The Hermit Crabs - Saw You Dancing
5 Comments Published by Tom on Thursday, December 06, 2007 at 13:22.
The Hermit Crabs have, for me, been one of the better bands to emerge in 2007 despite originally forming in 2003. The band, who have links with fellow Scots California Snow Story, have seen their début single Feel Good Factor and live shows winning the plaudits and rightly so.Saw You Dancing is packed full of simple but lovingly crafted and well written indie pop songs which have a very strong folk influence. Trouble is that despite being consistent not one of the songs contained within, with the exception of the previously mentioned single, stands out from the rest to give the album a highlight, an excuse to jump up and down or a reason to go back and listen to it time and time again.
Sure songs such as Lean Free Summer, Soul Mate and Friends Folk Festival are cute and lovely but excitement and more importantly passion is somewhat AWOL. Is this down to a lack of variety in the band's sound or the fact that singer Melanie Whittle seems to sing in just one tone? This tone could easily be mistaken as total dis-interest on songs such as Third Time Lucky and Closet Fan. I'm not sure but on the albums weaker sounding tracks it does become a little dull, a little too much the same.
If this review comes over with mixed messages about the quality of the band then it's simply because the album projects that on to you as well. Who knows? In a years time listening to this album may make perfect sense but for now and after a number of listens it's not enough. Stick to the Feel Good Factor EP instead.
The album is out now on Matinee Recordings.
The Hermit Crabs - Friends Folk Festival
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MMMMM! I couldn't disagree more. I think so anyway. maybe i could if i tried
I got this album about two weeks ago and i LOVE it.
Bad Timing, Goodbye My Friend, Secrets and Lies and Closet Fan sound the same???! It's really heavy in parts then light, then fast then slow, then happy then sad. Friends Folk Festival and Goodbye My Friend have to be two of my favorite songs ever....:)
Sometimes i think that people who review cds don't bother listening to them at all. Oh and the singer is called Melanie not Melissa and her voice is beautiful
Jane :(
Rest assured I have listened to this album enough times over the past three weeks and I stand by what I have written.
I was really looking forward to this album and I do find it pretty tame stuff. It's even more disappointing as the EP and their live appearances hinted at so much more.
I don't think you actually read what I wrote. No where do I state the songs sound the same. What I said is that they lack passion and oomph! I also said they were strong songs but, for someone as expectant as me ,not one would make me want to go back and play the album again in the near future.
As for the name I got that wrong - don't shoot me! Still it doesn't change the outcome!
Still this is just my view and I am sure some will agree with me whilst some,like yourself, won't. It's all subjective isn't it?
I've had the LP for a good few weeks now. And I am more inclined to agree with Tom. It's not a bad record. It's nearly a very good one. It just lacks a little *something* to make it stand out. If it had that - it would be one of my favourites of the year. Sadly, it doesn't - so it's not. I think the band have a great LP in them. We put them on back in May this year and they were excellent live.
I'm more inclined to agree with Jane but i do think that lostmusic is right and the album could have been better. I'd say at best that it's brilliantly flawed. All the tunes are good and whistleable (is that a word?) and some of them are really excellent like Bad Timing, Goodbye My friend or Friends Folk Festival, although some of the tunes could use more or maybe just different production.I read an interview online that said it was more or less a home recording? It's deffinetly very lo-fi anyhoo. That said, I've had it for about a month now and it's a definite grower and i really like the singers voice too. I'd like to get the chance to see them live if they ever come over here. Each to their own i suppose. Now for some last minute shopping...
As I said Steven it's a mixed bag without one track which could take it to another level with the exception of the single - which we have all heard before.
I have played it a few more times now and stick by my original review. Consistent without being ground breaking or brilliant but hey that's just my penny's worth of an opinion. Glad to see others like it and I am sure the band are capable of greater things.