The Holiday Crowd - Over The Bluffs

Wer bei Fraction Discs die gestern vorgestellte Platte von Liechtenstein (inkl. MP3-Download für 110 SEK = 12,50 €) in den Warenkorb legt, sollte vielleicht auch noch bei "Over The Bluffs" (130 SEK) zugreifen, auch wenn es sich eigentlich nur um eine Mini-Album (7 Titel in 26 Minuten) handelt.

The Holiday Crowd sind Dave Barnes (Schlagzeug), Alex Roberts (Bass), Colin Bowers (Gitarre) und Imran Haniff (Gesang). Sie stammen zwar aus dem kanadischen Toronto, spielen aber romantischen Gitarrenpop, wie man ihn Mitte/Ende der 80er Jahre nur von britischen Bands wie The Smiths, Felt oder Prefab Sprout hörte. Passend dazu trafen sich Haniff und Bowers zu High School Zeiten und kamen über ein Stone Roses T-Shirt ins Gespräch. 2010 komplettierten Barnes (ein alter Freund) und Roberts (ein UK-Import) das Quartett, das sicherlich keinen Originalitätspreis gewinnen dürfte, aber allen Morrissey & Marr Fans Freude bereiten dürfte. Insofern sie denn neben diesen noch andere Götter dulden.

Jangly, dramatic, and frickin' amazing, Over The Bluffs is the best record from 1986 recorded in 2012 that you will hear this year. With sweeping vocals soaring to the heavens, jangly guitars lilting across songs with a bit of depression, and melodies so memorable you'll swear you've heard every one of these songs before this album is a seven song blast of indie pop the way it was meant to be played.

The sheer moodiness of the songs, the potential for collapsing and crying, the dreamy guitars and vocals all add up to one awesome little record. There simply is not one bad song here and the songs are so well written and so well sung and played that it's hard to find fault with anything. It's just not possible. While undoubtedly The Holiday Crowd would like to be recognized for their own merits, it's going to be impossible to ignore the Smiths-like similarities between the two bands. My suggestion is embrace it and run with it. Hell, the band should buy some gladiolas and put them in their back pockets when the play live.

(popstereo.blogspot.com)

Lie back, you're about to take a holiday. With style, wit and mellifluousness, The Holiday Crowd give proper nods to the once hallowed rock'n'roll ideals of cool aesthetic and jangly melodies. (...)

Self described as minimal and stripped-down, The Holiday Crowd's sound and lyrics arise from all manner of experience- summer afternoon camaraderie's, introspective reveries and a few shapely 'inspirations' along the way. From their haircuts to their shoes and with a nonchalant but forceful attitude, the band truly 'send' the listener to that place in the sun.

(shelflife.com)