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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
It’s one thing to be celebrated, and it’s quite another to become inescapably iconic. Hard-Fi stumbled into the latter with their debut Stars of CCTV, reflecting on life in satellite town UK with stark iconography, articulately pitched lyrics and accessibility sprinkled with the credibility of The Clash’s rebel poise--a rare achievement, perhaps only equalled by Arctic Monkeys’ and The Streets’ snap-shots of teenage life. An icon is not infallible however, and it looked like Hard-Fi’s commuter train to realism-central might have been derailed in the run up to this album’s release. Their cocky, misguided decision to declare the death of the album cover simply by printing the words "NO COVER ART" on theirs was a bad joke at best. And while the diagnosis for the album itself may not be quite so bad--the buoyant swagger of "Suburban Knights" opens things up without breaking stride--Once Upon a Time in the West does lack the thematic weight of their debut. Musically it is more mature; there are strings everywhere, the ska influence remains but the bright-light club ambience of old is largely smoothed over. "Television" bags a chorus worthy of expectation, blokey-gospel to the extreme, but throws around so much pre-school sloganeering against culture and politics that its effect is dimmed. "We Need Love" is less preachy and works better. "Can’t Get Along (Without You)" is a dumb Motown-esque love song, doesn’t suit their posture at all, but is just the kind of bubblegum they might have to rely on if their socio-realism has gone flat. --James Berry
Review
Attitudes to maturity vary for obvious reasons. We expect it from our colleagues, hope to see it in our children and ourselves (on some emotional level, at least) but don't always want it seeping from our speakers.
Neil Young, Nick Cave and Bob Dylan have achieved greatness with their own grown-up perspectives but most great pop and rock acts should stay young and vital.
All of which makes Hard-Fi's second album something of a mixed blessing. What made Hard-Fi such an exciting prospect to so many to begin with, was their vitality. Their debut, Stars Of CCTV, was filled with urgent sucker punches of high street angst like 'Tied Up Too Tight' and 'Cash Machine', but here there is plenty of depth and poignancy, perhaps resulting, at least partly from the death of frontman Richard Archer's mother between LPs.
From the start of the record it's clear the same themes occupy the Staines trio, with 'Suburban Knights'' lyrics encapsulating the stifling net curtain twitch as well as anything on Stars..., with the key line, 'Suburban dreams/just out of reach'. The angst and claustrophobic nature of the 'burbs is laid on thickly throughout, but particularly neatly executed on 'Watch Me Fall Apart'. Archer sings, 'Every Smiling Face brings me down', while the music grandly sweeps past like incidental music in a Moscow-set spy movie. Mixing such a big sound with the small concerns of the provinces works well.
Elsewhere, the band have clearly taken a leaf out of Kasabian's book. The lairy Leicester band clearly share some indie DNA with Staines mob Hard-Fi as it is. Both are ace live bands, write anthems and retain a punky yet clearly dance-influenced sound, though while Kasabian want to be the new Oasis, HF would love to be The Clash of the noughties.
The newest similarity has to be the wordless singalong moment that Kasabian had made their own. Five of the eleven tracks on Once! include such chants, with the best being 'We Need Love', a pumped-up glam swagger of the sort that gobs out its chewing gum into the gutter before addressing you. Top stuff.
West London's punkiest dub disciples have delivered the goods with their songwriting, stepped up a notch on the production front and crammed memorable hooks on their sophomore LP. Yet though Hard-Fi's outlaw spirit remains intact, as the Sergio Leone movie title and occasional melodica bursts may suggest, anyone wishing for a riot may be disappointed. --Lou Thomas
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Hard-Fi's debut 'Stars of CCTV' is one of the best albums I have ever heard, so I was very, very excited about the release of 'Once Upon a Time in the West'. Unfortunately, I've got to say that, although it's a good, solid record, this sophomore effort just doesn't live up to its predecessor.
Lead single 'Suburban Knights', with its chanted refrain, is a good enough singalong, but it feels more than a little like a Kasabian pastiche - and Hard-Fi are (or were) better than that. In places, the band appear to have lost their edge; the passion and anger that made their debut so thrilling seem dulled, and the lyrics about ordinary working life now ring hollow. Most baffling is the decision not only to include 'Can't Get Along (Without You)' - a track first recorded by frontman Richard Archer's previous band Contempo - but also to release it as a single. In my opinion, this is the worst song Hard-Fi have ever recorded; the lyrics are cringe-inducing. As a long-time fan, I can't understand why the band would include a track like this when they've had far better B-sides - the anthemic 'Stronger', for example, and their scintillating cover of the White Stripes' 'Seven Nation Army'.
