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Jon McClure has grafted and toiled to be in the position he's in today. A self-confessed 'perfectionist', McClure has shaped Reverend & The Makers in his own specific vision crafting what he claims to be music which transcends the usual genre barriers in an industry which loves definition.
With high profile close friends, such as the Artic Monkeys and Radio 1's Jo Whiley, this debut is highly anticipated. Constant radio play of their first single, 'Heavyweight Champion Of The World', has just managed to up the hype. With its flawless production, funky bass and Northern styling, it subtly fills the gap between indie respectability and pop sensitivity.
But the album fails to fluctuate from this one level. Sure, on the surface The Makers don't sound like other Sheffield bands but if you listen carefully McClure waxes lyrical in strangely familiar patterns. His local narratives and accent put to this. 'The State Of Things' talks about the disillusionment of growing up in a society disillusioned and 'He Said He Loved Me' gives reference to single teenage mothers in council estates, all masqueraded by an ever-present jovial bass-line with optimistic tonalities.
'Sex With The Ex' sends the tempo down a tad with sweeping synth melodies plus a jingly guitar and 'Sundown On The Empire' even strays into reggae, comprisable to a solo Ian Brown post-Stone Roses at a stretch.
However, this album is all about the punchy bass. Without it, it wouldn't exist. 'Miss Brown, Armchair Detective' and '18-30' all possess this constant formula which is, sad to say, ultimately disappointing. Perfectionist he may be but diverse McClure isn't. To be heavyweights Reverend & The Makers need to preach a different sermon. --David McGuire
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I bought this album around a month ago without really knowing whether I would like it...having only heard 'Heavyweight Champion of The World' and 'She Said He Loved Me' and believing they would be the only catchy numbers from the CD.
I must confess I missed the chance to see the Reverend and his band at Reading Festival 2007- as I wanted to see 'The Enemy' and 'Maximo Park' on other stages at the same time. But clearly I missed out.
The album is a great listen for anyone remotely into Indie. Although there remains the vast majority who have yet to hear either the songs themselves or even of the band, once you do you will be hooked. The electro strains also broaden the appeal to a wider audience who as ever, want something fresh, new and vibrant.
I've been so impressed by the album that I made a special effort to get hold of tickets for a gig of theirs and it was brilliant. Tonight I went to the Carling Academy in Birmingham to see them and the material/atmosphere/price was top notch.
So as someone else said. Buy the album. Then go and see them. And quick. Before their popularity escalates prices!
I must confess I missed the chance to see the Reverend and his band at Reading Festival 2007- as I wanted to see 'The Enemy' and 'Maximo Park' on other stages at the same time. But clearly I missed out.
The album is a great listen for anyone remotely into Indie. Although there remains the vast majority who have yet to hear either the songs themselves or even of the band, once you do you will be hooked. The electro strains also broaden the appeal to a wider audience who as ever, want something fresh, new and vibrant.
I've been so impressed by the album that I made a special effort to get hold of tickets for a gig of theirs and it was brilliant. Tonight I went to the Carling Academy in Birmingham to see them and the material/atmosphere/price was top notch.
So as someone else said. Buy the album. Then go and see them. And quick. Before their popularity escalates prices!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Without making any comparison to the Artic monkeys or any other bands and just listening to this album as what it is its pretty good. The songs that are good on it are really good and the rest just fail below the mark.It starts of great with fast beats and memorable hard tunes for the first five songs then it seriousily lulls till track 8 He said he loved me- (a chavs anthemn to unrequeinted love ). Heavyweight champion is the outstanding song and the other first 5 songs are in a similar vein.However the rest seriousily lull and this is where the album falls down- however in honesty its a failing of many albums nowadays.
There are no great suprises on this album and all the released track songs are the best ones on the albm the others are indeed forgetable. However if you like these tracks its worth buying this as you know what you are getting- and I personally love Open your window, Heavyweight champion and state of things as they beat a lot of songs out there for orginalioty and cunning beats.
Hopefully there next album will be stronger and they will start to expand more as they are in danger of just replicating the same great song over and over again. In my eyes the reverend has some great songs and talent hopefully his next album will show more diversity and more consistancy. Saying that I do love this for what good songs it has on it but just feel they have sold themselves a bit short.
There are no great suprises on this album and all the released track songs are the best ones on the albm the others are indeed forgetable. However if you like these tracks its worth buying this as you know what you are getting- and I personally love Open your window, Heavyweight champion and state of things as they beat a lot of songs out there for orginalioty and cunning beats.
Hopefully there next album will be stronger and they will start to expand more as they are in danger of just replicating the same great song over and over again. In my eyes the reverend has some great songs and talent hopefully his next album will show more diversity and more consistancy. Saying that I do love this for what good songs it has on it but just feel they have sold themselves a bit short.
16 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
While virtually everyone's been wetting themselves about the Artic Monkeys second album Reverend And The Makers have snuck up on the rails and produced an album that's roughly about fifty times as enjoyable as the Sheffield moppets effort. RATM may not have the snaky post punk or maybe its now punk edge of the Artic Monkeys but they know how to write songs that sink irresistibly into the grey stuff rather than skitter annoyingly round the cranium before disappearing forgettabley into the ether.
There is a link between the two bands of course. The Reverend John McClure has previously been in two other bands, the first named Judan Suki along with Alex Turner. The Second - 1984 is referred to in the famous Monkeys lyrics "dancing to electro-pop like a robot from 1984" and "I bet you look good on the dance floor". Alex Turner even plays and co-writes "The Machine" and provides guitar on "Sex With The Ex" Thankfully that's all they have in common .RATM are a far more playful , engaging and esoteric experience. There are elements of ska, pop, punk and even electonica in the 12 songs here. Funky fluid bass lines vie with steely glowering keyboards and razor wire guitars and blimey there is even a violin on the sky scrapingly melodious "Armchair Detective".
