Album review: Union Sound Set – Start/Stop
Union Sound Set were born out of the ashes of hotly tipped rockers Prego. Already receiving heaps or critical acclaim like that given to their previous incarnation, Union Sound Set release their debut LP Stop/Start. Playing pretty straight forward rock songs with shimmering guitars and epic choruses, the band have a huge sound that even so early in their careers sounds destined for large arenas and possibly stadiums. That’s not necessarily a good thing, 30 years ago U2 were in a similar position and now, while they may fill stadiums, their music is a pale imitation of what it once was and they’ve disappeared so far up their own backsides that they’ve lost sight of what it was all about. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves; the debut has only been out day!
Amongst the 11 tracks on Stop/Start you’ll find a mixture of guitar rockers (‘The Longest Calm’, ‘Answers’, ‘Hit to Send’) and soaring anthems that are sure to get those lighters in the air (‘Here’s To You’, ‘Years, Days, Months’ and ‘This Will Change Us’). It’s very well played, the instruments are tight and the singer has a good voice but it’s all a bit too generic for my liking. Interestingly it’s produced by Manics producer Guy Massey so it may well be his input that gives it that radio friendly but pedestrian rock sound. Technically It’s not a bad album at all but five minutes after I’d played it I couldn’t remember any of the tunes and I guess that says it all. I’m sure they’d be great live, they’d certainly please the festival crowds, but I don’t think it’s an album I’d be in a rush to hear again.3/5
Mark Cousens
Out now on Mighty Atom
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i’m quite sick of listening to pop songs like lady gaga that is why i shifted to alternative music :