The PR sheet that accompanied the new EP by London based four-piece, The Social was so refreshingly honest in its content that it had to be admired. itm? also prides itself in its honesty. “Honesty pays”, after all – though that’s hardly likely to be the case with this particular review…
You see I disagree with the assertion that this EP is a ‘5 track masterpiece’ and that the band have ‘created something that truly sets them apart.’ Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a ‘bad’ recording and in fact, instrumentally it is pretty damn tight and impressive.
However, as conceded in the PR bumph, vocalist Laurence Hussey is very much in the Ian Curtis / Morrissey mould. Perhaps more accurately, I should say he sounds like a Smiths / Morrissey vinyl 7” single played at 33rpm instead of 45. Now, I liked The Smiths and Morrissey up to a point, but these five tracks to me are just re-covering old ground with nothing of any great innovative distinction being added. So where’s the point? It only serves to prematurely ‘date’ the songs.
I have it on very good authority that this vocal style is natural to Laurence – it has not been cultivated to imitate. Fair do’s, then – you can only work with what you have, and I’m sure there will be many better ‘qualified’ reviewers / fans than me who will be quick to disagree.
But it’s just all too Eighties for me. I hated the bulk of the Eighties music scene. (Perhaps I suffered some traumatic event back then with the only means of dealing with it being to lock it in the dark recesses of my subconscious. Unfortunately it would seem that the sound of Morrissey is the trigger to the resurfacing of negative thoughts)
Listen guys – I’m sorry. It’s not you….. it’s me.