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Track Listings
| 1. Welcome To The North |
| 2. Freedom Fighters |
| 3. Bleed From Within |
| 4. Breakin |
| 5. Cessation |
| 6. Fight The Feeling |
| 7. Guide |
| 8. Into The Night |
| 9. I Need Love |
| 10. One Way In, No Way Out |
| 11. Open Your Mind |
| 12. The Walls Get Smaller (hidden track) |
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
The Music are nothing if not confounding. Their second album, Welcome to the North would, based on its title alone, suggest that this quartet wear their Northerness on their sleeve. But rather than producing yet another tired Oasis or Stone Roses pastiche, the Music decamped to the distinctly un-Northern town of Atlanta, Georgia to work with renowned rock producer Brendan O'Brien (best known for working with Pearl Jam and Soundgarden). The results are thrilling--an over-the-top, bombastic album that often manages to combine the rock power of Led Zeppelin with the epic psychedelia of Jane's Addiction (helped by frontman Robert Harvey's vocal similarities to Perry Farrell and drummer Phil Jordan's breakneck drumming, reminiscent of Stephen Perkins). And though the lyrics occasionally venture into pretension (really, who says "mine eyes" anymore?), they're made forgivable by the power of tracks like "Freedom Fighters" and "Bleed from Within" (which even boasts a drum solo). In fact, the only outright homage to their Northern indie heritage is "I Need Love", with a danceable, New Order-esque bassline that drives the whole thing along. But generally, they stick to their guns instead of their roots, making Welcome to the North a great rock album. --Robert Burrow
Review
Welcome To The North is that rock cliché, the difficult second album, and that is exactly why it is so exciting. In a year where bands like The Strokes and The Thrills have released sophomore efforts which have shown exactly zero musical progression, which have been *easy* second albums, this sees The Music make a leap for artistic greatness. They don't quite make it, but the attempt itself makes for an exhilarating listen.
It kicks off with the title track, and kicks off is exactly the right phrase - this is the sound of a drunken brawl on a wet Northern street, built on layers of brutish guitar and a strident, desperate vocal from Robert Harvey. On their debut, Harvey sounded whiny as often as he sounded heroic. On this record he has perfected his instrument, pushing it to howling, raging extremes one moment, then scatting guttural rhythms the next.
Like Harvey's voice, Welcome To The North often teeters towards the absurd, but even a song as silly as "Freedom Fighters" is redeemed by its epic scale and the virtuosity of Adam Nutter's guitar work (though Harvey will one day weep with shame that he ever sang "dance for the freedom, fathers of the world"). "Bleeding From Within" has a far better lyric, a fierce denunciation of a war which the vast majority of today's careerist rock stars haven't even noticed, perfectly matched by a bruising, brooding musical backdrop which recalls The God Machine at their bleakest.
Listening to this album is an intense experience, without a doubt, whether mournfully so in the minor chords and despairing melody of "Fight The Feeling" or ragingly so in the frantic, guitar juggernaut that is "Cessation". Not that The Music totally disdain pop - the nagging keyboard riff and giddy handclaps of "Breakin" make it the album's most lovable and immediate moment.
There are occasional misfires. A song as pompous and blatantly indebted to Urban Hymns as "Guide" verves on the ridiculous. But the blatant sincerity of Welcome To The North, the fact that it so clearly cares about music and itself, makes it deeply rewarding. And the best thing about itis that it feels like a stepping stone to somewhere even better. --Jaime Gill
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A definite progresson,
By The Dr "aphexiated" (Manchester, U.K.) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Welcome To The North (Audio CD)
Opinion seems to be varied on this new offering by Leeds' The Music. Not whether it is good or not - pretty much everyone is united in the viewpoint that it is a stonking mash of rocking guitar, breakneck drumming & dance-able rhythms - but whether or not it is better than their debut offering. In my humble opinion, it knocks the socks off its predecessor. Not because it is harder, not because it is more accessable (which it is, by the way), but simply because it is more consistent. It is hard to single out any track as being duff on here, and it stands up to repeated listening.There are less of the (I know, everyone mentions this) Led Zep-like ramblings, and tracks have more direction about them. Of course, the better production present here might not be to everyones tastes - many were disappointed with the eponymous debut because it was too polished, it lacked the raw edge of their live performances. This is a bit of a mute point though, when the songs are just so damn good. Anyone who has heard the latest single "Freedom Fighters" will know exactly what is in store here. In fairness, I think it has lost a little of the dance edge that their first album had. Whether this is a good thing or not, I will leave up to you. It made little difference to me. One area it falls down in is the fact there is nothing here that can match "The Truth Is No Words". Considering what a blinding track that is though, it's no great surprise. The likes of "Welcome To The North" and "Cessation" come damn close mind you. All in all, the so called 'difficult' 2nd album has proved to be a doddle - The Music have laid a trump card, a juggernaut of a record that deserves your attention. Scrap that, it DEMANDS your attention. Stuff Manchester, the party is kicking off in Leeds. See you there, baggy trousers and all.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Welcome to The Music,
By A Customer
This review is from: Welcome To The North (Audio CD)
Having purchased their first album back in 2003 after seeing them live, i have eagerly waited for this album to be released.I was hoping that their songs would be of similar standard to 'Getaway' and 'The People' which in my opinion are the stand out tracks of their first self titled album. I was wrong though as some of the songs on this album surpass their previous work. The first track 'Welcome to the north' introduces you to the silky guitar riffs that dominate. Other stand out tracks include the single 'Freedom Fighters', 'Open your Mind' and 'Cessation'. I have to say the drumming on this album is top notch. If you are fans of Robert Harvey's voice and rock music in general then this album is a MUST!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
OUTSTANDING MUSIC,
By Ross Watson (Scotland, Inverness) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Welcome To The North (Audio CD)
This album along with there last album is total oustanding quality music. I can not congratulate these guys enough. Even meeting them personally, they are so down to earth guys, the drummer actually thanked me for turning up at there gig to watch them. This album is brilliant from start to finish. Welcome to the North is just a brilliant starter, then u get the two quality singles of Freedom Fighters and Breakin, outstanding again. Then you get the best song on the album Cessation. There are no words on earth to describe how great that song is. True quality throughout. Can't belive the drumming in that song, Phil (drummer) must have being shattered after that. I could go on forever saying how brilliant this album is, go ahead and buy it and you will soon be transformed from listening to crap Franz Ferdinand, to the Awesome and Outstanding work of The Music.
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