Garage Punk Grows Up Into Rock’s Next

Nothing writes better than what? That’s right: a man scorned. In the case of English act The Subways, it was predictable; what with the makeup of the band as two boyhood comrades and the girlfriend - you could smell the inevitability on their 2005 inaugural effort Young For Eternity. Fast forward several years to a band now seemingly rebuilt from more than just the ground up. Gone is ex-bassist and hex fiancée Charlotte Cooper and in her place is All Or Nothing, a raucous coming-to-terms album in the purest form of Brit rock revival and leaps-and-bounds beyond its predecessor.

Lead singer and guitarist Billy Lunn is working it all out along the path of Nothing’s twelve tracks as evident in the post heartbreak couch session ‘Obsession’ and its spontaneous mood swings or the forgiveness of ‘Always Tomorrow’. But you can thank heartbreak for only so long before you give credit to Butch Vig’s masterful assembly. The man behind the production of Smashing Pumpkins (Siamese Dreams) and Sonic Youth (Dirty) has found his rock inner-child once again in Billy Lunn’s vocal growls and Josh Morgan’s striking drum work. From brooding opener ‘Girl and Boys’ to the grinder ‘Kalifornia’ Billy has not only found reality thanks to Vig - all but vacant on their previous outing - but maturity beyond his years as an artist. How else can you explain the brilliant balance of harder sounds and pop choruses like those in ‘Alright’, a devilishly superb stab at moving on or ‘Shake! Shake!’ and its festive pleas “I’ve got a need to feel so I Shake! Shake!”?

What inevitably makes All Or Nothing is its kindred spirit to remain stronger in the face of all its lessons and giving it literally - all or nothing. Nowhere along its rasping ragers or innocent letters from the heart does it fall prey to a sophomore jinx. If anything it goes above and beyond to disprove its cult like following by slapping the faces of youngsters-gone-hipsters everywhere. If misfortunes of the heart sound this good, then cheat away ladies. Cheat away.

Sean Kendall