The View
Hats Off To The Buskers

THE REVIEW

It seems that the pop-rock/indie (as some call it) of various bands like Franz Ferdinand, Blur, Arctic Monkeys, and The Fratellis has made a mark. And what a mark!

The View (a prodigious quartet of eighteen-year-old Scots) are living proof, as they managed to gather in "Hats Off To The Buskers," their debut album, all the sounds of the aforementioned bands and many others. Perhaps even too much, given the resemblance of this album to "Costello Music" (the latest work of the more famous The Fratellis).

Not that I want to dismiss The View! On the contrary: "Hats Off To The Buskers" is one of the albums I’ve been listening to the most lately, but it almost seems like the four Scottish lads did a "copy and paste" from The Fratellis' work. One could even experiment: by transferring some songs from "Hats Off To The Buskers" to "Costello Music," we could listen to the albums without noticing any difference! (like the famous mathematical rule: "Changing the order of the addends does not change the result."). Same structure in both albums: a blazing opening track (Comin' Down - Henrietta), a romantic and syrupy ballad (Face For The Radio - Whistle For The Choir), and other small details that I won't list.

That said, however, there are several songs worth mentioning: Superstar Tradesman, Same Jeans, The Don and Wasted Little DJ's, are in my opinion the most interesting. Moreover, the risk of excessive monotony is thwarted by the tempo changes in Skag Trendy and the oriental moods of Wasteland. In conclusion, an original work with catchy choruses, but destined to be forgotten in the archives of "New Rock."