Music critics are always on the lookout for the "next BIG thing," and Glasvegas (Glasgow + Las Vegas) have certainly filled more than a few inches of copy on that subject this year. Nine months ago they made the BBC Sounds of 2008 list along with the likes of a number of other newcomers who have since become household names around the world like Duffy, The Tings Tings, and Adele. They may be the last act on that list to put out their debut, and it's worth the wait.The album opens with "Flowers and Football Tops," building slowly from sustained synth chords and shimmering guitars. At 7 minutes, it's the album's longest track--most are much shorter. The song has a sweeping rock sound reminiscent of U2 and tells a rather tragic domestic story of a family who's 6 year-old boy is murdered. A refrain from the schoolhouse song "You are My Sunshine" is tacked on the end to punch up the melancholy, lest someone not paying attention to the lyrics were to think that is supposed to just be uplifting stadium rock. And if they didn't understand the lyrics, they could be forgiven for there's no question this is a Scottish band--singer James Allan's accent comes through loud and thick.
"Geraldine" must certainly be the most poetic song ever written about a social worker, holding up the profession as providing a troubled youth an "angel on your shoulder." Then there's a seamless transition to "It's My Own Cheating Heart that Makes Me Cry" an epic of self-loathing despair that manages to be just serious enough to make a point but not so over the top that it can't include a playground taunt ("liar liar pants on fire") and a nod to Oasis ("What's the story morning glory"). Besides all that, it's a lovely song to boot, one of the album's best.
"Lonesome Swan" is more upbeat and provides a good showcase for Rab Allan's guitar playing. It also transitions smoothly into "Go Square Go," the story of a young man who must face a bully in a fight, but the real bully may be his father, who told him not to come home until he'd "killed the bastard." "Polmont on My Mind" seems unremarkable at first, until it unleashes its wall of sound at the end, bathing is in the high-reverb guitars, bass guitar, and drums.
"Daddy's Gone" is a clear highlight. It's vaguely sixties sounding and tells the story of a boy whose father has left the family and the kid's not happy about it, lamenting that "all i wanted was a kick-a-bout in the park, for you to race me home when it was nearly getting dark," but now has to settle for seeing his dad only on Saturdays. Closing number "Ice Cream Van" sounds a note of revolution to "bring back the glory days, active citizenship, and pure community...freedom of faith." It's mostly synth organ chords, which build in intensity near the end.
If there's a misstep here, it's "Stabbed," a spoken word piece about wanting to stand up to a knife-wielding gang but running away instead. While certainly a timely topic as any here, it's done over Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata. While it may be one of the most beautiful and melancholic pieces of classical piano, appropriating it in this manner feels lazy. Why not write your own piano backing?
The band's earnestness sets it apart from the popular pack of current indie rockers (as does having a female drummer, Caroline McKay). Earlier this year I complained about Vampire Weekend and other such bands singing about nonsense. This album is about as far away from that as is possible, taking much of its inspiration from a host of urban social problems. And even if you can't decipher the song's lyrical meaning (no offense to you lovely Scots, but to us Americans your accent can be a challenge), Glasvegas offers more than enough melody, hooks and rocking guitars to be enjoyed purely as a musical experience. One of the year's most exciting debuts.
Best: Daddy's Gone, It's My Own Cheating Heart that Makes Me Cry, Geraldine, Flowers and Football Tops, Go Square Go, Lonesome Swan
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