ALBUM REVIEW: The Struts – ‘Everybody Wants’

the struts everybody wants

You might have heard The Struts on an advert – be it for Primark’s denim range or the Bradley Cooper film, Burnt – but this four piece are anything but an advert band, with one hit and a bunch of samey tracks. In fact, no two songs sound the same, with only Luke Spiller’s vocals and some sizeable riffs being the common denominator on all the tracks.

The Derby quartet released their debut album Everybody Wants today via Polydor/Interscope records, and it’s hard to imagine that four guys from a small Midlands city could be making such an impact across the UK, selling out London’s 100 Club in five minutes – let alone having a huge fan base in America.

Everybody Wants doesn’t get off to the greatest of starts with an intense, over-thought out intro to opening track ‘Roll Up’. Whilst this trick might have worked smoothly in the days of Queen – think the dramatic style of ‘Don’t Stop Me’ – nowadays it feels like a poor imitation. Anthemic hit ‘Could’ve Been Me’ picks things up with enough power to motivate even the most defeated, and whilst ‘Kiss This’ subdues their bold rock and roll personalities to appeal more to the radio-rock style, it’s easy to see why it’s a hit.

If singer-songwriter Luke Bryan made rock music it would come out as ‘Put Your Money On Me’, three and a half minutes of lines that struggle to scan and occasionally rhyme, whilst conjuring up images of a country-style barn dance. It’s a bizarre turn for rock ‘n’ roll, to suit a pickup truck as a stage.

A brilliantly executed token-break up song, ‘Mary Go Round’ might be clichéd, but it’s so well done that’s it’s hard to criticise; big riffs soar behind passionate vocals on a song that’s bound to be a spectacle at a live show. Switch the fun back on with ‘Dirty Sexy Money’ and the crazy energy of ‘The Ol Switcharoo’, a track that all but begs you to sing along, and suddenly Everybody Wants is shaping up to be a fun, brilliant album.

Never staying the same for more than a few minutes, the band take the album in a bizarre turn towards the indie-pop sound of Scouting For Girls with ‘She Makes Me’, whilst Bastille meets Fall Out Boy-esque ‘Young Stars’ is bound to be a fist-pumping, chant-along, fan favourite from the first listen.

Although ‘Times Are Changing’ feels like it’s repeating moves that have been pulled in previous songs and ‘A Call Away’ feels unnervingly like it’s about to lead into a Take That song – possibly ‘Shine’ – The Struts aren’t quite done yet.

As ‘Black Swan’ continues to deliver the punches with addictive hooks and a compelling force encouraging an air-guitar performance, and final ‘Where Did She Go’ could leave you winded with its energy or dancing with its upbeat desperation, The Struts prove that rock ‘n’ roll is still kicking and screaming.

Four small-city boys have managed to create a thirteen track whirlwind, each song with more energy and personality than the whole top 40 chart. Everybody Wants is energetic and enigmatic – and a step on the road to even bigger things.

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