10,000 Things were a band on the cusp of success - talked up by fellow Yorkshiremen The Cribs and Kaiser Chiefs, and seemingly loved by NME they went from strength to strength with their live shows... and then hit a brick wall.
I think it's probably too easy to blame their subsequent dropping from their label as a result of the NME's 0/10 review (Busted's live album got 3/10 by the way) but it certainly didn't help. I agree more with Q's verdict which was basically "good, but not a patch on their live show".
This album has some cracking rock'n'roll performances on it - Loverboy's brilliant lyrics, Dogsbody's animal stomp, Sunken Ship's broody bass genius - but it's also plagued by average production. The thundering drums and gutter guitars of the live band here sound like they were recorded underwater. Sam's throaty vocals sound as great as ever, however, and the band's lyrics are witty and clever.
10,000 Things promised to bring proper 50's rock'n'roll back to the mainstream and with Sam currently in line to play the lead role in the Joy Division film, here's hoping there's a Things revival. Overall, a great party album that could have been amazing. Still try and catch the Things live though, they'll rock your socks off.
