Customer Reviews

Welcome To The North

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

What can I say? I have been following this band since their first album "The Music" and was quickly drawn into their heavy riff driven dance rock. I simply loved their first album and patiently awaited this follow up.

The Music combine so many things from the great classic rock bands i.e.; Led Zep, U2, Jane's Addiction and wraps them all up with some funky drums, amazing vocals, thumping bass lines and smoking riffs. All so exquisitely layered together that it is simply pleasure for your ears.

When you listen to the band, it harkens back to the days when rock music was about having a good time, but it by no means sounds dated. There is no "Teenage Angst" to be had here. Just straightforward Rock that moves your body and soul.

As good as the first album was to me, WTTN is a much deeper album. Though, both albums will be classics one day in my opinion. Especially as more people get exposed to the band.

There is a little less of the "techno rock" on this album as compared to the first, but the song writing is much more mature and cohesive on WTTN. If they were able to grow so much from their first as compared to this one, then I cannot wait for their next installment. Remember, these guys are barely 20 years old.

I am not sure if American radio is ready for this band as I think they are not always 100% rock and stations might have a hard time fitting them into their format. "Freedom Fighters", "Cessation" (with its Zep like breakdowns), and "I need Love" are all rock jams. "Bleed from Within" reminds me of old school U2. But it is all so fresh to the ears.

Songs like "Breakin", "Guide" are guitar driven and they are hard enough for Rock radio, but catchy enough for Pop radio as well.

"Into the Night" is probably the most "POP" song on the album and could be the break up song of the year. It could easily be the song that really crosses the band over to multi formats. Though it is not my favorite song on the album (that changes every day) it is a little piece of perfection that Robert Harvey and the band pull off flawlessly.

As with most good/great albums, you may not be blown away by your first taste of "The Music". Keep that in mind and give the album a few spins before making a final decision. I am sure that the bands style will burn into your brain in no time.

If you are already a fan of "The Music" the above applies to you as well. This album is a much more accessible version of the first album. While it may not be as rough around the edges as the first, WTTN is truly a great sophomore album by a band that has an extremely bright future ahead of them.

I hope you enjoy this album as much as I have and by all means, if you have the opportunity to see them live, jump on it.

Thrilling is just one word that describes these young guys from England. With their second album The Music prove a force to be reckoned with to say the least. They truly take all the best elements from U2 and Rush and mix them together to create an unhearalded rock and roll album. Not derivative at all, these guys are a band to watch for in the coming years. Great songs abound on this release like "Bleed From Within", "Breakin'", "Fight The Feeling", "Guide", "Into The Night" and "Open Your Mind". If you're like me, and you recently bought the new U2 album and were thinking it sounded ho-hum, then pick up "Welcome To The North" and enjoy! I can't believe these guys are only in their early twenties! I didn't exactly hear Led Zeppelin or Queen like the editorial reviewer did, but U2 and possibly Rush come to mind. Go get this!

Okay, they have what may be the most boring name in all of rock-dom. But the Music do better in their sophomore album than in their self-titled debut, tightening up their music and losing the Led Zepplin-wannabe sound in favor of more dancerock. "Welcome to the North" is a bombastic rocker with heart.

"Where I'm from/Is not who, who I am," is the rather generic opener to the title track, a roaring rocker that blossoms from a slow riff. Well, it's not really about the songwriting -- it's actually about how it's sung. Lead singer Robert Harvey really stretches his voice as he shouts "Welcome to the NOOORTTH!", sounding as if he's gesturing at a panoramic view of north Britain. Instead of the jaded mumbles of many alt-rockers now, Harvey throws his heart, soul, and vocal chords into each song.

Their catchy brand of rock goes heavy on the electric guitars, grinding bass and smashin' percussion -- at times you can hear bands like Led Zeppelin, New Order and Rush mixed in there, but fortunately not so heavily that it feels derivative. A particular bonus is the rippling guitar in "Into The Night" -- that's what makes a good band.

They keep the sound catchy, but stray into ballads once or twice -- although only the flowing, exquisite "Fight the Feeling" could be strictly described as a ballad. What's more, bad singer could not depend on the music to cover his flaws in the ballads -- and Harvey proves that he's very good.

The Music do pretty well in their sophomore album -- their gusto keep them from sounding generic or cliched. They have the guts, the youth and the energy -- now all they need is the polish to go with it. Some of their riffs and basslines can be repetitive, and their songwriting definitely needs a boost up. Yes, the songs are catchy, but they're also very generic.