This certainly isn't to say that the album is all bad. The bitter, defiant 'I Shall Overcome' has a great gospel-influenced chorus. Strings are used to fantastic effect on 'Watch Me Fall Apart' and 'Tonight', giving the songs an air of grandeur that was absent from the first album. 'We Need Love' sounds like a football chant as mixed by Goldfrapp - no bad thing, since this brings an experimental edge to the band's sound. There's a couple of tracks, most notably 'Television', that have incredibly weak verses but still boast Hard-Fi's trademark powerful choruses. Because of this, the record becomes more likeable the more you play it and familiarise yourself with the songs.
'Once Upon a Time in the West' is a good album, with a few standout tracks; and if you're already a Hard-Fi fan, or if you like 'Suburban Knights', you'll find it very listenable. But if you're new to the band, my advice would be to buy the far superior 'Stars of CCTV' - in my opinion, a record good enough to be called a bona fide classic, with every song good enough to be made a single.
Lead single 'Suburban Knights', with its chanted refrain, is a good enough singalong, but it feels more than a little like a Kasabian pastiche - and Hard-Fi are (or were) better than that. In places, the band appear to have lost their edge; the passion and anger that made their debut so thrilling seem dulled, and the lyrics about ordinary working life now ring hollow. Most baffling is the decision not only to include 'Can't Get Along (Without You)' - a track first recorded by frontman Richard Archer's previous band Contempo - but also to release it as a single. In my opinion, this is the worst song Hard-Fi have ever recorded; the lyrics are cringe-inducing. As a long-time fan, I can't understand why the band would include a track like this when they've had far better B-sides - the anthemic 'Stronger', for example, and their scintillating cover of the White Stripes' 'Seven Nation Army'.
This certainly isn't to say that the album is all bad. The bitter, defiant 'I Shall Overcome' has a great gospel-influenced chorus. Strings are used to fantastic effect on 'Watch Me Fall Apart' and 'Tonight', giving the songs an air of grandeur that was absent from the first album. 'We Need Love' sounds like a football chant as mixed by Goldfrapp - no bad thing, since this brings an experimental edge to the band's sound. There's a couple of tracks, most notably 'Television', that have incredibly weak verses but still boast Hard-Fi's trademark powerful choruses. Because of this, the record becomes more likeable the more you play it and familiarise yourself with the songs.
'Once Upon a Time in the West' is a good album, with a few standout tracks; and if you're already a Hard-Fi fan, or if you like 'Suburban Knights', you'll find it very listenable. But if you're new to the band, my advice would be to buy the far superior 'Stars of CCTV' - in my opinion, a record good enough to be called a bona fide classic, with every song good enough to be made a single.
12 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Following their very successful Stars of CCTV I was concerned they were going to be like many one-album bands out there. This album shows they hadn't used up all their creative juices in one go.
A good mixed bag of tracks.. they've managed to retain their identity without becoming caricatures of themselves.. all too often the 2nd album involves giving the audience more of the same, but sometimes cliched.
This album is still definitely Hard Fi, with the moody lead vocals and echoing harmonica on some tracks. If feels like the record company have spent more on this album.. to some it may sound too polished, not raw and gritty like their first effort, even though I've seen them live perhaps I'm not a Hard Fi purist and not so precious of "their sound" so I don't mind this new album as much as the other critics.
Get this album !
A good mixed bag of tracks.. they've managed to retain their identity without becoming caricatures of themselves.. all too often the 2nd album involves giving the audience more of the same, but sometimes cliched.
This album is still definitely Hard Fi, with the moody lead vocals and echoing harmonica on some tracks. If feels like the record company have spent more on this album.. to some it may sound too polished, not raw and gritty like their first effort, even though I've seen them live perhaps I'm not a Hard Fi purist and not so precious of "their sound" so I don't mind this new album as much as the other critics.
Get this album !
10 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I have been eagerly awaiting this album for some time following the success of Stars of CCTV, which is still one of my favourite albums to date. Of course, being the 2nd Studio album leaves you with thoughts such as 'will it be as good as the first one?' I picked up the album 2 days ago, and I am absolutely blown away by the overall quality of both the individual tracks and the album as a whole, it has enjoyed 6 whole plays in my car up to now!
