Lopez Blogs

Well, I just know you have all been sat on the edge of your seats waiting for my opinion on the new McFly album. Which was free! In the subtly gay hating Mail on Sunday! They are like Prince, but arguably more successful in the UK right now. So why give away an album for free? Choosing not to renew their contract with the majors, they are now putting out music under their own steam and it's now all about casting off their boyband image and reaching as wide an audience as possible to bolster their long term sales and concert revenue. Will it work? Only time will tell, but based on the songs given away here, I have to reiterate that once again, McFly are one of the most underrated and consistent bands in Britain.

Coming off the back of the amazing (Uh-May-Zing) Motion In The Ocean cd, which really should have won Brits if only for the epic Transylvania and Sorry's Not Good Enough, this cd (which will be commercially released in September with four new songs and a bonus dvd) had a lot to live up to. Is it as good as their finest moment? I can't decide just yet, but that's not to say this isn't pretty bonza because it is. Kicking off with rollicking sing-a-long perfect next single (i would say but won't be because it's featured on the b-side of One For The Radio, but look how that turned out for Trans...) Do Ya, it's all beach boy harmonies in the chorus, a tight blend of drums and guitars and an entirely edible falsetto punctuating through at random. You get the impression that this is their independent hurrah. Everything they want you to hear has been beautifully planned and is exactly how they want you to hear it. Putting the lovely Falling In Love directly after this track demonstrates straight away the musical diversity that McFly pull off with such ease but never seem to receive credit for. There are some stadium ready whoa ho hos, some gentle piano bits with wistful "we could have fallen in love" sung over them and the belted out chorus that they do so well.

Everybody Knows really belongs in one of those Xbox Rock Guitar games that people seem to love. I even did a bit of air guitar to it in the shower this morning, and i abhor air guitar. It makes me look fat. So sadly it's not a cover of the Sonia s/a/w classic but a gentle move towards the american punk sound they love so much. Are the lyrics in the chorus (ships going down, dying in this town) an allusion to the need of the band to move forward with their careers in the way they wanted to? Who bloody cares - break out the air guitar and devil fingers :P And it's as if McFly realised that I was a little embarrassed by my head banging, so they kick off their next song with finger clicks and some harmonies that remind me of Homer Simpson's days in the BeSharps. If The Wonders weren't a fictional band I would definitely say that I felt the song was influenced by them - it's feel good, and it makes you do what it says on the tin - Smile :) The middle of the album is balanced out with One For The Radio, which I reviewed here. It's still a great little pop tune, but pales a bit in context of the album.

And that's possibly because it's followed by POV. It's McFly does Meatloaf as it crams in every musical cliche into the pot but never sounds dull or derivative. There are modern rock verses, with feeling-esque piano, followed by fuzzy guitars and a powerful chorus, which then goes into a nice tinkling piano break. The lyrics are incredibly emotive and Tom sings the fuck out of it in the chorus, and you can hear the hurt he has been through. Either that or he is a cracking little actor. When he belts out "I would never wish anyone to feel the way I do", goosebumps chase up your arm and you absolutely commit to his manifesto. Spine tingling. And it perfectly sets up McFlys most vicious and angry song to date - Corrupted. Ooo they are mad as hell and they aren't going to take it anymore. Even the drums and guitars are angry. Harry's wrists must ache at the end of this one. When they are happy they are happy, but when they are down, it's bitterness and bile ahoy but oh so musically rewarding. (After this is the album's unforgiveable indulgence - Heart Never Lies from their greatest hits is on here. And not even a new version! Lazy lazy lazy! OF course it is still an amazing song and it's hard to get too annoyed because, well the album was gratis, but still?! They didn't have another song they could place in there?!)

So only two songs left. Going Through The Motions (sadly again, not a cover of the Buffy Musical Episode classic!) has some fantastic vocals from Danny and another stadium sized chorus that will raise the roof on their winter tour later this year. And then there is Last Song. Possibly the best McFly song ever written? It starts out all maudlin, like an Elton John ballad, some lovely piano and another impeccable vocal. Drums kick in and the sombre lyrics give the song an extra gravitas as it builds into the most incredible chorus I've heard for a long long time. It's basically McFly saying, well you know what? If this doesn't work, then fuck you all, because we've had a blast doing it and no one can take that away. And from there the song hurtles along with passion and vigour that makes me want to cry (but only cos i'm still emotional this week) and if you still say that McFly are a teenybopper band after this, then I may have to come round and replace the mush between your ears with a brain. Follow me to Oz, little scarecrow, because this is McFly at the very best of what they do. Listen, repeat and love. "If this is the last song that we ever play/we thank you all" Stunning. Really.

An amazing album and one that deserves to win them a multitude of new fans, but sadly I doubt will. But they gave it their all and a magnificent all it was. I look forward to the special edition and a long career filled with songs like these :)

You can download the McFly album at this mp3 blog...