New Rhodes - Songs from the Lodge

  by Dixie Ernill

published: 9 / 12 / 2006

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Review

In these experimental times of New Rave, Electro-Folk Pop and Metal Disco Hip Hop Acoustic Jazz Funk (probably, somewhere), its refreshing to find four hard working, honest chaps who are not ashamed to make uncomplicated indie music. Just like people used to when the Smiths and a myriad of jangle-some bands did back in the musical heaven that was the mid 1980’s. Hailing from Bristol (the spiritual home of indie-pop some may say, courtesy of Sarah Records), New Rhodes have spent the last few years trawling up and down the highways and byways of this tortured isle to play their songs to ever increasing audiences. As a result they have honed their sound and produced a highly polished, but hugely enjoyable debut long player. A healthy mixture of previously released singles (the top 40 ‘You’ve Given Me Something That I Can’t Give Back’, the infectious ‘I Wish I Was You’ and the current and quite brilliant ‘The History Of Britain’), old B-sides (the choppy ‘She Said No’ and equally good ‘Open Your Eyes’) and new offerings make up the 12 tracks included here. Of the new material, ‘Cowardice’ and ‘When We Were Young’ follow the same catchy, bounce-along formula that make the above mentioned singles so enjoyable, while the slower ‘We’ve Only Got Our Yesterdays Now’ and ‘A Different Time’ showcase a more reflective side to the band. A great live band too!

Track Listing:-

1 You've Given Me Something That I Can't Give Back
2 I'm Bored Of You
3 Cowardice
4 She Said No
5 The History Of Britain
6 Please Tell Me Something
7 When We Were Young
8 One Of These Days
9 I Wish I Was You
10 Open Your Eyes
11 We've Only Got Our Yesterdays Now
12 A Different Time