On January 29, Scottish rockers Sons and Daughters will release their third full-length album This Gift. And of all the early 2008 release, I’ve got to say, this is easily one of the best of the bunch I have heard thus far. This Gift, the follow up to 2005’s The Repulsion Box, is both musically and lyrically the band’s best work to date. You could even say the title seems to appropriately describe the overall quality of the album. It’s a musical gift, full of ferocious guitar riffs and powerful vocals, which in the end, combine to make one hell of a rock and roll album.

The album marks a new, more poppy, commercial sound than previous works. Guitarist Scott Patterson recently discussed this change with the Irish Independent saying, “It’s a more pop-oriented album than the last one,” Paterson says. “Not nearly as dark as The Repulsion Box. When we started writing songs for this album we found that a year’s solid touring meant The Repulsion Box’s moods were seeping into the new material and we didn’t like that. It just felt like more of the same.”

The powerful, punk-like energy that has come to define the band is still abundant. But added to this energy are the vocal influences of Blondie and the post-punk pop sound of The Smiths. The immensely talented vocals of front lady Adele Bethel shine more than they ever have throughout the album. In Debbie Harry-esque fashion, Bethel’s vocals and energy perfectly complement the raw power of the band yet she knows when to take control. “The Nest” provides a perfect example of this as the beautiful range of Bethel mixed with the blues-punk guitar melody combine to create a song of great passion.

It’s this passion and raw energy that separates This Gift from your typical pop album. Sure the sound is catchy as hell and alone is worth the price of the album. But the rebellious, yet stunning vocals of Bethel provide the album a sense of realness. This frantic passion of course, does not at all result without cause. Lyrically the album is equally solid to the rest of the album.

Yet in the end, This Gift truly excels because of the combination of both quality vocals and powerful, bouncy sound. The band as a whole delivers a sound that brings is what you would expect if Arctic Monkeys and Les Savy Fav somehow had a musical child. Yeah, it that’s good. From the bouncy, bass heavy “Rebel With The Ghost” to the guitar excellence prevalent on “Iodine,” nearly every track features a rhythm that fit the definition of “catchy”.

This Gift represents the sheer excellence of a band when all the parts are working. It also shows that even after some early career success, it never hurts to tinker the sound. Or change it up all together.

Pre-order via Amazon

Rating:

Check Out:
“Darling”
“Split Lips”

:: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: ::

Categories: Album Reviews, News
Tags: Sons and Daughters