This fiery young band has the excellent lead singer and good musicianship that it needs to be huge -- all they need is some polish-ups, and a songwriter to match their guitar playing.

When I first saw The Music, it was on MtvU, a campus version of Mtv- without all the pop crap. Instead it has videos of groups like Interpol, Razorlight, and unknown bands just starting out. When I saw the video for "Breakin" I thought, I gotta check this band out . I'd also heard that their music was very similar to groups like The Who, U2 and Led Zeppelin. Being the Zeppelin fanatic that I am, that further encouraged me to buy the cd. And being a huge fan of Zeppelin tends to make one become very picky when it comes to other music, so The Music would have a lot to live up to in my cd collection, next to Zep, Who, U2, Beatles... but they do an excellent job of it! The Music has all the qualities of an English arena-rock band who's sound brings out the groupie side in the most innocent of girls: a curly haired singer with presence, soaring choruses, power chords, and -the best part- guitar /drum solos. What's not to love? Their sound relies heavy on the vocals of Robert Harvey and the lead guitarist Adam Nutter, but they're not afraid to incorporate some timpani, a couple tambourines, (hey, why not?) and is that some type of Middle Eastern instrument I hear in the title track? It's very obvious they are comfortable in their skin and with their music, and perform it without fear. That confidence carries throughout this entire record. Each song is powerful, even the toned -down ballads "Into the Night" and "Fight the Feeling" with it's 1-2-3 waltz tempo, are gentle without being covered in syrupy lyrics that would make most people gag. (By this point in my first listen, I began searching the internet for their tour dates.) And if you like instrumentals, you'll like "Open Your Mind" the most, as Robert steps back and just lets the band jam, to end the record. The perfect ending. Tracks that really stand out: (including afore mentioned ballads)

"Welcome to the North" - a "Won't Get Fooled Again" for the new millennium. Very dynamic. This will sound amazing live.
"Freedom Fighters" - happy, very happy. Go ahead, dance and sing along ! "sing this song...dance for the freedom!"
"Bleed from Within"- the rhythm section shines. Gotta love Rob's "ugh ugh ugh" grunts during the bridge.
"Breakin"- I bet Maroon5 wishes they'd written this song. Awesome Awesome Awesome song. Rhythm section is still shining brightly. A happy song about paranoia.
"Cessastion" - Beautiful. Layered vocals and interesting arrangement. Another song I'm dying to hear live.
"Guide"- Robert's ode to his parents. That's pretty rare in rock music, but they pull it off wonderfully.

This record was made in Atlanta, GA- by the sound of this cd, our Southern air (or beer) must really agree with them. Really, there's not a bad track on this record. Worth every penny. Buy a copy now, and hold on to it- this kind of fun rock cd will still be a good listen ten years from now. And since this band hasn't hit the very top yet, they're only going to get better and that means their masterpiece is on the way and I'm looking forward to it. This band deserves every success- they deserve to be HUGE. Zeppelin or U2 huge. LONG LIVE THE MUSIC! Let the NEW British Invasion begin!

I'd actually like to give this 4.5 stars because this band is no where near peaking; they are a very young band and their potential is un-fathomable. Plain and simple, The Music gives you something that you just can't get from the current crop of young bands - excitement, blood, guts, euphoria, ambition, otherworldliness, and funny enough, worldliness. I expect big things for these lads in the near future.

Oh and buy this album. It'll make you rock, dance, and think all at the same time. I'd like to see the Killers try that.

Key Tracks: Welcome To The North, Freedom Fighters, Breakin', Bleed From Within

My brother first introduced the song Breakin' to me cuz he said, "You have to hear this new band; the guy sounds just like Geddy Lee (from the best band ever Rush)." So I listened to it and I thought, "Gee, this is pretty rockin." I listened to clips on Amazon and then bought the cd. IT IS AMAZING. I can't believe the singer is only 19!! Think about all that potential if they're already coming out with CDs this good! They're like Tom Brady of the New England Patriots: So young and yet so amazing already.
The drums are sick, often doing unique beats and signatures as well as off-beats that really add to the songs. The vocals are, needless to say, incredible: Insanely high and powerful as hell. The guitar sounds and riffs are driving and well-chosen. Most importantly, the songs themselves are unbelievable. Like most of the reviewers here have attested to - this CD lacks a bad track. You put the CD in the player and just let it spin all the way through.
In addition to the similarities to Rush, there is obvious Zeppelin and Jane's Addiction as well. And personally, I hear a fairly good amount of U2 musically and in the lyrics of Bleed From Within.
I just recently ordered their first CD and hopefully it'll come in the mail any day now.
I can't wait to see The Music live on Feb. 17th in NYC. Gonna rock!! BUY THIS CD IF YOU LOVE GOOD, ROCKING MUSIC. YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT.

