So... The new album then... well? - Expect Spoilers.

[Bang!]

^^Glad someone else thinks bi-polar baby is actually pretty good. I think it's about the catchiest song on the album. It would almost have fitted well on Must be destroyed, except it's better than most songs on that album.

It also has a nice riffing middle section but, unlike a few of the other tracks, it actually fits and doesn't just go on and on with dubious quality riffs

And...you can actually make out the lyrics without a lyric sheet!!! Which is a rare thing on this album imo.


Still think Shes all that is terrible, however many tries i give it

And does anyone else kinda wish The Hard Way actually went into a second verse instead of suddenly going off at a tangent at 2.20ish as it's such a stomping tune before then and suddenly they just kill the momentum i think, woulda made a good heavy single otherwise. Probably one of the more unnecessary riffing bits on the album I think, tho I don't strictly dislike the riffs themselves, just seems to go on too long and you forget what the song actually sounded like before.

Oh and really nicely thought out review there Chris Norway

[Ean]

Oh and really nicely thought out review there Chris Norway

Agreed.

Don't suppose people fancy bunging some of these reviews up on Amazon do they? 'Cos the two up there already are fairly poor.

[Piedude]

I was more concerned with the "Usually dispatched within 4 to 6 weeks" for the amazon page rather than the reviews...still, on the optimistic side it could mean they sold out all their stock of the album and not just didnt get it delivered like seems to the case with HMV and previous albums...

[Ean]

Yeah, I spotted that, it's annoying to say the least - wouldn't kill 'em to get the artwork up either...

But on the other hand, we can work on something we do have some control over - like spreading good words about the album. I'm sure others are like me, even if I don't buy something from Amazon, I'll still read the reviews to see what it's like.

[robdy2k]

Anyone else think that Slaughtered Authors chorus sounds a bit like Funeral For A Friend? I think it might be their tune History??? Maybe The Wildhearts were intending on going for the Emo market with this one??? Great tune mind.

[DangerousBeans]

They go a bit Levellers on 'The Revolution Will Be televised'

I assume this reviewer on Amazon means lyric wise.The Levs and The Wildhearts are my 2 favourite bands and "Revolution" sounds f**k all like the Levellers.

Loving what i've heard of the album so far

[Mountweazel]

^^Glad someone else thinks bi-polar baby is actually pretty good. I think it's about the catchiest song on the album. It would almost have fitted well on Must be destroyed, except it's better than most songs on that album.

After the first few listens I'd have to say Bi-Polar Baby's my favourite on the album. Still, it strikes me as very much being an album that will take more than a few spins to really sink in.

Still think Shes all that is terrible, however many tries i give it

Terrible's a strong word but it's fair to say it's not doing much for me so far and I'd rate it as the weakest track on there just now.

[manicwildheart]

Easily their best album.
I've been listening to it constantly for the past 2 weeks (got an advance copy - naughty bear) and it reminds me of the first time I heard the original Fishing For Luckies. I've been into WH since Mondo Akimbo, but Ritch has definately put his influence back into the band. Guitars sound great, vocals are huge, drums are....Ritch Fuckin' Battersby!
Was never into Stidi's playing, I think it refected bady on most of the post reunion material (just my personal opinion, mind...)
No bad tracks are on this album, but the best tunes so far are Rooting for the Bad Guy, Bi-Polar Baby, Destroy All Monsters, Oh Bonita, and somewhat controversially, Inner City Overture.
Oh, and let's not forget the middle section of Slaughtered Authors. WOAH!

Peace!

[Workyticket]

No bad tracks are on this album, but the best tunes so far are Rooting for the Bad Guy, Bi-Polar Baby, Destroy All Monsters, Oh Bonita, and somewhat controversially, Inner City Overture.

Nowt controversial about it - ICO is an incredible song!

[Chris Davies]

No bad tracks are on this album, but the best tunes so far are Rooting for the Bad Guy, Bi-Polar Baby, Destroy All Monsters, Oh Bonita, and somewhat controversially, Inner City Overture.

Nowt controversial about it - ICO is an incredible song!

I'll second that , turning into one of my favs of the album

[manicwildheart]

You're both right, I was reading the reviews backwards and the further I went back the more mentions Inner City Overture had. Kewl song. Btw, somewhat contraversially (haha) She's All That has a great verse (ripped from Juliette & The Licks?) but suffers from a lousy chorus (reminded me of Alex's songs on Clam Abuse), and a repetitive, pedestrian riff.

Are we all agreed this song is mostly pants? No one seems to like it - It taints an otherwise perfect album. Ginger, your thoughts?

[Workyticket]

I wouldn't call it pants exactly, just not up to the standard of the rest of the album. I stand by what I said in my (drunkenly misplaced) review in the isohunt thread - I could imagine Cheap Trick playing the hell out of that song, but it just doesn't suit this album.

