Up All Night

Razorlight

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 26, 2004)
• Original Release Date: August 17, 2004
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Umvd Labels
• ASIN: B0004FSD9G
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #140,656 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Razorlight's debut album largely delivers on the promise of its successful UK singles, four of which form the core of this equally stripped-to-the-essentials collection. Singer Johnny Borrell may have played the English music press hype sweepstakes like a champion, but his self-aggrandizing swagger seems more like a shrewd focusing technique here. Standouts like "Vice," the title track and bright, crafty single "Golden Touch" show there's much more to the band than its early Strokes/Television comparisons, while guitarist Bjorn Arens' clean, urgent slashing argues that three-chord rock can still be about as simple as a nervous breakdown. The album's youthful, urban-hedonism obsessions may rankle more jaded ears, even as the garage rave-up throwback "In the City" finds the manic, word-tripping Borrell suggesting Dylan fronting the Yardbirds. If Borrell's motor-mouth tendencies sometimes get the best of him (especially on ballads like "Fall, Fall, Fall" and "Dalston"), his sense of punk-smart dramaturgy is nigh-perfect foil for his band's brash, keep-it-simple-not-slick verve. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spectacular First Effort, June 21, 2005

By	Richard R. Carlton (Ada, MI United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This is the standard U.S. version. It lacks any of the bonus tracks, but is still a great introduction to a fantastic new band.

Although known as Johnny Borrell's band, Razorlight lays down an incredible screaming raw wall of sound with a constantly surprising thread of brilliant chords and subtle themes intertwined to make you smile at all the right places. Sometimes it's a new song, sometimes it's a pause or phrase, always it's a brilliant layering of song, lyric, and sound.

These guys formed in 02 and have paid dues on the London scene with all the famous names. It shows in every track. They are more than ready and this album is it. Johnny Borrell is nothing less than spectacular and bandmembers Björn Ågren, Christian Smith-Pancorvo, and Carl Dalemo make it all work. Andy Burrows has now replaced Christian Smith-Pancorvo on drums.

For a great run start the album with In The City/To The Sea/Fall, Fall, Fall - this is one of the best sequential runs ever recorded. Personally I think they sound like Razorlight, but if I was into categorizing everything by the obvious influences I would say something like:

A male version of Patti Smith forgetting the lyrics to Gloria as he is invaded by the ghost of Lou Reed while being backed by John Cage and Velvet Underground. The unexpected transition into To The Sea evolves into a Kings-Of-Leon Talihina Sky-ish piece that drops like an unexpected waterfall into the lilting acoustics of Fall, Fall Fall. It certainly isn't Dylan (some reviewers seem to think any significant lyric sounds like dear old Bob).

Everybody justifiably raves about Rock `n' roll Lies/Eyes and Leave Me Alone but this is one of those extremely rare albums that holds together very well with each track becoming part of the cuts before and after. It's almost a shame to talk about any single song when they all fit together so perfectly.

As with most bands these days, there is a plethora of extra and bonus tracks on CD Singles, EPs, Albums, DVDs, Import, Export, Japanese, U.S., U.K. and other versions. To help you though the chaos, here is a current list of the Razorlight track releases that are not on the standard CD Album releases:

Action!
Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah
Here It Comes
Spirit
Yes, You Should Know
When He Was Twenty
Heartbreak Soup
Just Can't Explain
Fairy Tale Of New York
For Georgia
Bright Lights
Dean Take Your Time
Losing Your Mind
Get It And Go
(hardest to find - only on import with bonus & import with bonus DVD albums)
Hang By, Hang By
Control!
Dagger In Your Heart
Believe In Me
Anabelle Says
Hey Ya!
Somewhere Else
Keep The Right Profile

There are some additional live, remix, and video tracks in addition to the songs listed above.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars New band that rocks, May 9, 2005

By	Jason Wendleton (Lee's Summit, MO United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Razorlight is what many people will be calling the "UK Strokes." Having sat down and listend to their debut almbum several times, I am hear to tell you that Razorlight is much more. True, the bands sound is reminicent to IS THIS IT? where Razorlight differs in two key areas: firstly the clarity of the vocals (no fuzzy mumblings here), and secondly the lyrics are super sharp. I mean razor sharp (pun intended). "In the City" a jittery, stream of conciousness rant brought one name to my mind: Dylan. The song is also impressive because of how angular it is, with it's dramatic pauses and frentic build up. This song alone will dispell any notions of ripping off The Strokes. "Golden Touch" the band's first single, is a catchy and impressive song with an infectious riff. Another key track is the jolly bar ditty "Which Was is Out" (a song that begs to be heard live in a dark, smokey pub). The painfully honest "Rock 'n Roll Lies" thumps and bumps along. I probably could have done without the overly lengthy "To the Sea"-only becuase it seem continues long after it's made it's point. That one hiccup aside, I found myself continually impressed with all the little joys tucked away inside UP ALL NIGHT. The humble stuttering on "Fall Fall Fall," or the mummering crowd noise that begins "Which Was is Out." Muscially the album's sound varries and each song has a unique texture. Razorlight has crafted a deceptivly simple sounding album with intircasies beyond the usual rock stereotypes. The band's poetic lyrics and loud garage rock ethic will carry carry them futher than any mere Strokes rip off.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars England's most arrogant band, January 10, 2005

By	Phillipa Henry (london United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

While vacationing in England during the summer, I stumbled across I bunch of brilliant british bands. It was made quite clear to me while there for two weeks, that British rock music is better than anything coming out of America. An exciting music revolution is taking place, and bands like Kasabian, Franz Ferdinand, Bloc Party, the Kaiser Chiefs and the best of them all, The Libertines are at the forefront of that. Razorlight gained a reputation on the London scene for being friends with the Libs and for frontman Johnny Borrells huge arrogance. He has been quoted in influential music mag NME as calling himself a godlike genius and the best songwriter of the generation. He's not. But the bands debut is still one of the best albums of the year.

Rock n Roll lies is a irrestibly catchy song, while the passionate, crazy delivery of Vice makes it perhaps the best song on the album. Up All Night switches from ballad to rip-roaring punk anthem in minutes, much like the Libertines. Rip It Up is another highlight, destined to be an indie disco anthem for years. Dalston is a fantasic song. To those unfamiliar with it, Dalston is a notorius drug haven in England, and it's written directly to crack addict, Pete Doherty of the Libertines. It switches from quiet love song to desperate, psycotic anthem. Golden Touch is the perfect song. Brilliantly catchy, it is a majestic acousticy track that filled the british airwaves all summer. Stumble and Fall features guitar duelling and, and it has the catchiest chorus on the album. Another passionate, enthusiastic song is live favourite, In the City.

I advise everyone to buy this fantastic album.