The Trick to Life

The Hoosiers

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 15, 2008)
• Original Release Date: October 22, 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Red Int / Red Ink
• ASIN: B001543LN8
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #111,390 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. Worried About Ray

2. Worst Case Scenario

3. Run Rabbit Run

4. Goodbye Mr A

5. Sadness Runs Through Him

6. Clinging on for Life

7. Cops and Robbers

8. Everything Goes Dark

9. Killer

10. Trick to Life

11. Money to Be Made

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.co.uk

If the Feeling’s slick high-crime pilfering of '70s AOR is missing anything in particular--and they do run a tight operation--then it’s a bit of throttle, a hint of recklessness, if that’s not too much of a contradiction in terms. Enter London-based trio the Hoosiers, who pogo like uncaged kids on Saturday morning TV hooked up to McFlurry drips, dancing to Twelve Stops and Home on fast-forward like everything’s quite normal. Or at least they do for much of the time–-"Clinging on for Life" for instance sidles off into an unusually mellow Nick Drake lay-by. But for the most part The Trick to Life is the work of Electric Light Orchestra and Supertramp half-inched, shaken up and handed to McFly to pop the cork. There is much that feels near-plagiarised. "Goodbye Mr A" has more than a little of ELO’s signature "Mr Blue Sky" to it, "Worried About Ray" recalls the Turtles’ "Happy Together" and "Cops and Robbers" isn’t even remotely coy about stealing wholesale from a tune as iconic as the Cure’s unmistakable "The Lovecats". And coming a little closer to home, "Run Rabbit Run" sees singer Irwin Sparkes unfurl a soprano tailor-made for a close impersonation of dreamy indie-poppers the Delays. But if none of that bothers you (or even if it does) the Hoosiers have a super-charged barrel of sugar rushes here that are dangerously immediate and difficult to ignore, sweet tooth or no sweet tooth. --James Berry --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Product Description

2007 debut album that follows the huge UK success of their singles 'Worried About Ray' and 'Goodbye Mr. A'. The Trick To Life is an album filled with upbeat treats, as well as glimpses of a deeper, darker edge. On tracks like 'Run Rabbit Run' and 'A Sadness Runs Through Him', Irwin's soaring, jaw-droppingly powerful vocals lead listeners through a maze of melodic mayhem, with influences ranging from The Cure through to Supertramp, laced with some early Genesis (the bible verse not the band). However, fans of 'Worried About Ray' need fear not, for 'Worst Case Scenario', the somewhat sinister 'Killer', and title track 'The Trick To Life', punctuate the album's uncompromising landscape with literally tens of minutes of rich and compelling music, which will have you bouncing around your bedroom and/or living room. RCA. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Music crack, May 23, 2008

By	psychomuse - See all my reviews

With their tongues firmly planted in cheeks, the Hoosiers are a party for your ears. It's an 80's movement just begun but all freshened up and made new again. Prog rock this is not. If you want light-hearted, inoffensive to all (except the hopelessly cynical), happy music: this is it.

Though perhaps not the most original music, these lads add an energy and earnestness that gives every tune a shot of Red Bull and vodka. And it's addictive stuff. I dare you not to like this music!

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Love or hate them., April 15, 2008

By	kons - See all my reviews

Love them or hate them. There's no escaping The Hoosiers at the moment. This trio, who defy the current crop of indie bands and actually sing rather than warble with a ridiculous accent, have topped the UK album charts with their debut album "The Trick To Life" and have had two Top 5 singles. It all looks bright for this bunch of Berkshire boys.
On this album, the trio, led by Irwin Sparkes are doing alright with first upbeat stomper single, "Worried About Ray", being catchy enough to linger, like a stinking cod behind the radiator, in the UK Top 10 for eight consecutive weeks.
"Worried about Ray" and "Goodbye Mr A" both contain the trademark Hoosier sound of choral harmonies, upbeat drums and resounding organ, which in some ways harks back to ELO.
With "Run Rabbit Run" unfortunately the band overstep the mark and try their hand at taking off Radiohead.
Frontman Sparkes just loves to exercise his impressive falsetto at any opportunity and the one trick pony really begins to grate.
The record keeps up its assault of semi-nauseating dad-pop just taking a breath long enough to change the pace for the love-struck "Clinging On For Life" but by then it's too late. There's even a hidden track on the album to finish you off if you haven't had enough already.
This album is seriously catchy, and their poppier rock songs, especially their first two singles "Worried About Ray" and "Goodbye Mr A", will be stuck in your head all day.
The ballads shows off singer Irwin Sparkes' voice the best, making him sound a bit like Jeff Buckley, especially on "A Sadness Runs Through Him".
This is not a bad record, but it's all so very safe and fairly non-offensive stuff.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Debut, February 8, 2008

By	Martin Endara Crespo "yourdudeness" (Somewhere only we know! (ECU)) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Trick to Life (Audio CD)

I downloaded this album after reading some great reviews in the U.K.
This is not just another brit pop band, the Hoosiers are pretty solid and they claim to have a style called "odd pop" well I don`t know about that but the Hoosiers are gaining popularity pretty fast.

The flagship of this album is the single "worried about ray" which featured in position #5 in the U.K. Charts not only airplay but sales. This song is really good and catchy, great vocal a la Matt Belamy (muse) and great rhythm.

The second single from this album is "Goodbye Mr. A" another great track, awesome melody and rhythm and catchy lyrics.

This is a short album, but the kind you can easily listen every song without skipping. I really recommend you to get it if you are into this kind of music.

Similarities: The kooks, Razorlight.