If you like Breakin', then you'll love this CD. Bleed From Within, Welcome to the North, and Cessation prove to be stand out tracks along with Breakin', of course.

Can anyone categorize The Music into a particular genre? Not exactly...which, pure and simple, makes them so cool. No rigid, confining, formulaic, or contrived drivel like so many "alternative" bands. Yeah, the lead singer is eerily reminiscent of Perry Farrell. That being said, everything else is unique from the unpredictable, yet melodious guitar progression on Welcome to the North to the pulsating beat on Breakin' to the strangely cool "hidden" instrumental after track 11. Overall, Welcome to the North makes for a fun, unique, and invigorating collection of eclectic tracks that validate The Music as a group worth keeping an eye on.

I absolutely fell in love with The Music the first time I listened to their debut album... finally a new band that's not afraid to rock however they please - it was impossible to define them without listing off a million ways to describe the band. When I first heard Welcome to the North, my first impression was that they had become more mainstream, but the truth is they are just tighter, funner, and rocking harder than ever.

When a debut is as good as The Music's self titled debut back in 2002, then very few people believe that the band can top themselves... but The Music have done it. They're back, and they still rock. They have created a monster, and like NME says, this one is full of stadium anthems.

WELCOME TO THE NORTH is mindblowing, from beginning to end. Songs like Freedom Fighters, Bleed From Within, Into The Night show how much more mature the band is. Bleed From Within is really their first epic song, with definitely many more to follow.

Rockers like Breakin', Guide, Cessation and I Need Love are simply superb, while there are also songs with a different approach, like Fight The Feeling, Open Your Mind, and the hidden track The Walls Get Smaller, a fans favorite at live gigs.

The Music have clearly outdone themselves with this one.
Best album of 2004.

The Music. Use It.

With a name like "The Music", and such simplistic album packaging, it might be easy to dismiss these guys as just another faceless, generic band. Add to that the fact that they fall under the "brit rock" label, which normally connotes a lackluster Coldplay or Radiohead ripoff, and one could fully expect the musical equivalent of a product from Sam's Club. However, that is far from being the case here. The Music are one of the most talented and distinctive rock bands out there today, and "Welcome to the North" is easily one of the most infectious albums I've heard lately.

Rather than drawing from the typical aforementioned brit rock influences, these guys draw more inspiration from classic rock bands, such as the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, and even Rush. There is somewhat of an artistic element to their music, but more than anything, these guys just want to rock out and have fun. The guitarist is brilliant at writing memorable melodic hooks, and drummer Phil Jordan pounds the skins with hard groove power to rival John Bonham. Frontman Rob Harvey has a really cool and distinctive voice, sounding a bit like a British Geddy Lee. Musically, these guys are super-tight, with a great balance of sonic rawness and technical sophistication. They sound as though they could have come straight out of the 70's, and yet at the same time don't sound the least bit retro or dated. Quite an accomplishment, I'd say.

The album starts off with the title track, rife with melodic brit-rocky goodness. "Cessation", and "I Need Love" are fast and catchy (and the former also features both bass and drum solos, which are pretty sweet), "Bleed from Within" and "One Way in, No Way Out" have sort of an epic, Led Zeppelin feel. "Breakin" is the leading single, which is just super-fun pop. "Fight the Feeling" is an excellent ballad, and "Guide" and "Open Your Mind" are killer melodic rock (the latter has sort of a U2 vibe).

The best song of the album, without a doubt, is "Into the Night". I cannot describe this song as anything more than pure brit rock perfection. This is easily one of my favorite songs these days. Everyone should hear it at least once before they die.

The album also features a hidden track, which is all instrumental. It's roughly 6 minutes in length, and features stellar musicianship, and excellent buildup. It really ends the album with a punch.

So, do not be fooled by the deceptively generic facade of this band. "Welcome to the North" is one of the best rock albums of the past year, and you can't afford to pass if up. If you're a music fan, you'll be a Music fan for sure.