Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
... and everybody knows..., February 4, 2008
It took Sons and Daughters two years to craft their sophomore album, after the gloriously unique Scottish folk-rock of "The Repulsion Box."
And those two years have not dulled their musical skills, or the fiery vibrancy of their music. With lots of stylistic variety, but the same rough-edged rock'n'roll sound, "This Gift" is the musical equivalent of a nighttime joyride in a city lit by its own colours -- it's fast, tight, exhilarating and a little wild.
Blistering riffs. Racing basslines. Thumping drums. "She has a gilt complex/break her neck/now she's run, run, runnin' right over the edge!" Adele Bethel murmurs. She rattles through a breakneck melody full of disgust for greed -- "... all you see is what you'll get/he's trying to buy some kind of measure/he's not sure of all he has/but avarice is all that he's made of... and everybody knows!"
They relax a little with the next couple songs -- "Split Lips" is a smooth piece of guitar-pop, but with a piano-wire edge to the catchy acoustics. And "The Nest" goes all out into... motown. The sound is a little off-kilter, and Bethel starts off on shaky ground with her spoken-word lyrics, but it gains more power after she hits the chorus.
And from there, they stick to their rough-edged form -- but they try out all sorts of music. Most of them are either tight, rollicking Celtic-flavoured rockers, or fast-paced guitarpop with stomping percussions and rough riffs, like the blistering wails of "House in My Head." And they take a brief time out for "The Bell," a relatively refined pop song with lots of smoothly cycling guitars.
Sons and Daughters have called this their "pop album" -- but apparently that just means that it's catchy and danceable even in their harder songs like "Rebel with the Ghost." It hasn't got a shred of the slick, bland sound that you usually associate with pop music -- it's all tight melodies, rough edges and impassioned vocals from Bethel.
Nope, they've upped the tempo without changing their sound -- thumping/stomping drums, blazing electric guitar riffs and a few low-key acoustic ones, and muscular basslines burning just underneath. And there's a rough, fiery edge to every song, filling it with energy that is all rock'n'roll -- think their last album, but catchier and more accomplished.
And that muscular sound is only enhanced by Adele Bethel's voice -- she has a very pretty, clear, girlish voice. So she sings like a rocker ("so I rebel with the ghost/try to fight but my hands and feet are fading/holding onto the wall"), whether it's a "wa-oo-ah-oo!" yowl, blazing calls, or a throaty snarl (... and everybody KNOWS!").
If their first album was a smoky pub filled with dancing, then Sons and Daughters' sophomore album "This Gift" is a wild drive through the night. A brilliant follow-up, and a wonderful rock album.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A sonic kick to the head!, February 6, 2008
Even if one doesn't have any gael in them this Glasgow quartet will have you up on your feet and rocking out to their infectious sonic assault. Guitar riffs that sink into your brain and Adele's vocals that rip at you and have you bopping along in no time.
I've been spinning this disk non-stop and I must say, there are few bands that just keep growing with every album, Sons & Daughters is one of those bands. From Love the Cup to Repulsion Box and now This Gift they continue to craft tunes that kicks you in the face and takes your wallet all while you are smiling.
Gilt Complex the first single off the album opens it up with a driving pulse that has a bit of sheen to it but its still raw and uncompromising. The tracks that follow, build upon the opening track and though they do slow down and give us a bit of sunshine, Darling, they don't let you catch your breath for too long before kicking it back up and rocking on.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another Amazing Album, February 27, 2008
This Gift is an awesomely catchy cd. I can't stop listening to it. It has a wonderful fun energy that only starts to waver during the last two tracks. But the songs " The Nest" " Rebel With The Ghost" and "Chains" are worth the cd's cost alone. I had been eagerly awaiting this cd, and I couldn't be happier with it. Sons and Daughters deserve much more exposure than they have had in the past,and hopefully more people will catch on to this fabulous band.
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