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Track Listings
| 1. The Feeling You Get When |
| 2. The Hoosiers Splash Screen |
| 3. Worried About Ray |
| 4. Worst Case Scenario |
| 5. Run Rabbit Run |
| 6. Goodbye Mr A |
| 7. A Sadness Runs Through Him |
| 8. Clinging On For Life |
| 9. Cops and Robbers |
| 10. Everything Goes Dark |
| 11. Killer |
| 12. The Trick To Life |
| 13. Money To Be Made |
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
If The Feeling’s slick high-crime pilfering of 70’s AOR is missing anything in particular--and they do run a tight operation--then it’s a bit of throttle, a hint of recklessness, if that’s not too much of a contradiction in terms. Enter London-based trio The Hoosiers, who pogo like un-caged kids on Saturday morning TV hooked up to McFlurry drips, dancing to Twelve Stops and Home on fast-forward like everything’s quite normal. Or at least they do for much of the time–-"Clinging on for Life" for instance sidles off into an unusually mellow Nick Drake lay-by. But for the most part The Trick to Life is the work of Electric Light Orchestra and Supertramp half-inched, shaken up and handed to McFly to pop the cork. There is much that feels near-plagiarised. "Goodbye Mr A" has more than a little of ELO’s signature "Mr Blue Sky" to it, "Worried About Ray" recalls The Turtles’ "Happy Together" and "Cops and Robbers" isn’t even remotely coy about stealing wholesale from a tune as iconic as The Cure’s unmistakable "The Lovecats". And coming a little closer to home, "Run Rabbit Run" sees singer Irwin Sparkes unfurl a soprano tailor-made for a close impersonation of dreamy indie-poppers The Delays. But if none of that bothers you (or even if it does) The Hoosiers have a super-charged barrel of sugar rushes here that are dangerously immediate and difficult to ignore, sweet tooth or no sweet tooth. --James Berry
Review
Why is it that when a band of mediocre credentials rocks up, the record label blurb has to invent a whole new genre? As if the label of 'oddpop' is going to polish this same old rock dropping... Why not just label it 'bargain basement'? Oh yeah, that's right you wouldn't be able to sell any records.
As it is, The Hoosiers are doing alright on that front, with first upbeat stomper single, ''Worried About Ray'', being catchy enough to linger, like a stinking cod behind the radiator, in the Top 10 for eight consecutive weeks. ''!Ray'' and ''Goodbye Mr A'' both contain the trademark Hoosier sound of choral harmonies, upbeat drums and resounding organ, which in some ways harks back to ELO and their ilk. And the swatchbook of references don't end there. ''Worst Case Scenario'' is reminiscent of The Cure with vocalist Irwin Sparkes' Robert Smith-like vocals. This is not a bad record, but it's all so very safe, fairly non-offensive stuff (think Keane and The Feeling), but it's funny how that, in itself, can wear thin three tracks in. With ''Run Rabbit Run'' unfortunately the band overstep the mark and try their hand at taking off Radiohead - not a chance lads, sorry.
Frontman Sparkes just loves to exercise his impressive falsetto at any opportunity and the one trick pony really begins to grate. The record keeps up its assault of semi-nauseating dad-pop just taking a breath long enough to change the pace for the love-struck ''Clinging On For Life'' but by then it's too late. There's even a hidden track on the album to finish you off if you haven't had enough already. In a word; ordinary. --Sonja D'Cruze
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
So maybe, when you first here this, only certain tracks will grab you like "Worried About Ray" and certinaly "Goodbye Mr A". But when you give this a chance, and maybe listen to it when your on your way home from work or when your just a little bit bored, this won't let you down. Just great, upbeat, uplifiting songs. You can't help sing along or smile to what I would say is a mixture between The Feeling, The Scissor Sisters and Mika.
If you want tracks, that make you cry for hours, or ones you will remember for eternity, go and search for Elton John or something. But if you are willing to give this a chance, you like happy music which is a bit different, then you are in the right place.
If you want tracks, that make you cry for hours, or ones you will remember for eternity, go and search for Elton John or something. But if you are willing to give this a chance, you like happy music which is a bit different, then you are in the right place.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Heard it, bought it, loved it!
These guys do what they do well with echoes and influences from past sounds lyrics and beats - no crime in that.
They don't take themselves too seriously and seem to have an honest approach to their music.
The album has a good variety of entertaining and catchy tracks - great to listen to in the car (or whilst cleaning!).
It's an album which lifted my spirists and got me singing, toe tapping and air drumming (not whilst driving!) in quite an embarrassing fashion - great fun!
These guys do what they do well with echoes and influences from past sounds lyrics and beats - no crime in that.
They don't take themselves too seriously and seem to have an honest approach to their music.
The album has a good variety of entertaining and catchy tracks - great to listen to in the car (or whilst cleaning!).
It's an album which lifted my spirists and got me singing, toe tapping and air drumming (not whilst driving!) in quite an embarrassing fashion - great fun!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Fantastic.
This, in my opinion is a very accurate representation of just how good the hoosiers really are - or were, sadly. the music they produce seems to be of a very high quality. Read more
Published 4 months ago by George
Awesome CD!
I bought this album along with the Illusion Of Safety by the Hoosiers as well, both are fantastic CD's. Read more
Published 17 months ago by DJBozo01
Great Album
It's a great album. I can't believe it's taken me this long to get around to buing it. £3 was just too good to resist!
Published 17 months ago by Ms. J. L. Poole
Brilliant
This album really has something. I love the dark, comic book hero atmosphere it creates. The style of the music sounds very individual and somehow combines a tongue in cheek... Read more
Published 19 months ago by semanteme
the trick to life
a top draw indie album, a must have for your collection. BUY IT FROM AMAZON NOW !!!!!!!!!!!
Published on 9 May 2010 by Mr. T. R. Rayner
Hoosier think they sound like?
I really like the whimsical, slightly retro, ELO-inspired sound these lads create. I loved Goodbye Mr A and I liked Worried About Ray as singles so I was intrigued as to what the... Read more
Published on 7 Nov 2008 by Guitar Heroine
Awsome
this is a cd i believe everyone should have. the songs are consistently good throughtout the whole cd. Read more
Published on 28 Sep 2008 by Richard Pollard
More great tunes
All right, I am a bit late off the mark with this review and, I have to be honest I only got this coz Tesco were flogging it cheap but I am glad I did. Read more
Published on 28 Aug 2008 by B. C. Winter
Terribly disappointing
After hearing "Worried About Ray" and "Goodbye Mr. A" I was quite excited about this album. I expected a bit of feel-good bouncy pop music, but those were easily the two best... Read more
Published on 1 Aug 2008 by Samantha Gregory
A whimsically fun and bizarre album
The Hoosiers, when first breaking onto the scene could only be described as weird, yet unique. They gave us a sound that we truly don't hear that much on todays pop music scene,... Read more
Published on 27 July 2008 by Steven Stewart
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