ALBUM REVIEW: Primary Colours – Lovebreakers
LOVEBREAKERS‘ biggest fan is Billie Joe Armstrong from GREEN DAY. They were hand-picked by SOCIAL DISTORTION frontman Mike Ness to support his band on their UK and EU summer tour. They recorded their debut album with producer and engineer Davey Warsop, who has worked with the likes of GREEN DAY and FOO FIGHTERS. Plus, LOVEBREAKERS flew out to Los Angeles to record their debut album. All this makes them set to be a very big deal indeed. Hailing from Birmingham, the band formed in 2017. They are a quartet, comprising of guitarist/vocalist Jack Perry, Christian O’Reilly on bass and vocals, lead guitarist/vocalist Chino Robinson, and drummer Nathan Smith.
Primary Colours starts off with Eye Roller, a song that sounds like a cross between GREEN DAY and THE RAMONES. The instruments are sharp, but the issue is the vocals. The production on them makes them sound like Billie Joe from GREEN DAY. It’s easy to mistake LOVEBREAKERS for the American punk band. This is a shame because the instruments are very unique. The guitars sound a bit heavier than usual for a rock band, and the bass is fine-tuned.
Thankfully, the vocal issue is fixed a bit on Set In Gold. This second song is an upbeat track perfect for summer. The verses make the vocals more distinct, however, this is goes down the drain during the chorus. Warsop is an excellent producer, but his work with GREEN DAY seems to overshadow this brilliant band’s potential. This is because the band sound American, but are actually from England. Unless this is something that Perry does naturally, it sounds very strange on the album.
Family Man is a toe-tapping song that builds upon the summer vibe of the previous song. The vocals get time to spread their wings during this song. They are much more distinct than the previous two songs, and have a British twang that separates them from their American predecessor. The chorus is catchy and will be stuck in your head for days.
Single L-A-U-R-A (Vintage Movie) is the band truly coming into their own. It is confident, in your face, and sounds like something straight out of an 80s movie. It is easily the strongest song on the album so far. The guitars, bass and drums sound fresh, the vocals are a vast improvement from the previous songs, and it just sounds like the band are having a blast. The pacing does not interrupt the flow that the album has created, and it ends perfectly.
I Will Love Life has a swinging 60s sound that shows this band is not going to stay in one box. They complement this sound with a superb vocal performance from Perry, who channels his inner Elvis. Despite the song having a different sound, it fits the album due to the other songs having an upbeat tempo. It is another excellent song.
Horizons marks the halfway point for Primary Colours. With a fast-paced guitar riff and thumping drums, it sounds like a cross between BLUR and OASIS. The gang vocals on the album further emphasise the halcyon summer times. With lyrics that describe wanting your “twenties to last forever,” the band perfectly capture the essence of youth.
Cling On, Same Blood and Worst Gentleman carry on the summery upbeat tone. However, the song Primary Colours is significantly different. It is still upbeat, but the instruments are heavier. This makes the song have a more upbeat tempo. It is like the band wanted to give it their all for the final song. Thankfully, it pays off. Everything is tighter, the production is slick, and this song shows off the band’s talent. The description of the different colours in the lyrics complement the bright album cover. This is easily the band’s best song, and it is a fantastic closing song, complete with a guitar solo.
In conclusion, Primary Colours is just as bright as the name. Despite the production issue on the vocals during the first few songs, the band pull through and show their true selves in an album with enough songs to keep you dancing in the summer sun.
Rating: 8/10
Primary Colours is set for release on June 25th via Wiretap Records.
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