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Album Review
by SaschaS
20-5-2004
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| Gomez: splitting more than difference... |
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Gomez: 'Split the Difference'
(Virgin)
Gomez: overlooked return?
The Beta Band’s album title pointed out but it looks like Gomez are the actual victims of the ‘Heroes To Zeros’ syndrome. Southport’s favourite sons can’t even get reviews in publications and when they do - they are mostly diabolical! If they made a crap album, we’d understand…
But being dismissed a priori is a crime against artistry. But then, arty has become a dirty world on this planet when specialisation at the workplace has invaded personal taste and turned it into McD or BK? Over the previous three albums - all riding high in the charts, gaining critical acclaim and public devotion - the band established themselves as one of the UK’s premier indie bands.
The world is an altered place now. Alternative music has moved on, Emo has become the sound of ‘the kids’ and the indie-scene is dominated by garage-rock and Beach-Boys impersonators. Franz Ferdinand wail aimlessly, Keane are also lost, some rockers are playing for their ‘hoods… Is there still a place for Gomez in all this?
There better be because we‘ll be poorer for modernizers… From once-derided as mere southern Blues copyists, ‘Split The Difference’ captures them in another step forward because the sonic exploration continues for these magpie-like songsmiths. The Blues has been casually pushed into the background to make way for a broader and a ‘funkier’ new direction.
Although ‘Silence’ is an electric trawl that recalls the early Stones as played by Primal Scream in their earlier incarnation, ‘Me, You And Everybody’ is a Beatles-que [‘Norwegian Wood’ in particular] abrasively sung by Tom Waits’ first cousin and ‘Where Ya Going?’ is a hard-rocking bruiser. Elsewhere, previous single ‘Catch Me Up’ is skiffle-pop par excellence and ‘Chicken Out’ is head-on blast.
For the first time Gomez have enlisted the help of a producer and the improvement is noticable. ‘Split The Difference’ is an intricate Rock’n’Roll disc played by a band in love with music. And, it also contains their most consistent set of songs to date.
As one title indicates, ‘We Don’t Know Where We Are Going’ and that is the excitement of their venture. It is bound to be interesting for the difference from so many others…
… That should be dissed, such as The Darkness - the biggest retroists on the mart! A vile copy of glam-o-rama!
8/10
SaschaS
20-5-2004
Gomez’ album ‘Split The Difference’ is released 17 May 2004 by Virgin
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