ALBUM REVIEW: Reality Cheques – Pulled Apart By Horses
When a band waits five years to release their fifth studio album, the anticipation builds until expectations are sky-high. Garage-punk band PULLED APART BY HORSES built their dedicated fanbase after their first album in 2010, and have been through many changes since. They signed to Alcopop! Records, and changed their line-up, parting ways with guitarist James Brown. Tom Hudson is now focusing solely on vocals with just Rob Lee on guitars, which is a huge change for a band known for their duelling guitar sound. With this much change and time passed, it has to be questioned if they can pull it off.
Reality Cheques opens with Pipe Dream, which is around two minutes of ambient instrumental, building into heavier punk for the second half. It’s promising, and feels like it’s building suspense for something really interesting to happen. Next is First World Problems, which is musically unique and upbeat, and definitely an enjoyable listen. Lyrically, it feels a little bit basic. It’s as if they were attempting a political outburst, but it comes across more like a complaint. The vocals are really good though, and Hudson has nailed that gravelly punk voice. Sleep In Your Grave is definitely a high point, and it’s got that intensity the band are known for. The chorus explodes into something really fun, so it’s a shame the track is just two minutes long.
The band describe Reality Cheques as minimal, simple and direct, and while this is true, it’s very hit or miss. There are some tracks where this simplicity works in their favour, and Devil Inside is one. There is a memorable bassline throughout, and layers of guitar are added seamlessly as the song builds. Positive Place is another song where simplicity is key, this time with its lyrics. While they are fairly basic, they create an honest but hopeful track which is a firm favourite from the album. Also making it stand out are the guitar solos which are scattered throughout the song to break it up.
On the other hand, there are points in the album where the simplicity can come across as dullness. An example of this is Rat Race, where the concept is overdone and the lyrics are repetitive. There is a slight reverb on the vocals, which is an interesting element that actually fits the song really well. Ending the album is Fear Of Missing Out, and while it begins sounding really different, it’s unclear why the track is six minutes long. There are strong points, but for a song that long it could do with more variation.
Reality Cheques is not a bad album. A lot of the tracks are really catchy, creative and memorable, and go down as some of the band’s best songs. The issue with waiting so long for an album, especially by such a well-loved band, is expectations are bound to be high and difficult to exceed. It’s just that they could have done more, and that’s a little disappointing. Now they have finalised a line-up and have settled into all their changes, PULLED APART BY HORSES definitely have the capacity to impress, and it will be exciting to see what they come out with next.
Rating: 6/10
Reality Cheques is set for release on September 30th via Alcopop! Records.
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