I haven't really followed Texas since their superb album, I Don't Want a Lover. Their mix of acoustic, contemporary rock has always been quite nostalgic for me, and remain to be some of my childhood tunes. That being said, there's some work into their latest album. Formulaic, yes, but a little different from their usual genre. Dance pop has certainly taken centerstage from the onset.
Let's Work is Out is pleasant, but it is ultimately unfulfilling as the opening track. Can't Control is equally unsatisfactory, but at least there's a new angle of music being experimented here. The electronic manipulations are interesting, but they don't have the same impact as Texas' old tracks would manage. Tell That Girl is a little more familiar, with a more rocky feel, but it does take elements from many other songs that have come before, and despite some excellent drum work, the song once again falls flat at the feet of originality. Something to take from the second half of tracks is that the band have done some more genre-exploring. Blues rock track, Sending a Message, is a little darker and more sombre, and the guitar work does a decent job of creating haunting riffs as background to Spiteri's dreary vocals. Once again, I'm left unmoved by a rather unadventurous tone. The first slight saving grace is the more melodic Won't Let You Down, which has some supportive riffs that gives it the edge it needs to take a more immersive role. The chorus is also really approachable with some lovely, precise chords simultaneously hit by the guitarists and singers. Midnight and Round the World bring up the rear. Midnight is uninspired, but it's fun and catchy. However, Round the World is what this album really needed to conclude. It has the scope and understanding to be more anthem-like for the band. Some synths placed in the background are interweaved well into the bass. There's something rather psychedelic about it, very different from Texas' usual style of general and simplistic rock. It's a breath of fresh air in an otherwise unremarkable album. Seriously, I'm not a big fan of their latest edition of music, but credit to the band - they've tried exploring some new areas of music that they've never discovered before. Some of it works, perhaps not cohesively, but the dance tracks are at least catchy. Spiteri is always a great contributor, but the whole band each have their own standout moments. Track 10 is definitely my personal favourite, but each song probably has a section that I can appreciate, but their overall product doesn't complement that. Admirable new album, but unemotional. 5.5/10
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AuthorA very passionate Welsh nerd... Archives
October 2017
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