The Holloways
So This Is Great Britain?
TVT
Sometimes an accent can go a long way; it can create some mystique, add some romance to a band. With The Holloways, it saves their fast tempo singing from sounding like Barenaked Ladies and makes them charming. These London boys (last year Arctic Monkeys, this year The Holloways? Maybe.) have poured everything they could get their grubby little Babyshambles-supporting hands on into the large mug that is their glorious debut, So This Is Great Britain?. You’ll hear some ska, some good ol’ brit punk, a hint of emo, a large dose of the dance pop melody that those Brits are famous for, and maybe even a bit of gypsy wildness.
“Generator” is obviously meant to be the crowd stopper with its island funk groove and celebration of the healing power of music, but “Fit For a Fortnight” is the one that I keep coming back to. If Franz Ferdinand covered The Libertines it may sound something like this.
I don’t mean to insinuate that all of these dance-rock-oriented UK bands sound the same. I can hear the difference between The Kooks and Hard Fi, Kaiser Chiefs and Maximo Park, but let’s be honest, most of these bands don’t stick around long enough for most people to take the time to notice their individual idiosyncrasies. It’s why most people fall back on the old vanguard of British rock bands to draw comparisons to (The Clash, Oasis, The Smiths). Well, these cats don’t sound like any of the trinity of greats… though I would go so far as tap them into the old schools of Madness and The Jam.
You’re soon going to be hearing these guys everywhere! Cross your fingers that they stick around long enough at least for you to learn their names (Alfie, Rob, Bryn, Dave).
The Holloways: http://www.the-holloways.com
