Stained Glass Heroes - Big Guns at Dawn
by Paul Waller
published: 9 / 5 / 2010
Label:
Fred Recordings
Format: CD
intro
Anthemic and catchy alt. pop on debut album from London-based band, Stained Glass Heroes
This is one fully developed debut album. London’s Stained Glass Heroes, on the evidence provided here deserve to break through and be huge. There are three massive tunes on here that could easily see them become household names. All they need is the right support slot or prime time DJ to play them and with a hasty re-release of debut single 'Insects' they could dominate the charts for months. Current single 'Circumstance' is equally as strong. It has to contain the catchiest chorus I’ve heard so far this year and it doesn’t even contain any words, just a killer riff that the likes of the Libertines would hand over their last crack pipe for. Imagine if you can the Kaiser Chiefs’ hooks, add a little of the eccentricity of Talking Heads and a huge dollop of the stuff from the late, great Hefner and you can get an idea of where Stained Glass Heroes are coming from. 'Realise You’re Mine' is another potential smash. It bounces along with a thrusting forward momentum until the chorus clocks in with a hook huge enough to catch a whale. It’s not all alt-pop perfection though. 'Esperar' is overly quirky with its stuttering rhythm and somewhat flaccid chorus and 'Save the Universe' is far too straight compared to the rest of the record. But these are small niggles, the band have found themselves on the ultra hip Fred label (along with Gallon Drunk) and they dress slick as hell. Rven Fred Perry are championing them so there is no mistaking this band for anything other than a serious proposition but I thought that of Hefner as well until they imploded. Stained Glass Heroes have the potential to spark off a new wave of British pop and I’d much rather them denting the charts than the likes of the weak blooded Scouting For Girls, that’s for sure. Fingers Crossed.
Track Listing:-
1 Big Guns At Dawn2 Insects
3 Circumstance
4 Esperar
5 Blue Dress
6 Realise You're Mine
7 Turkish Wedding
8 Silent Guns
9 Factory Gates
10 Dulled Equations
11 Save The Universe
12 From The Start
13 After The Crisis
most viewed articles
current edition
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #15- On Being Dignified and Old aka Ten Tips From Jah Wobble On How To Be Happy.Dennis Tufano - Copernicus Center, Chicago, 19/7/2024
Elliott Murphy - Interview
Wreckless Eric - Interview
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #16: Living in the Minds of Strangers
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #17: Tom Robinson
Adrian Gurvitz - Interview
Norman Rodger - Interview
Chris Spedding - Interview
Penumbra - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Groovy Uncle - Making ExcusesPhilip Parfitt - The Dark Light
Jules Winchester - The Journey
Deep Purple - =1
Bill Wyman - Drive My Car
Ross Couper Band - The Homeroad
Hawkestrel - Chaos Rocks
John Murry and Michael Timmins - A Little Bit of Grace and Decay
Popstar - Obscene
Splashgirl and Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe - More Human
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