The Beat Surrender

This is the album I have been waiting for since March of this year when I started reviewing for The Beat Surrender. At last something worthy of Ten out of Ten. Initially my thoughts were it’s good but perhaps not brilliant, however I find it’s best not to judge on the first play of anything. Listened through a few times each play my opinion improved, I noticed something new and different each time. A certain witty line in the lyrics would catch my ear or the music would take on a new clarity.

At the risk of being boring this man has so much talent it’s almost obscene. However, what is the most surprising for me is that he is still relatively unknown. I don’t see this lasting, surely this amount of superb talent must be recognised and soon. Opener and title track Until The Traffic Stops probably has the longest into ever, however the haunting trumpet, piano and strings are so beautiful it’s ever easy to forgive this. Alex Cornish writes the most beautiful lyrics, which really do belay his youth.

Counting Chimney Pots is a little slower but equally well written and performed, lovely build to a good strong chorus. Same Ride Same Way moves along at a good pace, never rushing and without appearing to try too hard, it all seems so effortless. My World What A Mess is for me the strongest track on the album, it’s a really stand out melodic rock/pop song. It’s the kind of track with may not grab you the first time but by the time you’ve listen through a couple more times your hooked. It will drive you mad (in the nicest possible way) the lyrics got in my head and stuck, I kept singing bits of this for days afterwards.

The Trouble I Am is another stand out track for me, it starts at a faster tempo, but when the vocals kick in it slows, good beat and loved the trumpet. Next track was one I thought I probably wouldn’t like, the title put me off a little. Scotland The Brave, I thought it would be a cheesy over patriotic song, how wrong was I. Quiet start, vocals rising and falling like the gentle breeze on a summer day. The track then builds to an almost anthemic indie rock classic. Could be a cracking track to use in the background of the football highlights, given that its about time Scotland had some (no disrespect intended my Gran was from Scotland and wouldn’t have wanted to upset her, god rest her soul). Lights On is five minutes of slow melodic music with a distinctive jazzy feel, really easy on the ear and a good album track.

This One’s For You was perhaps the only track which I felt I could criticise, and then it was only the into, somehow it didn’t seem to flow. However, once the track got going it started to stand out more and more, the chorus line really did it for me. Beginning Middle Or End is another nice easygoing moody melodic track. The vocals wrap around you like your favourite woolly jumper on a cold winters evening. The Last track is a long one, eight minutes eleven seconds to be precise. If eight minutes seems like a long time believe me it wasn’t long enough, this track could have gone on for much longer and I would have been just as happy. Untied has a big anthemic rock sound, very orchestral, but the combination of beautiful heartfelt lyrics, superb vocals and amazing music just left me wanting more.

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