ALBUM REVIEW: i think i want to go home now. – The XCERTS
UK rockers, THE XCERTS, are back with their newest record i think i want to go home now. The Aberdeen-formed, Brighton based, trio have been a solid force since 2001 and after exploring more polished pop sounds on previous records, they have decided to bring back their early raw sound that, title wise, originally started as a joke before becoming more serious in the writing phase. To put it simply, the three of them decided to go back to basics with writing songs together alone in a room following two years of difficult news, including that of familial loss and illness.
The result is something that feels open and vulnerable, yet also a love letter to various styles and genres within the rock umbrella. The scene is set with the intro title track that lasts barely a minute with instrumental warmups, vocalisations and background conversations regarding something sad, or at the very least something, or someone, is described as sad. This is then juxtaposed with a sudden tempo change on the next track, do it to myself, where we’re greeted by fast, upbeat sounds as each band member comes in, creating something energetic and fun, with opening notes drawing some comparison to THE STEREOPHONICS’ Dakota.
If we had to give a brief overview of the album with as little words as possible, then we’d probably say “happy sounds, sad lyrics”, yet that barely scratches the surface. Sure, on first listen there’s a lot of upbeat moments where you feel energised and ready to bounce/dance/bop along, (whatever you’d prefer to do), as heard on songs like bury you, a fun rock n roll number; breathe in what was, a track that brings in 80s pop sounds to help narrate a sweet-sounding love song; and pretty ugly, a not necessarily “happy” yet still energetic punk influenced track that one can picture being an instant crowd favourite in a live setting.
Yet on the same record we have more serious and moving songs that are more likely to make you stop, think, and listen intently. Whether it’s the power ballad rinse repeat that just swells in volume as the tracks progresses and leaves you empowered, as well as encouraging you to sway along with a lighter held up in the air; the grunge guitar influenced sinking feeling, nicely contrasted with an anthemic chorus; and the experimental dream you in that, whilst mostly another track to sway along, has an interesting opening with distorted white noise that sounds reversed, almost like we’ve entered analog horror territory.
All perfectly ended with in your eyes that starts out acoustic before switching into a fast rock track that concludes with another background conversation where the final words we hear are “I love you”, a lovely full circle moment on a stunning album.
Rating: 9/10
i think i want to go home now. is out now via FLG Records.
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