WORD GETS AROUND
by STEREOPHONICS
This song just has to be heard to be believed. It's a song about the suicide of a young boy, not a very encouraging fact I know, but the song is so dark if I hadn't told you, you wouldn't have figured it out. The song starts off with a loud screech, then BANG!, it bursts into life "There's no mistake, I smell that smell, it's that time of year again, I can taste the air" sings Kelly with that fantastic voice, "The clock goes back, railway track, something blocks the line again, and the train runs late for the first time today". You can't help but want to get up and rock! The song is played at a high speed and is usually used to finish off the band's live sets- it definitely leaves you on a high.
The title of the album sums it up completely. The album is about the town of Cwmaman, a very small town where everyone knows everyone else, and everything about everyone! The album opens with a song about rumours, 'A Thousand Trees'. "It started with a schoolgirl, who was running, running home to her Mam and Dad, told them she was playing in the change room of the local football side...", "...they found it hard to believe cause he taught our Steve, he even trained me...". And then the most meaningful line in any album for a long time: "It only takes one tree, to make a thousand matches, only takes one match to burn a thousand Trees".
The second song on the album is 'Looks Like Chaplin', often the live opener. This song uses a lot of strong riffs and was the band's first single. It's the story of an old man who used to walk the streets at night, and Kelly hated him. His family used to take him in every Christmas and clean him up. 'More Life in a Tramps Vest' is the story of a decline of a market trader and gave the band their first top 40 hit last year. 'Not Up to You' is another live favourite and live on national radio Kelly dedicated it to Radio 1 in the following manner: "I'd like to dedicate this next song to Radio One. It doesn't seem to matter how many sessions, broadcasts, interviews we do, how many John Peel birthday shows we play, they still refuse to play our records."
'Check My Eyelids for Holes' is the next track and is just a track produced from jamming, however 'Same Size Feet' is many fans' favourite song (including me). It's a song about "...sex drives, oral highs, cheating wives and spies." in the words of Kelly. It's also the story of someone's wait to see if the body pulled from the lake is one of their loved ones. 'Last of the Big-Time Drinkers' tells the story of a factory worker, finishing work then immediatly going out on a booze-up! 'Golsfish Bowl' gets the album back on track again, a nice bouncy tune that is guarenteed to get crowds jumping. 'Too Many Sandwiches' draws the picture of what Kelly considers "A typical engagement party."! I'm not sure I agree with that: "Too many sandwiches and wine, sherry stains down your best man's tie, what a speech!" and "You got a diamond ring and a man who sings, the man who sings made love to the barmaid twice!"
The album closes with a fitting slow, yet powerful track, 'Billy Davey's Daughter'. It's the story again, of suicide, but sounds fantastic live.
The Stereophonics, whether you like it or not, are bound for greater things. They recently headlined the NME Bratbus Tour and were nominated for Best New Band at both the Brats and Brits. They have started recording the new album and hope to release it in early October. You can visit the official website @ http://www.stereophonics.com as from March. Just one more thing to close, if you ever get the chance to see them live in the near future, take it- next time you may have to queue for hours to get a ticket.
Reviewed by Guy Walsh.
