Well, I have had the chance to listen to the album a few times now and therefore feel I can give a fair and balanced review ...
The album promises much from the start, and I have to say in the whole it delivers. From the simple beginnings of 'Strange' you know it is going to be something different. The album then build's slowly through each track and peaks with my personal favourite 'On Your Side'. From there it slowly takes you down through the last few tracks to end with the aptly named 'Last Song'.

Individually the tracks all hold their own but apart from the aforementioned 'On Your Side' the other high points are 'In Loco Parentis' and 'Nervous'.

It's been in my car now for nearly a week now and on the rare occassions I've given lifts it has peaked interest with only a few tracks played which proves the all round appeal of it.

Now, this isn't to say the album is perfect. I have to be honest and say I don't feel the album ends well. 'We Don't Need You Now' has to be in my opinion the weakest track, and 'Fire Will Eat Us' although is good just doesn't quite fit with the rest of the album. 'The Last Song' does reclaim it a bit but by then I think the damage is done.

In an nutshell (visions of Austin Powers spring to mind) it is a good album, but sadly could have been great. I just hope someone in the big world of A&R listens to it and decides to prove me wrong. The band deserve success if not just for the effort and pure originality of the album.

Now, when are you starting work on the second album ?

25 Records, 28th October 2000

Indian Runner are back from the dead.

Melody Maker "The Wash EP" 1996

And so to the other end of the spectrum. Undemanding, jolly, unchallenging, jangly, boy-pop. No manifestos, no discussions about Nazi body parts. Just four chaps doing what they do best. It doesn't ask to be loved or tended to or believed in. In time they'll grow up and get jobs and their parents will be happy.

The Crawley News "Indian Runner EP" 1995

Indian Runner prove as slippery as their name suggests on their self titled demo cassette. Slapping them squarely in one genre pigeon-hole is difficult, but i'll take a stab by asking you to imagine Joy Division's rhythm section accompanied by some New FADS style layered guitars with Pulps Jarvis Cocker on vocals.

The tape gets off to an excellent start with "Love On The Terraces", where the frontman gets the chance to demonstrate the indie-rock outfits inteligent lyrics to the full. The opener could have done with being a minute shorter, while second track, "Crashed", sounds like top pop pranksters Half Man Half Biscuit.

"Better Tomorrow" adds some shimmery keyboards to the Runners' repertoire and they definately benefit from a return to a fast pace. The bizarrely-titled "Bernsteins Pig", a throwback to the Doors sound, tends to drag. That said, "Magazine" is probably the most likely to get you dancing and the band certainly seem to have a promising future.