The Music Welcome to the North

The Music released a 2003 debut effort that knocked this reviewer’s socks off.  I grant you that The Music, a group of young teens from England (don’t I love that place?!) ride the influences of the past with a dose of modernity, but that is what makes this band so good to listen to, the ability to produce songs that rocks the past and rolls with the present.  Besides, that is a popular effort now, incorporating past influences.  Listen to The Darkness, spin Interpol, play Jet, and we have a nice cross section of excellent new music that sits well with a large confluence of listeners, age-wise.

The Music’s latest, Welcome to the North, continues their path, influences and all. There is a noticeable integrity built into this band’s sophomore release that reveals a well-led band.  Anyone who has followed this band recognizes a certain deliberateness to their pace.  In the past, in a rock world without internet as a means of advancement., bands that wanted to go somewhere cultivated their  image to the minute detail.  They took time in the studio and made sure that when they produced an album, it was released with their best.  I get this feeling with The Music whose website is a repository of album cuts, alternate mixes, b-sides, and videos.  For the first time in a long time, I would love to hear what doesn’t get released from this band.

The album kicks off with the title song, “Welcome to the North”, a tight number reminiscent of The Cult, that is energetic and as fresh to hear as any cut that is on their debut.  The song immediately reveals a confidence and maturity that is essential to their survival and their growth.  It follows with “Freedom Fighters”, another well structured rocker that brings to mind, once again, late 70s rock.  “Bleed From Within” is a ballad with a hard-edge.

As you move throughout the rest of the album, you’re confronted with solid tunes ready to rock your stereo.  There are several singles tucked into this album.  Bottom line, if you like late-era 70s rock, you’ll love The Music.  Robert Harvey, the vocalist, mixes styles and influences, even doing a Robert Plant-like high note in “Cessation”.  As a test, (I do this often) I played this for my kids, 20 & 24.  Both really liked what they heard and said that they would buy this album.  If I were a producer of this band, I’d be twisted as to what to release as singles.  You’ll find yourself in the same shoes.

It’s rare to have a new band pay so much attention to their content.  It’s even more rare to have an album so full of good stuff.  This could be the ‘hard to take out of the player’ CD of the year.  This one has a wide age appeal.  Old rockers will love The Music’s reach back into time and younger alternative (I hate that phrase..I really do) music lovers will be challenged enough to enjoy the entire album.

Nobody ever said that we haven’t heard this music before, but, in an era where it’s all been done before, The Music stand taller then the rest.