Palma Violets - 180
by Anthony Strutt
published: 10 / 3 / 2013

Label:
Rough Trade
Format: CD
intro
Excellent indie guitar rock on bestselling debut album from highly regarded London-based band, Palma Violets
Rough Trade is not only is one of the coolest labels ever, but it has the best record shop in the UK. It originally made a huge name for itself by signing a small band from Manchester called the Smiths, whoever they were! In the late 1990s they carried on and signed the Strokes, another ground breaking band, and again in the early 2000s, they signed a band, liked by Morrissey himself, the Libertines. This new bunch only launched their debut single on purple vinyl 7 inch, and which was limited to 500 copies, a few months ago, and now their debut album, '180', has gone straight in at number one. Like the Libertines before them whose debut album was produced by the Clash's Mick Jones, '180' has again been produced by rock royalty and this time Pulp's Steve Mackay. This album has already made people of a certain age, actually smile,and believe in indie yet again. 'Best of Friends', their purple vinyl debut, kicks off the album, A rough and ready tune, it sounds like Billy Bragg meeting the Clash but without their 1977 rawness. It has a new wave sound which will please the old school, but is trendy enough for the kids too love too. 'Step Up for the Cool Cats' has more of an organic feel. The organ and drums roll over to carry the tune. As it rocks forward, it parties as hard as the early Libertines or the Arctic Monkeys. 'All the Garden Birds' has a punky forward drive. It sounds like the Vaccines as if they were influenced by the Seeds. 'Rattlesnake Highway' again sounds like the Vaccines, but has more of an emphasis on the organ. 'Chicken Dippers' is a catchy number, a 'Sweet Jane' for the now generation. 'Last of the Summer Wine' sounds like 'My Generation' delivered by the Strokes, while 'Tom the Drum' has a Clash rawness. 'Johnny Bagga Donuts' is a punchy, anthemic number, while 'We Found Love' starts off sounding like a slow-paced Pixies but soon speeds up. 'Three Stars' has a sing-a-long swagger, while the closer '14' recalls the Velvet Undergound. An excellent debut.
Track Listing:-
1 Best of Friends2 Step Up for the Cool Cats
3 All the Garden Birds
4 Rattlesnake Highway
5 Chicken Dippers
6 Last of the Summer Wine
7 Tom the Drum
8 Johnny Bagga' Donuts
9 We Found Love
10 3 Stars
11 14
Band Links:-
https://www.facebook.com/palmaviolets/http://palmaviolets.co.uk/
https://www.instagram.com/palmavioletsofficial/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTRsuhWwDTNJzJLn-ZJm7fg/videos
http://officialpalmaviolets.tumblr.com/
https://twitter.com/palmaviolets
Label Links:-
https://twitter.com/RoughTradeRecshttp://roughtraderecords.com/
https://www.facebook.com/roughtraderecords
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