Track Listing > >
Something Abuse / Barbican Street / Out Of My Skin / Doing One's Bit / Footsteps In The North / Golden Boy / Valediction / Six Of One / Infernal Paradise / Cinnamon Sticks / Happened To Happen / Disrepair / Burnden GLAD RAG RECORDS
Whilst you've got to applaud Rob McCulloch for finally managing to steer clear of the blatant Richard Ashcroft comparisons that peppered his previous work, his decision to instead deliver an imitation of the Arctic Monkeys is a somewhat less than inspired choice.
New album ESCAPING TIMES, finds McCulloch continuing to branch out though, a collection of songs that sees him leaving the dreary acoustic ballads behind him for the most part, emerging here as a singer/songwriter edging ever closer to finding his own voice.
Opener and previous single SOMETHING ABUSE is the first time the Bolton musician sounds truly naturalistic and at ease with himself, a more in-your-face and immediate sounding Rob McCulloch, an urgent take on indie rock; all dirty guitar chords, brisk drum stabs and insistent vocals. McCulloch singing with a more aggressive and vibrant tone to his voice, pulling himself in welcome and unexpected directions. BARBICAN STREET finds him delivering those Arctic Monkeys comparisions, all jagged guitar chords and awkward vocal melodies, still a definite step forward from what's come before. The brisk OUT OF MY SKIN is almost a bridge between the early material and the current sound, a real Kinks influence running through proceedings whilst the jaunty DOING ONE'S BIT is all whistles, acoustic guitars and inspired lyricism.
The countrified blues of VALEDICTION finds Rob McCulloch spreading his musical wings yet further, another example of this singer/songwriters potential and promise whilst SIX OF ONE brings back those Monkeys comparisions, this time round though a little too obvious and blatant to ignore, McCulloch adopting the same Northern drawl as Alex Turner and mimicking the same clipped guitar riffs while he's at it.
Hitting something of a lull towards the end, songs such as CINNAMON STICKS, INFERNAL PARADISE and HAPPENED TO HAPPEN are plodding acoustic numbers that fail to raise much in the way of excitement, the more incendiary DISREPAIR left to raise the bar once more with McCulloch on inspired form and the tender closer BURNDEN seeing him prove his worth as a soulful singer/songwriter once again.
Still continuing to evolve and improve with every new release, ESCAPING TIMES is the sound of Rob McCulloch at his most assured and confident to date, a collection of songs that whilst sometimes a little patchy and in debt to their obvious influences, nevertheless the work of someone with the talent, charisma and presence to win you over. Surely, fame and fortune beckons just around the corner.
BIOGRAPHY
ESCAPING TIMES is the debut album from the northern singer-songwriter Rob McCulloch, a young man with an eye for detail and more than a knack for a good tune. This album contains 13 of them; including last year's download phenomenon SOMETHING ABUSE - it sold over 9000 copies, a figure that would have meant a 'chart hit' had it come out this year. Elsewhere, the lazy majesty of OUT OF MY SKIN, the quintessentially English sound of BURNDEN and the first single from the album, SIX OF ONE, shimmer with a down-to-earth charm often missing in modern rock.
Rob was born and bred in the heart of Lancastrian town Bolton and its inspiration finds its way into many of Rob's songs and lyrics.
Developing a love of writing at a young age, and a passion for poetry that only continued to grow through his teens, it was a chance meeting with future manager Wendy Ellis that encouraged him to pick up a guitar and put his words to music. The Jam, The Small Faces, Oasis... Rob took the Mod sounds that moved him and updated them to his own experiences. The result is a sound that reflects his roots, lacks nothing in passion and is completely timeless.
He has already acquired a loyal fanbase in his hometown and the North West of England and over the past year laid some tracks down on his debut album Thoughts Alone. This will be his first indie release and Rob has been taking advice of industry panels from In The City and also SXSW, where his music received attention and great praise and actually reached the final of The Juke Box Jury.
ESCAPING TIMES is a mature and varied album from someone so young, with Rob's wisdom here in abundance. Ignore at your peril.
DISCOGRAPHY
PEACE OF MIND
REASONS TO ANSWER
ONLY QUESTIONS
ALBUM FOR THE WEEKEND
WAIT AND SEE (Clockhouse Records>2003)
That One
This Shows I Care
Preston Footwear
Its Sex
No Names No Promises
Woodwork People
Planet Of My Own
Wanted Out
Minor Love
Somebody Oneday
Where I Stand
Mr Fahrenheit
Stronger
Pharaohs Of The Sun
Dead For Lies
THOUGHTS ALONE (Clockhouse Records>2004) Let It Go Taking Off With You Take Me Whole Be Free Doing You Wrong Fucking With My Mind Hard To Breathe Beauty Inside So Many Colours Questions In Disguise
SOMETHING ABUSE (Inch>2006)
Something Abuse
The Times
Charm Less
SIX OF ONE (Glad Rag Records>2006)
Six Of One
Sonny
ESCAPING TIMES (Glad Rag Records>2007)
Something Abuse
Barbican Street
Out Of My Skin
Doing One's Bit
Footsteps In The North
Golden Boy
Valediction
Six Of One
Infernal Paradise
Cinnamon Sticks
Happened To Happen
Disrepair
Burnden
LINKS
Rob McCulloch>www.robmcculloch.com
FURTHER LISTENING
Richard Ashcroft>Alone With Everybody (2000>Hut/Virgin) The Open>Silent Hours (2004>Polydor)
Oasis>Be Here Now (1997>Creation)
Review date: April 2007 |
