Played this album through from start to finish and didn't find a single reason to skip tracks (a rare occurrence this past wee while).
Not since my first hearing of my very first Snow Patrol album have I been So Impressed ... The singles are great, that true, they're what brought me to buy this album, but the other tracks All have Something going for them ...
Some are a little 'wacky' while others, like 'Sadness Runs Through Him' are amazingly 'deep' and have lyrics which catch you up and pull you in.
Bottom Line?
Best album in Ages.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
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.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
It is the truly wonderful and uplifting 'Goodbye Mr A' - their second and most recent single (at the time of writing) that made up my mind about taking a chance on this cd. I say chance, because these types of albums are very hit and miss. This comes in four different coloured artwork covers. I got the yellow one.
On first play, I was very pleasantly surprised. It was instant enjoyment - it hit home straight away. Their sound is like a cross between the Feeling and the Kooks or ELO and 10cc (depending on the decade) and has a lot of bouncy keyboard and bass playing on it, with plenty of hooks and melodies to enjoy. There are also more quirky influences on this, such as: The Cure and Sparks. So far, apart from the first two singles (including 'Worried About Ray'), I'm really enjoying 'Worst Case Scenario', 'Run Rabbit Run' and 'Cops And Robbers', but no doubt over time I'll have more favourites.
So to sum up, this is utterly charming stuff, that does exactly what it says on the tin, and judging by this album's healthy dose of infectious pop, there's definitely no need to worry about Ray anymore.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
I have purchased this album and having listened to it fully on several occasions, I think its an excellent debut album from the Hoosiers. I also think they are a bit different to a lot of the music out at the moment although elements of their sound remind me of The Feeling's debut album in terms of the infectious pop/rock hooks provided.
The two released singles (Worried About Ray and Goodbye Mr. A) are both stand out tracks and are just great catchy pop songs. Album tracks such as Worst Case Scenario and Cops and Robbers along with the 2 singles demonstrate this new bands ability to produce uptempo and enjoyable music to lsiten to.
The band has a nice sound instrumentally and vocalist Irwin Sparkes has a voice which sounds great accompanied with the upbeat backing tracks. However he also shows a softer vocal approach on A Sadness Runs Though Him, Clinging On For Life and Money to Be Made - songs which mixed with the more upbeat offerings make for a enjoyable first album - I love it!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
The Hoosiers say this about themselves, "we want to be indie but we're not cool enough". Well, I don't know about cool, but 'The Trick To Life', like last year's album by The Feeling, is probably a little more steeped in classic 60s, 70s & 80s bands' influence for the indie tag to really stick. Instead bands such as Supertramp, E.L.O., Sparks and XTC come to mind when you listen to this English/Swedish trio's debut.
It could be argued that The Hoosiers cross a fine line between influence and wholesale borrowing of melodies/chord structures/sounds from different classic songs. The infectious 'Worried About Ray' borrows heavily from the verse of The Turtles' 'Happy Together', the energy-packed, bouncy, melodic 'Goodbye Mr. A' brings back more than echoes of E.L.O.'s 'Mr. Blue Sky' and, perhaps most unsubtle of all, 'Cops And Robbers' is very reminiscent of The Cure's 'Love Cats'. Perhaps that's why I like this album so much - they wear their influences on their sleeve and the music itself is very pleasing to the ears and the soul.
Not all of their very listenable debut is gold and they're probably at least three excellent songs short of replicating the success of The Feeling's monster hit album last year, but it is, without doubt, great to hear a band making such feelgood, pure pop/rock tracks which could probably appeal to music lovers of all ages and, of course, any album that has a handful of songs which can make a smile break out across your face is worth recognition.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Nice is a good word for this album as it is nice and tuneful and totally inoffensive. Catchy singles of course and a little eccentric in places but on the whole nice
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
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!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
I mainly bought the album because i liked the singles they had realeased but to find that the songs left on the album were a bit disappointing compaired to their realeased songs i guess if i listen to the album more i might like it a bit better
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Although I'd never heard a single song from start to finish by The Hoosiers when I purchased this album, I must say that I was surprised at how good it turned out to be. I'd seen the album advertised and heard a few seconds of Worried About Ray and Goodbye Mr A, but that was as far as my foray into the world of The Hoosiers went. Being an Indie fan and a fan of many bands I thought I'd give it a try based on those few seconds of musical wonder.
From the first listen of this album I was hooked on such songs as Worried About Ray, Worst Case Scenario, Goodbye Mr A, Cops and Robbers and Killer. Whilst these songs were the ones that stood out for me initially, after listening to the album a few more times I was able to get into and fully understand the tracks that were slightly less appealing first time round. There isn't a bad track on this album in my view, every songs a winner and as with most albums some just take a few more plays than the rest. You soon pick them up quickly and you'll be singing along in no time at all.
If I was to compare the Hoosiers to any of the more popular bands out there, I would probably say that they are a cross between the Arctic Monkeys and The Feeling. They have the same slightly comedic aspect to some of their songs as well as having their own defining style.
If you're an Indie fan or looking for a new band to sample then I can highly recommend this excellent debut album from The Hoosiers. If like me, all you've heard is bits and pieces of the first 2 singles off the album, then I advise you to take the plunge and check out the other tracks listed above. If you've heard more than the popular singles off the album then I would still advise that you go ahead and listen to every song on this album, there's pure gold on there!
I hope that one or two of the songs I've listed gets released as a single at some point in the near future. Too often a good band will ruin any chance of gaining new listeners by releasing a slightly poor track as a second or third single. If it was up to me I'd release the songs that everyone can sing along to such as Cops and Robbers or Killer. It'd help shift a few more copies of the album for a start and ensure demand for a follow up album, which in my view is much deserved.
Funnily enough whilst typing this review the word Hoosier was never picked up by my spell checker. So I checked it out in the dictionary and apparently a Hoosier is a native or inhabitant of Indiana. Not quite sure if there's a connection there with any of the band members or whether the name was chosen for being unusual and unique for the band.
Overall, this is an excellent debut album from a relatively unknown band who deserve recognition for the work that's gone into the amazing selection of songs on this album. If you're into loads of bands like I am this album comes highly recommended. If you're just a casual listener or fancy something new then this is the album for you. Five stars.
NB: This album also comes in a choice of 4 colours - Red, Yellow, Green or Blue. If ordering online you won't get a choice and you'll have whatever Amazon send you. I can recommend Yellow though ;o)
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Amazon Home
