Fivemiledrive - Houston We Have A Pop Song
by Andy Vincent
published: 15 / 4 / 2006

Label:
Select Label
Format: CDS
intro
Exciting debut EP from Portsmouth-based thrash pop quintet Fivemiledrive
This is the three song debut EP for thrash pop quintet Fivemiledrive, and thrash pop is exactly what it it. There's no strutting or preconceptions about who they are and what they do and they thoroughly stand by it. A-side 'Houston, We Have a Pop Song' opens with a highly energetic and exciting riff before flowing into an incredible "singalong" chorus. It rolls through all the areas of a great pop song that there is with hooks and catches that leave you smiling. The band know how to write a heavy and exciting rock tune. The only downside I can see is following a perfectly constructed and executed breakdown the final chorus drag the song outs a little too long. By no means does this actually detract from the song itself as the chorus is excellent, but it just feels as if it may be one chorus too many. The first of the B-sides 'Astatis' opens with a drum riff that in some senses reminds me of dance/percussion troupe Stomp, but only with a much stronger sound. This is followed by one of the dirtiest bass sounds you will hear this year which lulls you for a moment, before 'Astatis' opens out straight into one of the most soaring songs you will have heard since Celine Dion started breaking windows. It is a lazy comparison, but the song reminds me of a heavy Incubus from their 'Make Yourself' era, but it keeps the pace a little better and shows off equal vision of structure and clarity. The second B-side 'Closer You Know I Don't Dance' started off in my mind sounding weak, but has grown on me with every subsequent listen. It maintains the pop hooks of the past two songs whilst bringing in an even dirtier and heavier element in places. Its ironically danceable chorus, handclaps, singalong sound and a furious outtro/intro combination make this song sound stunning live, I do think some of the energy is lost in the recording but this can't be helped. The CD leaves you feeling quite smug with yourself for owning it and lets you go with a positive feeling that many other bands classed in this genre wouldn't even know how to create.
Track Listing:-
1 Houston, We Have A Pop Song2 Astatis
3 You Know I Don't Dance
digital downloads
most viewed articles
current edition
Sarah Cracknell - InterviewDouglas MacIntyre - Interview
Jann Klose - Sugar My
Jimmy Webb - (With support from Ashley Campbell and Thor Jenson), Cadogan Hall, London. 27/5/2022
Jarvis Cocker - Good Pop Bad Pop - An Exhibition of Objects and Keepsakes of Jarvis Cocker
Loop - Interview
Tom Newman - Interview
Rolling Stones - Anfield, Liverpool, 9/6/2022
Simply Red - La Marina, Valencia, Spain, 7/6/2022
Dwina Gibb - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Def Leppard - Diamond Star HalosLucky Ones - Slow Dance, Square Dance, Barn Dance
Various - Heroes & Villains – The Sound Of Los Angeles 1965-1968,
Dave Stewart - Ebony McQueen
Bonnie Raitt - Just Like That...
Emile Sande - Let's Say For Instance
Gabi Garbutt and the Illuminations - Cockerel
Girls At Our Best! - Pleasure
Soup Review - Go and See
Norah Jones - Come Away With Me: 20th Anniversary Edition
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart