FUN LOVIN' CRIMINALS

LIVIN' IN THE CITY

REVIEW

 

We've waited nearly two years for a new album and you'll be pleased to hear, it doesn't disappoint (as if we ever had any doubts). Its good. I mean, really good. Here's a track by track guide:

 

1) I Love Livin' in the City - with a roaring chorus (and a hook lifted from a track by punk band Fear) that simply screams great live track (in fact the chorus is so big, it sounds like thousands of people singing along), the way in which the song flips through different musical genres reminded me of "Big Night Out."

2) How It Be - a soulful groove in the vein of "Beautiful" and another track that blissfully switches genres. It starts off sounding like Bruce Springsteen, while the saxaphone-led ending brings to mind Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On." Terrific.

3) That Ain't Right - bouncy ska song with a great singalong chorus. Kind of what "You Got A Problem" would sound like if it was given a reggae makeover. And is that steel drums I hear in the background?

4) The Preacher - funky dancefloor stomper with a healthy dose of wah-wah guitar. Think "Rock The Casbah" by The Clash via "Starsky & Hutch." Fantastic.

5) Where Do I Begin (Ballad of NYC) - wait till you hear this track. What a tune. The chorus will leave you with a huge grin on your face (its a classic song given a modern makeover - you'll know the tune) and there's a wonderful guitar outro. Sixties strings swell over a schmoover than schmoove bass line thats chilled to perfection. Much like the song itself - pretty much perfect. I can't think of a better way to end a gig. My favourite track on the album.

6) Is Ya Alright - nu-metal funk and the one notable "loud" track in amongst the relatively chilled out others. Get ready to mosh like you've never moshed before.

7) Gave Up On God - gorgeous piano-led chillout track. Combine the loungey groove of "Up On The Hill" with the spirituality of "Half A Block" and you have a lyrical & musical masterpiece + another piece of note perfect schmoove guitar genius from Huey.

8) City Boy - classic FLC fayre. Bouncy beats, catchy lyrics and the ever-reliable sense of fun we've come to expect from the band.

9) Girl With The Scar - lovely summery acoustic guitar track that brings to mind their work on the Echo & The Bunnymen album "What Are You Going To Do With Your Life." Sounds a lot like a song that Mackie's band AM60 could have recorded, while the beat brings back good memories of "We Have All The Time In The World" (and in case you were wondering, Frank's drumming style is more akin to that of Steve-Os than Mackie's.)

10) Mi Corazon - impossibly funky latino masterpiece. The first single immediately establishes itself as one of the best tracks FLC have concocted. Meanwhile the extended album version pops in a fabulous guitar/trumpet outro.

11) Will I Be Ready - Huey's guitar drifts along leisurely for another great lounge track, which wouldn't have felt out of place on "Come Find Yourself." I also love Fast's jaunty horn section and the addition of an organ gives the song a more classical sound.

 

While it received an indifferent reaction from fans, I thought "Welcome to Poppy's" was a really good album (read my review here). If that was really good album, then this is a great one and most definitely their finest work since their debut.

And kudos to Fast (who doesn't get nearly as much credit as he deserves). The almost overwhelming mixture of different sounds and samples on this album is heavenly. While the record doesn't quite reach the dizzying heights of "Come Find Yourself," this is undeniably his best work.

9 out of 10

Reviewed by Andrew Watson, 1st July 2005.

Album released 1st August 2005.

Pre-order it at http://www.amazon.co.uk/

Go to the official site at: http://www.flcnyc.com/

Visit my FLC site here