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Review Summary: Yet another British band with an impressive debut album crashes and burns on their follow-up. If only they had followed the K.I.S.S principle. Everyone knows about the difficulties that bands have recording their 2nd albums, but why is it that those from Britain have more trouble than others? In 2008, pop-rockers (and the “rockers” part is used very loosely) The Feeling joined the ever-growing list with ‘Join With Us’, an LP that disappointingly does not stack up to predecessor ‘Twelve Stops and Home’.
If two words were required to summarize that rather impressive debut, they would be “simple” and “catchy”. Unfortunately, neither word can be used to describe ‘Join With Us’. Possibly knowing that simplicity can also be seen as a drawback, The Feeling get ambitious second time around and that is ultimately their main downfall. Initial signs are actually quite promising, since opener and lead single ‘I Thought It Was Over’ makes up for a reduction in catchiness with a half-decent programmed disco beat that gives the LP practically its last slice of energy!
What follows however, is a foray into the theatrical that suggests the band’s influences lie with Queen and Bowie. The problem is that The Feeling has neither the musical talent nor songwriting skills to keep many cuts from coming off like children’s songs. Look no further than the title track which sounds like it could have come off Panic At The Disco’s ‘Pretty. Odd.’ and ends with the absurd refrain of “ring ring, beep beep”, before a mis-placed attempt at a thick guitar riff!
The mid-section of the album lends itself more to Keane and Coldplay, with keys at the forefront of many tracks. However, any attempt at emotion (‘Spare Me’, ‘Conor’ & ‘This Time’) comes off as rather bland, while the stabs at quirky pop (‘Turn It Up’, ‘Wont Go Away’, ‘Loneliness’ & ‘Don’t Make Me Sad’) miss the mark, despite an occasional catchy moment. One has to wait until pseudo-closer ‘The Greatest Show on Earth’ to hear another remotely memorable song. Despite its over-dramatic nature, this piano ballad (with synth flourishes) at least seems genuine and has some tact.
To cut a long story short, The Feeling has fought above their weight on ‘Join With Us’ and their ambition has clearly caught up with them. It wouldn’t all be so bad if they could have served up a handful of infectious songs that took a mallet to displace from your mind… But that is unfortunately not the case. In the future, The Feeling would do well to recall the K.I.S.S principle: Keep It Simple Stupid.
Recommended Tracks: I Thought It Was Over & The Greatest Show on Earth.
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Album Rating: 1.5 | Sound Off
Hey, this album is called 'Join With Us', not 'Join With Me'. Let me go see if I can fix this myself...
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Another negative Daveyboy review! Whats happening to the world?
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I know, it's a bit scary isn't it Dougie?
In all honesty, I'm just trying to spread my wings when it comes to my reviews. A few more negative reviews were needed, plus I've also tried to keep the last few a little shorter than usual, while also dipping my toes into a few different genres other than rock & pop-punk.
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Well at least your spreading your wings, which is a very good thing. I suppose it can only make you a better writer. Review is pos worthy also.
Though just dont start writing reviews as short as my Carus and Eric Johnson ones, haha.
| | | Album Rating: 1.5 | Sound Off
Thanks Dougie. And nah, I think it would be physically impossible for me to write a review so short. Hell, you should have seen the amount that was edited out of this one.
So, do you reckon that everyone is now convinced we are not the same person? I had everyone going there for a while. Umm, belated apologies I guess.
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Haha no worries at all, I didnt bother me at all, I toyed with it for a while haha.
Really? I sometimes struggle for words, like my recent Paul Kelly review I had to keep coming back for more ideas.
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Fuck this band is boring, why did you even bother
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Dougie, struggling for words is sometimes a hint that you shouldn't be writing that review. Sort of like you haven't got enough to say about the album. Having said that, I don't think that was case with that Paul Kelly album. I think it was more because you didn't think you could put into words how great you think it is & what it means to you.
DavID, did you read my review of their debut album at all? I liked most of it. I know it's not for everyone, but their singles off that 1st album were catchy as. I mean, look at 2 of the 4 albums I put in the Recommended By Reviewer section of this review; You like them & I don't. To each their own.
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come fill my little world right up ...right up
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Davey, Davey, Davey...your reviews are becoming so short they barely give us anything to chew on!
Anyway, i loathe britpop and therefore may stay away from this.
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Good point Davey, I'll take note from now on.
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Wrong album Kane. Although, I understand how it would be difficult to remember anything off this crap album.
Pedro, as much as I hate to admit it, if we can write more efficient reviews, it is for the better. Once I've edited a shorter review like this down, I always compare it to the initial drafts & try not to actually cut anything out, but simply condense the review. You'd be surprised how much it can work in MOST cases. But don't worry, there won't be any 3 paragraph reviews from me anytime soon.
Why thank you Sir Dougie.
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i've never listened to any albums by these guys
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i loathe britpop and therefore may stay away from this.
Why? This sounds nothing like Oasis or Blur.
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actually, i meant more like that downbeat strand of pseudo-rock that's been surfacing from britain in later years.
blur are cool, and i used to love oasis.
Davey: read my latest review to see me follow your example :p. only difference is, i think that sucks as a review, it was meant to be a soundoff.
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Its not really that downbeat...
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I will get to your review shortly Pedro. And yeah, mitch91 is 100% correct, this is not downbeat at all. I know what sound you are getting at (White Lies, GlasVegas, etc...), but The Feeling are pretty much completely the opposite; They're often too bl00dy chirpy... Especially on this album.
While they are not all that similar to Blur, I guess one could make a case that they are Brit-Pop. Well, they're Brits & sing pop, so I guess that makes it automatic. If you want to get their sound in a nutshell, listen to 'Sewn' & 'Love It When You Call' from their 1st album. Don't get too hooked & listen to this album though.
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"Everyone knows about the difficulties that bands have recording their 2nd albums, but why is it that those from Britain have more trouble than others"
True, but then you get bands like Oasis (morning glory), Muse (Origin) and Arctic Monkeys (Favourite worst nightmare) that release albums better or equal to the first.
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FWN was nowhere close to as good as the Monkeys' debut though :/
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I thought it was still amazing to be honest. I'm really looking foward to the 3rd.
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