Generation Freakshow

If the albums "Silent Cry" and "Renegades" got together and had a baby then this is how it would sound but even though you can hear its ancestry there are songs on Generation Freakshow that don't belong anywhere else, this album is a separate animal in it's own right. It's more compact and has a better sense of direction than Silent Cry while being far more balanced and complete than Renegades. Feeder never stay in one place too long, they give us something new with each album/EP while staying true to who they are and this album is no exception. Comfort In Sound or Pushing The Senses it isn't, so if you want that then you're going to be disappointed. The lyrics are not so deep or moving as they were back then but Feeder has moved on just as each one of their albums moves on from the last but what this album lacks in depth it makes up for in power and movement. You will find yourself tapping your foot, nodding your head or swaying from side to side to each track.

There are little hints and nods to old Feeder here too. The intro to the opening track reminds me of "Crash", "Borders" has that little bit in the middle that reminds me of when Feeder would occasionally sound like The Police and the intro "Generation Freakshow" reminds me of the B-side "Come Back Around" (found on Picture of Perfect Youth). "In All Honesty" is similar to "Hole In My Head" but it's "DoDo, DoDooo" brakes up its momentum while at the same time making it pretty unique to Feeder and not to mention very catchy.

If you have heard the single "Borders" then the rest of the album is in that same vein. Most of the tracks are around the 3 ½ minute mark (with the exception of Quiet, Sunrise and Children of the Sun) so that they have punch and don't out stay their welcome. Some of lyrics are a little cheesy "Here I go, let him know, I'm heading back to Idaho, all the way to USA" (from the song "Idaho") springs to mind but Feeder have always had a knack of making anthems from these kind of songs (think Buck Rogers "We drink cider from a lemon, lemon, lemon") poetry it may not be but you'll be singing along and nodding your head with the rest of us when you listen to it.

Sunrise is a highlight for me, don't be put off by Al Fox's review, it has more in common with "Where Is My Mind" by Pixies than anything by the Spice Girls (a pretty lazy comparison really only made because of the lyric "Step to the left/Step to the Right").

For me "Children Of The Sun" is by far the best track on the album. It pulls together all the best parts of the album while being a little sad and uplifting at the same time. Hopefully we will get an acoustic version on a B-side at some point.

Overall: A very enjoyable 4½ stars out of 5

Whilst I have enjoyed all of Feeder's albums, I have always thought that 'Comfort in Sound' and 'Echo Park' stood out as their best. Well you can add 'Generation Freakshow' to that list. It has the mix of tunes from the tuneful 'Borders' and 'Children of the Sun' to the more fast paced rocky 'Headstrong'. It is a great album and in my eyes they are definitely back to their best! Go and buy it now!!!

My title is not meant to deman Feeder I am a huge fan and have seent them live maybe 10 times now. If you know Feeder you know what you are getting to a certain extent and there's nothing wrong with that. As has been said Renegades was so so as an album but this for me is a solid Feeder album which has all you want from the band. A friend who writes and plays music has listened to it and came to the recent concert and really enjoyed it and was very complementry about the lyrics and music. So many bands want to change or heal the world or reinvent themselves everytime they come back from the shop with a loaf of bread. Feeder for me want to make good music and get it out there. They've done so here yet again and that'll do for me and hopefully for you also.