Bluetones - Exeter University Lemon Grove, 18/5/2003

  by Benjamin Howarth

published: 13 / 5 / 2003

intro

Often written off unfairly in the ongoing backlash against Britpop, the Bluetones recently completed a 50 date tour of Europe. Ben Howarth at the 46th date comes away highly impressed

The Bluetones are gradually fading away. It’s a harsh thing to say about such nice blokes, but it’s true. Their album sales have declined with each of their four releases to date. They no longer even justify a mention in most of the music rags. They are a reminder of our horrible, horrible Britpop past. Not the cool Britpop past (yeah, like those bastions of intellectualism and defenders of great culture Oasis) but the, got signed just because they’d sell, except that no one had the foresight to realise that Britpop was going to stop being cool soon Britpop past. And, dammit, we are GOING to try and pretend that we were never involved. The Bluetones were someone else’s mistake. Right? Yeah, well, that’s rubbish. The Bluetones are in fact, admirably, slogging round the country promoting an album that, quite easily, you may not even know exists, but in fact boasts a smart shift, in line with the current music scene, towards an edgier punchy almost new wave sound. This was their 46th date of a 50-date tour, and there is no point slagging them off. So I won’t. Much of tonight’s set was devoted to the new album. I hadn’t heard it, but the songs are easy to get into, and the band is at the point where they’re so tight, it would be impossible not to be affected by them. And, they still played THE HITS. 'Keep The Home Fires Burning' was gorgeous, 'Solomon Bites The Worm' a blast, and '“If…' a glorious sing along. The only absentee was their biggest smash, 'Slight Return', which was slightly disappointing, but couldn’t spoil the party. The Bluetones are not anyone’s favourite band. But there’s nothing not to like about them, and this gig was essentially faultless. Where was I when the scene police came-a-calling? Having fun basically !

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