The Apparents
The Apparents new CD album dropped through the letterbox the other day. Having previously reviewed their earlier EP, I was looking forward to popping the CD from the box and listening to the latest offering.
Singin’ Songs & Righting Wrongs
Singin’ Songs and Righting Wrongs. The album title sums up pretty much what you can expect from listening. There is no hiding the bands political leanings given the subject matter, or should I say targets, of some of the songs. Expect passionate rants aplenty, but don’t imagine for a minute that this band are po-faced protesters without a sense of humour. Listen out for loads of humorous barbs in the lyrics, and not all the songs have the despicable Trump or Hunt in their sights.
In the more light-hearted songs, the band give away their ages on songs like Simple Days. Revealing TV preferences, staying out ‘til it got dark and mentioning the legend that was Jim Bowen the song also asks an age old question…
I’m sure anyone that has been on a lads (or lassies) holiday will also smile a wry smile listening to The Lads are off to Tenerifey.
Working Class roots are displayed from the off with the engaging opener Working Never Ends. Bemoaning a working life which lasts until you drop. I’m sure its something that a certain generation can relate with the ever-increasing retirement age moving further and further away.
Punks
Clocking in at 15 tracks, you get plenty of bang for your bucks. And it is bang after bang, no slow ballads here (though there is a ballad by title), all in-yer-face stompers. That doesn’t mean a lack of variety in the tunes though. The music is mostly late 70’s punk-influenced, hard-edged guitars with stonking bass and drums partnered with melodious harmonies and choruses. What you would expect if you’ve heard the Apparents before.
I hear bits of California punks Dead Kennedys and there are ska infused influences on Simple Days. There are forays into harder-edged rock at times. I’m even brought to mind of the nu-metal/punk sounds of the nineties from the likes of Papa Roach (on the remix of EP track Nothing Set in Stone.)
Oh, and the intro to Reasons immediately took me to the Bay City Rollers S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y chant (sorry lads!). Though my missus said Hanoi Rocks. Anyhow, the album is packed full of engaging hooks to pull you in throughout. On second listen I was singing along to catchy choruses and lyrics.
C U Next Tuesday
It won’t take a genius to work out the wealth of opportunities to attack the person in the title of The Ballad of Jeremy Hunt. No prizes for guessing the rhyme used. He isn’t their favourite person. Mind you is he anybody’s? Suffice to say, don’t listen with the weans around. Elsewhere, specific targets include the royal family (Parasitic Family), Donald J Trump (Shadows on the Wall.) More general targets receive their ire. Overqualified academics who don’t live in the real world (Paper IQ), bankers (Banker’s Piracy) and social media, or more specifically individuals who live their entire lives through social media (Social Mediocrity).
A thoroughly enjoyable album from the Ayrshire punks. At the end of a few listens though, I am still left with one unanswered question. Where have all the white dog shite’s gone?
The album is out now, keep in touch with the band and order the album:
The Apparents bandcamp page
The Apparents Facebook page