IMHO, the record does kind of lose steam at the end because, whereas the other tracks keep that classic WH balance between hardness and melody, at the end we go from a completely melodic song (She's All That) to an all-out cruncher with virtually no traces of poppiness (Destroy All Monsters). Now I love DAM, but I do feel these two tracks kind of end the CD on a damper, and is the only thing that prevents it from being up there with 'Earth Vs.' To me, it just feels a bit bipolar (baby).

[blackdeathcrew]

I quite like it(she's all that).....took a few listens admittedly, but i think its good

[ne63exile]

Managed to get my copy tonight. Had to trail round Dundee tho. HMV didn't have any - they said they hadn't ordered any Managed to get the last one out of Virgin but noticed that FOPP records had one left in stock (at 4.30pm)

Started listening to it in the car coming home - AWESOME. Haven't heard it all but the first few tracks are superb. Was looking forward to blasting it out tonight but have got home to find my girlfriend ill in bed (severe migraine) so that will have to go on hold til tomorrow.

Was already desperate to see them in Aberdeen on 10 May (just a couple of days before my birthday) but can't wait now - the place will rock even more than usual.

[badguy]

First impression... WOW!!! An instant classic! This is just about the best thing since sliced bread. A treat from start to finish. "p.h.u.q" is my 2nd fav album of all time by any artist and my fav Wilhearts album, but this one is pretty darn close. There are things on this album on par with some all time Wildhearts classics like “Inglorious” and “Sky Babies”. I never in a million years thought I’d get an album filled to the brim with trax on that level. To have an album this good on the heals of the also excellent “Yoni” is almost too much to take.

After 7 complete plays I rate the trax in the following order from favorite to least favorite with a grade for each after the title:

1) Rooting For The Bad Guy - 10+ (my favorite chorus on the album and strong melodic themes included throughout the many riff sections. A masterpiece!!! I need a live version NOW!!!)
2) Bi Polar Baby - 10+ (this was my fav track on first listen and is just barely bested by RFTBG. Monster guitar playing and the best verse melody on the album - this one should be the next single after “The New Flesh. I bet this just KILLS live!)
3) Slaughtered Authors - 10+ (simply amazing. I got chills the first time I heard it. A beautiful song!)
4) Oh Bonita - 10 (easily the best hook on the album and the only true sing-along track. I will not be upset if the next Wildhearts album has more trax like this one. My better half’s fav on the album - this one would also make a killer single)
4) The Hard Way- 10 (my 2nd fav on my first listen. reminds me more of Earth Vs. than any other track on the cd. The chorus especially reminds me of “Loveshit”)
6) Destroy All Monsters - 9+ (the riff-a-thon we’ve all been waiting for - I love it!)
7) The New Flesh - 9+ (believe it or not, this was my least fav on 1st listen, but has grown on me more than any other track on the album. The lyrics are awesome, and next to “Oh Bonita” is the next most catchy song).
The Revolution Will Be Televised - 9+ (I never thought I’d hear a WH track that sounded soooooo much like Green Day. A heavier Green Day to be sure. More great lyrics and very memorable hooks for both verse and chorus.)
9) Inner City Overture - 9 (another beauty and comes at just the right time on the album)
10) The Sweetest Song - 8+ (the angriest verse matched with the “sweetest” chorus. another one that should get the crowd jumpin’ live)
11) She's All That - 8 (I think I like this more than almost everyone else, even though it’s my least fav song. Very catchy. I bet it grows on quite a few folks but I can see why some don’t dig it).
12) So The Spencers Will Poke Out - 7 (sounds like a demo for a song idea that was abandoned and then put into RFTBG. Cool to hear, but that’s about all)

It doesn't get much better than that. One last thing... I just finished playing “Must Be Destroyed” and it really is an amazing album as well. Yes, it has less riffs and yes it has a set of shorter pop songs, but come on now... “Vanilla Radio”, “Top Of The World”, “Someone That Won’t Let Me Go”, “Only Love”, “Stormy” - well... ok that one’s cheating as it wasn’t on MBD but... these are all fantastic songs and while I do like the new album more, I don’t think “Destroyed” falls all that far behind. “Bi Polar Baby”, “The New Flesh” “Oh Bonita” and “She’s All That” would have all sounded at home on that album. Just because this album’s different (and excellent) does not all of the sudden make that album suck. Not to mention that those songs are awesome live!!! Sometimes there’s nothing better than a great ol’ school pop album and “The Wildhearts Must Be Destoyed” delivered that in spades!

BRAVO Ginger, CJ, Ritch and Scott. You guys should be very proud and I really hope this album breaks you in the US and is the worldwide success it deserves to be! PS. PLEASE come to Los Angeles!!!

jd in Burbank, CA.