There are some great songs sung with a slight sneer but never in an over affected manner that can rapidly becomes as irritating as a blue bottle in a light fitting. "Heavyweight Champion Of the World" is anthemic but don't let that put you off and it s by no means the only track on The State Of Things that could qualify in the anthem stakes. The title track like..... well any song on the album is centred around some societal or everyday event but has a towering epic quality that belies its kitchen sink origins." Bandits" even has the audacity to have an internal dialogue going on round a steaming carousel of a tune.
The delicate tingling guitar refrain of "Sex With The Ex" provides pretty contrast as do the vocals of Jon's girlfriend, Laura Manuel, who provides occasional balanced purity to McClure's severe constructive diatribes. This particularly applies to excellent latest single He Said He Loved Me with a caustic duet telling the story of a heartbroken teenager who's been dumped by an older man.
Only occasionally does it pall -"What The Milkman Saw" is energetic enough but lacks the sing-a- long impact of the albums strongest songs and while the dub influenced "Sundown On The Empire" is a laudable attempt to shoe horn a dissimilar genre into the mix it's a rather mundane attempt. The ska -influenced "Miss Brown" shows it how its done. Overall this is a sneeringly confident debut album with depth , essence and most importantly tunes that could thaw a concrete golem. As the zippy almost techno based "The Machine " says "Don't, forget you can get off the conveyor" .Time to take that leap of faith now.
There is a link between the two bands of course. The Reverend John McClure has previously been in two other bands, the first named Judan Suki along with Alex Turner. The Second - 1984 is referred to in the famous Monkeys lyrics "dancing to electro-pop like a robot from 1984" and "I bet you look good on the dance floor". Alex Turner even plays and co-writes "The Machine" and provides guitar on "Sex With The Ex" Thankfully that's all they have in common .RATM are a far more playful , engaging and esoteric experience. There are elements of ska, pop, punk and even electonica in the 12 songs here. Funky fluid bass lines vie with steely glowering keyboards and razor wire guitars and blimey there is even a violin on the sky scrapingly melodious "Armchair Detective".
There are some great songs sung with a slight sneer but never in an over affected manner that can rapidly becomes as irritating as a blue bottle in a light fitting. "Heavyweight Champion Of the World" is anthemic but don't let that put you off and it s by no means the only track on The State Of Things that could qualify in the anthem stakes. The title track like..... well any song on the album is centred around some societal or everyday event but has a towering epic quality that belies its kitchen sink origins." Bandits" even has the audacity to have an internal dialogue going on round a steaming carousel of a tune.
The delicate tingling guitar refrain of "Sex With The Ex" provides pretty contrast as do the vocals of Jon's girlfriend, Laura Manuel, who provides occasional balanced purity to McClure's severe constructive diatribes. This particularly applies to excellent latest single He Said He Loved Me with a caustic duet telling the story of a heartbroken teenager who's been dumped by an older man.
Only occasionally does it pall -"What The Milkman Saw" is energetic enough but lacks the sing-a- long impact of the albums strongest songs and while the dub influenced "Sundown On The Empire" is a laudable attempt to shoe horn a dissimilar genre into the mix it's a rather mundane attempt. The ska -influenced "Miss Brown" shows it how its done. Overall this is a sneeringly confident debut album with depth , essence and most importantly tunes that could thaw a concrete golem. As the zippy almost techno based "The Machine " says "Don't, forget you can get off the conveyor" .Time to take that leap of faith now.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
The state of things
I play this album and their second album often. Both are excellent - I enjoy the music and the lyrics. Reverend and the Makers deserve much more success. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Mr. D. Lever
a little introduction to the state of things
one of the best albums in a long time. this is the soundtrack to my life. john mclure and the makers write about working class britain and nail it superbly. 10 out of 10.
Published on 16 Jan 2009 by micky merch
Saying it like it is....
There has always been a select group of bands who attempt to make rock music you can dance to. Some might say The Stone Roses and Happy Mondays kicked it all off back in the 80's. Read more
Published on 8 Sep 2008 by S. MCBEATH
rev and the makers
most original and best album i've heard in years, provocative, thought provoking and real life. always makes me smile.
Published on 16 July 2008 by Nicky A
Pleasant surprise
I bought this cd after hearing "heavyweight champion of the world" while shopping in HMV, never heard of them before and not really my type of music either. Read more
Published on 13 Jan 2008 by I know nothing
Please let me off this conveyer..........
I was really looking forward to this album, there was the Arctic Monkeys links, the hype, the bravado etc and god was I disappointed. Read more
Published on 5 Dec 2007 by D. Fickling
top tunes
I have not stopped listening to this album since i bought it. every track is brilliant and most of my friends have purchased copies since i MADE them listen to a wonderful new... Read more
Published on 17 Oct 2007 by Mr. W. D. Bagnall
'The State of Things' is better than you could imagine!
Reverend and the Makers will make you sit up and listen. Great studio/live band! The album, 'The State of Things' is a 'must have'. Read more
Published on 26 Sep 2007 by Music Mad Me!
I said i love it!
There's always going to be some bias when reviewing a local band whom you really like, but this is wothout a doubt a truly great album. Read more
Published on 25 Sep 2007 by B. Shepherd
Pretty damn good!
Saw these supporting the arctic monkeys in cardiff, and I was quite surprised when I heard about this.
I immediately went out and bought it, and was not dissapointed! Read more
I immediately went out and bought it, and was not dissapointed! Read more
Published on 25 Sep 2007 by C. D. Fielding
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