The Orwells - Terrible Human Beings (Album Review)
Monday, 20 February 2017
Written by Liam Turner
Chicago-based garage-rock quintet the Orwells have released their third album, ‘Terrible Human Beings’. It’s their second full-length to be released on a major label and follows their 2014 breakthrough, ‘Disgraceland.’ If that sounds straightforward, that’s because ‘Terrible Human Beings’ is a straightforward record.
But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. After all, keeping things simple has worked well for the band so far. It’s just that ‘Terrible Human Beings’ doesn’t offer anything particularly different or innovative beyond paint-by-numbers rock ‘n’ roll, replete with tried and tested chord progressions and sub three-minute track lengths.
Granted, the Orwells have always been able to take such basic ingredients and turn them into something broadly enjoyable, and ‘Terrible Human Beings’ is no exception.
M.A.D., for instance - a mid-tempo account of the perils of living with social anxiety - benefits from a four-chord structure and bendy, repetitious lead guitar lines. Black Francis - an ode to the Pixies frontman - similarly shines in the band’s no nonsense approach. It’s a simple formula, sure, but it ain’t half effective.
Although the Orwells haven’t lost their energetic and melodic edge, it has to be said that their songs still suffer from a lack of lyrical depth.
“ABC to the NME, talk shows on the BBC,” frontman Mario Cuomo moans on Ring Pop. “Dreamless and seamless, into the unknown,” he lackadaisically drones on Creatures. In a vacuum, these lines can be entertaining, amusing even, but in a wider context it becomes clear that there’s very little lying beneath the surface, with Cuomo often spouting what are ultimately glib lines just because they might sound clever.
He belts out another ear-grabbing line on the album’s lead single, They Put A Body In The Bayou, telling us that “good songs make you rich”. But unless The Orwells can effectively address a few longstanding (mainly lyrical) issues, one holiday a year will have to do.
The Orwells Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Wed March 01 2017 - GLASGOW Stereo
Thu March 02 2017 - BIRMINGHAM Hare and Hounds
Fri March 03 2017 - BRIGHTON Haunt
Sat March 04 2017 - BRISTOL Thekla
Sun March 05 2017 - MANCHESTER Manchester Gorilla
Tue March 07 2017 - LONDON Scala
Click here to compare & buy The Orwells Tickets at Stereoboard.com.
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