Finlay - Fall Of Mary

by Daniel Cressey

published: 15 / 4 / 2006

Label: Fortuna POP!
Format: CD

Patchy, but sometimes fantastic alt rock on second album from London-band Finlay

Review

Still under the American alt-rock influence on this album, Finlay rock through their spiky tunes with aplomb.When they stray outside the genre’s limitations they, however, really seem to come alive. Pavement-esque ‘Mary IV’ clocks in at over eight minutes and may sound like many tracks you’ve heard before but is also something you’ll want to hear again. ‘Hanging Crowds’ is more of a nuanced ramble than their more complicated fast numbers, and all the better for it. Despite it’s moments of pleasure ‘The Fall of Mary’ is distinctly patchy. Even ‘Mary IV’ seems too long and the instrumental middle section lacks any real reason to exist. The early promise of some of these tracks can be quick to fade. It is almost as if Finlay have come up with a great idea and then had another one so quickly they haven’t bothered to finish the first one properly. This is still a good effort, and one with moments of true greatness. If you can live with the flaws it will be well worth a place in your collection.

Track Listing:-

1 Rad Wagon
2 Tread On Flowers Pt.1
3 Mary IV
4 Fuck Honey
5 Hanging Crowds
6 This One
7 Conan: The College Years
8 Something New
9 Phantasmagoria
10 Tread On Flowers Pt.2