The Zutons Albums (3)
What The Critics Say
Ah, the difficult third album. Supposedly written and recorded after an extended period of writer's block on the part of leader Dave McCabe, the band's first album after the somewhat acrimonious departure of lead guitarist Boyan Chowdhury, and even more worryingly produced in Los Angeles by the seemingly incompatible American hard rock producer George Drakoulias, You Can Do Anything had all the potential to be something of a train wreck. Instead, the Liverpool quintet (by then including new lead guitarist Paul Molloy) pulled themselves together to, somewhat unexpectedly, deliver the most concise, consistent, and commercial album they've made so far. You Can Do Anything isn't a commercial capitulation or dumbing down of the band's eclectic mix of influences (everything from Madness to Funkadelic to Captain Beefheart, seemingly), so much as it is a fusion of all those different strands into a more coherent whole. Indeed, songs like the sardonic but respectful portrait of dysfunction "Family of Leeches" and the sneering put-down "Bumbag" help cement McCabe's reputation as a sly, cutting lyricist. The unexpectedly lovely "Don't Get Caught," sounding almost like Holland-era Beach Boys in a country-fried mood, is a particular gem, as is the excellent first single "Always Right Behind You," which recalls the early, spunky Steely Dan à la "Reelin' in the Years." At a time when labelmates (and, in the minds of the U.K. music press, rivals) the Coral are seemingly at a bit of a musical crossroads, the Zutons have made the album that delivers on their early promise. ~ Stewart Mason, All Music Guide
'Tired of Hanging Around'
Release Date 3/27/2006
Tracks 11
Label Deltasonic
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
If Geno Washington were still making records, he would probably sound a lot like the Zutons. Then again, Dexys Midnight Runners, who brought many pop fans' attention to the great soul man in the early '80s, are also forerunners of the Zutons. Tired of Hanging Around was the second album by the Liverpool band and was even more assured than the group's debut offering, Who Killed...... The Zutons. Not that they had changed much -- they really didn't need to, for there was no one making music quite like the Zutons, the voice of David McCabe able to handle songs as diverse as "Secrets," which was a throwback to the sleazy early-'80s sound just before synth pop took over, and "Why Can't You Give Me Your Love?," the first single taken from the album, which also had a retro feel -- but going back even further to the 1960s garage rock bands. There was a little bit of everything here, including the powerful sax playing of Abi Harding -- obvious on every track but not dominant -- and Boyan Chowdhury's guitar work, which was original and innovative (and would soon be missed, as he left the band not long afterwards). They unashamedly lifted the intro of Tears for Fears' "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" for their song "Valerie," but the song was so good that one could forgive them almost anything; indeed, Amy Winehouse took the same song into the Top Ten for the second time within two years with a very different version. What a pity they released Tired of Hanging Around in the same week as Shayne Ward's album; otherwise, there would have been some real music at the top of the charts. ~ Sharon Mawer, All Music Guide
'Who Killed...... The Zutons'
Release Date 4/19/2004
Tracks 13
Label Deltasonic
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Since the Zutons share a label (Deltasonic), producer (Ian Broudie), hometown (Liverpool), and pool of influences with the Coral, you'd think it's probably a safe bet that they sound an awful lot like the Coral. Well, you'd be right -- in fact, the bands sound so eerily similar, from their Love/Animals-influenced ruckus down to their Scouse accents that, were it not for the Zutons' solid reputation as a live act, there'd be serious questions as to whether this was just the Coral under a secret moniker, à la XTC's the Dukes of Stratosphear. Still, Who Killed. . . the Zutons was nominated for a Mercury Prize for Album of the Year, so they must have something, and they do. From rave-ups like "You Will You Won't" and "Pressure Point" down to the album's many, gentle folk moments, they cover quite a bit of ground. It's all very steeped in '60s garage rock, very much "dad rock" if you will, though it's injected with just enough fun that it doesn't sound like an entirely retro exercise. The best moments come when the band expands their sonic palette -- the bouncy, horn-spiked "Remember Me" is the very definition of classic Merseybeat, and one of the reasons to revisit Who Killed. . . the Zutons again and again. Still, this sounds like a lost Coral album down to every last detail, which means that it seems silly to venture here unless you've at least bought one Coral album already. ~ Jason Damas, All Music Guide
