The Enemy
We'll Live And Die In These Towns

THE REVIEW

"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"