The opener, Suburban Knights, was the only track I had heeard from the album before purchasing, as it had been played all over the Radio previously. Following this track comes Watch me Overcome, Tonight and Watch me Fall Apart, a more mellow collection of songs, very haunting and in a whole new style not really covered in Stars of CCTV. The album Picks up the Pace again in I Close my Eyes and Television, leading into the brilliant Help Me Please. This is followed by the ultimate feelgood Can't Get Along Without You, and the singalong We Need Love. The album ends on a brilliant note with Little Angel and the lyrically amazing The King.
After my first listen of the album, I was amazed at the new sound the band have explored, and what I thought would be a similar style that really worked in Stars of CCTV (which was at the time unlike any band/artist in the mainstream) the band have explored a new avenue, and exceeded the previous album indefinately, with songs sounding so much more bold, epic and bringing a story to the song. Maybe i'm the only one who thought this, but in songs like Watch me Fall Apart and The King, the lyrics seemed to play out a story in my head!
Of course, the new style may throw some huge fans of the original album, but then again, I am a huge fan of Stars of CCTV, and I love the latest offering!
The opener, Suburban Knights, was the only track I had heeard from the album before purchasing, as it had been played all over the Radio previously. Following this track comes Watch me Overcome, Tonight and Watch me Fall Apart, a more mellow collection of songs, very haunting and in a whole new style not really covered in Stars of CCTV. The album Picks up the Pace again in I Close my Eyes and Television, leading into the brilliant Help Me Please. This is followed by the ultimate feelgood Can't Get Along Without You, and the singalong We Need Love. The album ends on a brilliant note with Little Angel and the lyrically amazing The King.
After my first listen of the album, I was amazed at the new sound the band have explored, and what I thought would be a similar style that really worked in Stars of CCTV (which was at the time unlike any band/artist in the mainstream) the band have explored a new avenue, and exceeded the previous album indefinately, with songs sounding so much more bold, epic and bringing a story to the song. Maybe i'm the only one who thought this, but in songs like Watch me Fall Apart and The King, the lyrics seemed to play out a story in my head!
Of course, the new style may throw some huge fans of the original album, but then again, I am a huge fan of Stars of CCTV, and I love the latest offering!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Funny what people think, but I like it
Funny what people think, but I like it and contrary to some of the other reviews I think that overall it is possibly better than "Stars of CCTV". Read more
Published 11 months ago by ColinD
once upon a time in the west
SIMPLY NO WHERE NEAR AS GOOD AS THE FIRST ALBUM, APART FROM ONE OR TWO STAND OUT TRACKS THE REST IS AVERAGE AT BEST.
Published on 16 July 2009 by Mr. M. A. Phillips
Best cover art ever, even if it isn't!
I've never heard Hard-Fi, no idea what they sound like, but I have just read the following in Orange's list of worst album covers ever:
"One teensy problem with your... Read more
"One teensy problem with your... Read more
Published on 8 Mar 2009 by Andromeda Descendent
I'll pay you not to buy this
Heard this album and it made me feel like being sick. Saw the band on TV and the lead 'singer' made me feel like turning to violent crime. Read more
Published on 19 Jun 2008 by Mr. K. L. Kinsella
Give it a few listens
This album in my opinion is just as good as their debut.
It didn't grab me that much when i first listened to it, but after a couple of listens i really started getting... Read more
It didn't grab me that much when i first listened to it, but after a couple of listens i really started getting... Read more
Published on 22 May 2008 by D. Service
SUPERB ALBUM
I think Stars of CCTV is one of the best albums I have ever bought, and this one is just as good, a little less in your face but it really grows on you.
Published on 8 May 2008 by Surrey Boy
This record sounds rushed - record company pressure?
the debut album by Hard-Fi would always be a hard act to follow, though it was far from faultless. While their uptempo tracks bounce along with a great Clash-like swagger, they... Read more
Published on 9 Feb 2008 by The Sad One
Brilliant
Brilliant CD, i would say that this is better than the stars of cctv, the songs have a much better rhythm and you can really get into some of the songs. Read more
Published on 1 Feb 2008 by Nathan
The boys are on song
Compared to the debut album this 2nd offering from Hard-Fi stands up just as well to my ears. The production is slicker, vocals more finely honed and instrumentation tighter. Read more
Published on 9 Jan 2008 by Stephen Holmes
i don't care what they have to say
It is a common misconception that music made by the working classes (Oasis, Kasabian, The enemy etc) is deemed more important than music by bands who let the music speak for itself... Read more
Published on 8 Dec 2007 by Mr. CJ HUDSON
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