I’m one of those people who really appreciate the traditional idea of a pop album. The well thought structure of a record that flows well and can be seen as a complete body of work. Not with just a strong opener, a couple of singles and a strong ender, but with all the things in between. This may be an old fashioned idea nowadays but every now and again I come across a record that I can listen to in its entirety and not feel like I have been given a raw deal.
I sat at my desk with my big headphones and pack of cigarettes and was very quickly taken in by The Attika State’s ‘Measures‘; A well controlled, slick, and in places very beautiful rock album that I listened to in happily in one sitting.
My hopes of the great opener was met immediately by the stadium worthy ‘5 Strings, No Wins‘, nodding it’s head to ‘Born To Run‘-era Springsteen, before crashing into the irresistible chanting of ‘The Horton Shuffle‘.
Beautiful harmonies and calculated instrumentation are the veins of this body of work whilst the wall of guitars and busy drums are a thick skin encasing its complex interior. This is greatly abundant in ‘Sons Of Sons‘.
Yossi‘, with its multi-layered epic bringing to mind latter day Jimmy Eat World, sincere and thick with sounds. “Turn the switch on this new invention, it baffles the eyes and grabs your attention”, is the elegant line that begins both verses continuing the theme threaded through this album of struggle and of pride. ‘Flesh (Interlude)‘ simply proves in under a minute, that this band are as much musicians as they are rockers.
‘Measures‘’ restores my faith in the idea of an album to be listened to as a single piece of work encompassing exciting ideas, diverse songwriting, and mature musicianship. the fact that The Attika State recorded ‘Measures‘ live just makes me respect and enjoy it more.
‘Measures‘ is out now on Alcopop! Records
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Post written by the birthday celebrating Thom
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