HEAVY MUSIC HISTORY: Smart Casual – Kids In Glass Houses
If you were around in the late noughties to early 2010s, you’ll have heard about a delightfully cult band by the name of KIDS IN GLASS HOUSES. While they may not have achieved notoriety levels of fame, they amassed a fiercely loyal following throughout the UK and enjoyed a lot of exposure on MTV and the “satellite channels”. Going back 15 years to where it all began, KIDS IN GLASS HOUSES and we are delighted to celebrate not only the anniversary of debut album Smart Casual, but the band’s imminent reunion.
Recorded in late 2007 in North Wales, KIDS IN GLASS HOUSES seemed to appear from nowhere. Somewhat impressive for a band of this stature to be signed to Roadrunner Records but many would come to realise this was a well deserved signing. Though unbeknownst to the hoards of fans which joined the bandwagon, the quintet already had two EPs under their belts. Me Me Me from 2006’s E-Pocolypse would have a polished re-recording and become Give Me What I Want. While this was released as a single, it would be the feisty Easy Tiger that would take pole position as lead single.
Recording would take place at Long Wave Studios in Cardiff with Romesh Dodangoda at the production helm. Time was of the essence as the band had just come off the road in October 2007 and were due to go back out to support FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND in December. Entering 2008 armed with Smart Casual, KIDS IN GLASS HOUSES released Easy Tiger on March 10. The corresponding video would enjoy a considerable rotation on music channels such as Kerrang! and The Box while the single itself would achieve fan favourite status.
It wouldn’t be long until the revamped Give Me What I Want and Saturday (a favourite amongst many to this day) would join the public realm and anticipation built for the release of Smart Casual. Though this anticipation didn’t always work in favour of the band. While they were the darling of Kerrang! up until the release, many were simply becoming bored of the band before the album had even seen daylight. Turn the music channels off for a bit of reality TV? Totally Calum Best: The Best Is Yet To Come would sample Girls for its theme tune. KIDS IN GLASS HOUSES couldn’t be escaped and for good reason.
Smart Casual would become certified silver in the UK, selling over 85 thousand units and entered at number 29 on the Album Charts. While some critics would put this down to teenage girls going hearts a flutter at frontman Aled Phillips, others could appreciate the musicality of the record. As so they should. Punktastic said; “This isn’t ‘Kid A’ or ‘The White Album’ [sic], and yes, this is yet another band that sing [sic] about the fairer sex (‘Girls’, ‘Pillow Talk’ etc) but they do it far, far better than most.”. Sputnik Music were little less favourable, despite scoring Smart Casual 4 out of 5, remarking; “…we have the frankly pointless filler Shameless but thankfully this trend isn’t repeated until the closer Church Tongue which is equally as useless…”. Can’t have been entirely useless if the same writer would then go on to surmise; “Smart Casual is definitely the album for the summer with its incredibly catchy pop songs that will stick to your mind like a pretty girl (or boy’s) face.”.
Reviews in and copies flying out, the time came for the band to promote the record. Taking support slots with the likes of ZEBRAHEAD, SIMPLE PLAN, PARAMORE, and NEW FOUND GLORY, the opportunities came in thick and fast. With Iain Mahanty (guitar) joining NEW FOUND GLORY on stage to perform Hit Or Miss opening up the gates to support FALL OUT BOY in March 2009, Smart Casual gave the band the break they were looking for.
As we mentioned earlier, the band enjoyed a cult status in their prime. They were the UK’s best kept secret. KIDS IN GLASS HOUSES would sell out shows at The Engine Shed in Lincoln, and KOKO in London to rave reviews across the board. Material from Smart Casual would populate the band’s set lists through Dirt (2010), In Gold Blood (2011), and Peace (2013), those songs still enjoying the biggest pulls of the night. So much so that news of the band’s farewell tour in 2014 came as a heartbreaking shock to many fans across the country. Their final show on October 31 2014 at the Great Hall in Cardiff sold out within seconds and remains one of the biggest moments within the UK’s pop-punk scene.
Fast forward eight years later to 2022 and the news that KIDS IN GLASS HOUSES are reforming to celebrate 15 years of Smart Casual at Slam Dunk 2023. With the time nearly upon us, Distorted Sound’s live team is champing at the bit to catch the return of KIDS IN GLASS HOUSES. None of which would be possible without Smart Casual; a criminally underrated album from one of the nation’s most criminally underrated bands.
Smart Casual was originally released on May 26 2008 via Roadrunner Records.
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