It’s hard for us Yanks to believe how much impact The Strokes had on the UK. It wasn’t just the music weeklies crowing their praises – kids were packing the shows to capacity, listening and learning. It’s ironic, given how The Strokes were often derided as musical simpletons. But simple tunes often make the best ones. Just ask Check Berry or Lou Reed. Now there’s a large crop of young bands, all smart enough not to sound merely like Strokes acolytes, but incorporating their own twist. Wakefield’s The Cribs have that familiar Velvets guitar tone, with hints of Feelies and Television. But they’ve also incorporated early Pavement. Note the shambling, nearly classic-sounding pop hooks in “You Were Always The One” and “The Light Went Out.” Just these two tunes are good enough to put them on the underground map, for now.
But there are another dozen bands waiting in the sidelines (including Bloc Party, The Paddingtons, The Others, Thee Unstrung) eager to surpass them. Unfortunately the band has handicapped themselves with a needlessly lo-fi sound (recorded at Toerag Studios, made famous by The White Stripes), The songs up through “Learning How To Fight” are solid and catchy enough. But eventually the lack of dynamics and variety start to get wearing, Then things get really ugly with “Tri’Elle” and “Third Outing.” Let’s hope they don’t follow The Fall’s path and put out every single fart they record. A little self-editing and more imaginative production, and this band could emerge the shakedown amongst the deluge of similar bands smelling like roses.
April 2, 2026
Fester’s Lucky 13: 1986
March 12, 2026
Ranking the Oscar Nominees
