you
Now this song....is about, is about, is about you
Now this song....is about, is about, is about you
11 Happy Birthday Jane (02:58)
Good mornin' Jane
Happy birthday, once again
What would we do
What would we do without you
Without you
Wake up, the sun is shining
Shining for you
To take all your troubles away
Just for a day
To take all your troubles away
Just for a day
For a day
So goodnight Jane
Happy birthday, once again
Now what will we do
What will we do without you
Without you
Wake up, the sun is shining
Shining for you
To take all your troubles away
Just for a day
To take all your troubles away
Just for a day
For a day
Happy birthday
Happy birthday
Happy birthday, Jane
Happy birthday
Happy birthday
Happy birthday, Jane
Happy birthday
Happy birthday
Happy birthday, Jane
Happy birthday
Happy birthday
Happy birthday, Jane
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