Released November 11th 2004, Rip It Up was the second single from London s RAZORLIGHT, following Rock N Roll Lies.
In spite of their eerie names (guitarist Johnny Borrell, Swedish guitarist/vocalist Björn Ågnen, bassist Carl Dalemo and drummer Christian Smith-Pancorvo - hum?), this band practices a bread-and-butter Post-Britpop Punk Pop, somewhere between THE STROKES and FRANZ FERDINAND, with abundant doses of BLUR and SUPERGRASS sprinkled on. You have heard the story before, THE RAKES, THE FUTUREHEADS etc...
Sometimes, all you need is bread and butter ('delicious', as a friend of mine from Turkey once said). This is what RAZORLIGHT is about, no-holds-thrilled simple Pop-Rock with a Punk flavor. Leave the stylish haircuts and cunning fashion for the girls and let s move on to their sound.
This time, the sound is thicker, bolder than their peers (apart from ARCTIC MONKEYS). They have a bluesy feel sorely missed on fashionists (apart fom THE KILLS, maybe). The Swedish guy knows how to sing his pipes out. The other weird named rack their instruments with ease.
Rip It Up would arguably have been called a Boogie-Woogie, if we were on the late 50s. An explicit invitation for hips and guts, in shiny fashion, sunny riffing and sundry drumming opening way as if THE STROKES were invited to an Elite Models party...Not as complexly structured as ARCTIC MONKEYS I Bet You Look Good On The Dance Floor. RAZORLIGHT is accessible pragmatism.
Spirit is a true jangle pop gem, one of the very best we have since the golden days of mid-80s. Gritty and lovely all the way down, you can forget about THE STROKES. Quickness and bouncy vocals. 'I m gonna catch myself on fire/I m gonna burn it out, rip it up' pretty much summarizes this 2-and-a-half minute epiphany. By 2004, so many people were wasting their time on that Room on Fire record...!
Yes, You Should Know is a lighthearted Ska-Punk (oh, finally remembered amidst the relics of the 80s), one of the very best this side of RANCID. This is featherweight compared to OPERATION IVY, THE CLASH etc, but that s the idea. They are not simply Punk revivalists. They are Popstars on the making. THE POLICE? 'Yes, you should know, know, know, know'...That reminds me of PETER FRAMPTON also!
OK...What s up? Another nice addition to the 21st century antology of wonders. It can even save you some bucks from the hypes. See ya!
Tracklist:
01 (* * * *) Rip It Up
02 (* * * * *) Spirit
03 (* * * * 1/2) Yes, You Should Know
Recommended
Yes
Great Music to Play While: Getting ready to go out
