Lopez Blogs

I have been absent without leave from the tinternet most of this week. I've felt a bit blue and a bit under the weather, culminating today in a quite ferocious vomiting session. After I had got over the shock of copious amounts of regurgitation forcing it's way back up my gullet, I did feel a bit better and ended up doing my monthly slot on Larry Flick. And gosh darn it, in a week of wonderful tunes (Same Difference, Ollie Wride, Olly Murs, Elin Lanto, Darin and Jonas Oakland), the rather magnificent Australian band (who I wrote about here previously, and also reviewed at PopTrashAddicts here) Amy Meredith were the runaway hit of the show. So I thought I'd drag out my draft album review and gussy it up with a run down of their video for the stunningly good single Lying...

Restless (album review):

Let's get one thing out of the way - this cd cost me a fortune on import from the land down under. But it arrived shockingly quickly and I've been enjoying it ever since. It's an instantly addictive romp through glam-rock with pop sensibilities, infused with an 80s vibe and the swagger needed by an exuberant front man (in the lush and delightfully named Christian Lo Russo). In fact as they storm into action with the album opener, Black Eyes, it's a non-stop corker of a rollicking tune that reminds of Franz Ferdinand and The Killers, yet has a charm and allure all of it's own. Lead off single, the cheeky Porn Star is another track full of energy that grips you from the first note through to it's climactic moments. As a first single proper, it's a smart introduction to the band and has a chorus that will not only sound brillopants while you are pogo-ing away to it on the achingly hip indie-disco dance floor, but will sound even more amazing belted out by thousands of fans at a huge festival. However good those tracks are (and they are), it's the current single Lying that just oozes 'worldwide hit' all over it. It takes the template of Porn Star and ups it to the nth degree. It's deliciously malevolent in catching out an untrustworthy lover, with a chorus delivered with such emphatic conviction it's hard not to feel caught up in the whirlwind of music the song creates. And there is a good place to mention that - actually - the group work cohesively well together in creating this raw, appealing, almost sexual musical sound that envelops you into it's giddy delights.

Young At Heart takes on a more (ever so slightly) sedate anthemic tone to it's delivery. There is a tremendous drum breakdown before the second verse, and it's as pleasing as Mr Brightside. What makes it work so well is the impassioned vocal and focus on a melody, that is at the forefront of all their tunes. The middle 8 lyrically speaks to a generation of youngsters, but reminds everyone else that age is actually nothing but a number - dreams can still be achieved. Faded White Dress starts off almost like an innovative Girls Aloud comeback single (just imagine if they did! Astonishing!) before establishing itself as a crunchy-glam rock number with some blistering guitar work. There are more melodic delights that veer between pure pop, 80s inspired nostalgia and glam-rock littered throughout at the album, with nary a let up in the pace. It creates a heady album that screams with the desire to be performed live. If you want a brief respite from the redbull-pop genre they've created (it's a great jogging album) be sure to listen to (in copious amounts) the lovely Carry On. It's a delightful mid-tempo ballad that reveals a tender side to the vocal stylings of Christian as he delivers the melancholy lyrics. It even has it's own built in brilliant wail along crowd chant baked right into the middle 8... And actually makes me yearn for them to deliver the Don't Speak (No Doubt) size ballad I know they have in them.

Finally, it would be remiss of me to finish this review without pointing you towards the brilliant Cure pastiche Kiss Me Quick. A quirky, jangly little tune that is even more enormous in it's taking of a common every day phrase and turning it into a stomping pop tune that some of today's wannabes only wish they could turn out (and has hand claps! Aces)... Overall, the band have created a breathless album that is relentless in it's pace, but grips you tight to it's bosom as it takes you on a thoroughly enjoyable ride :)
Singles/Should be singles: PornStar; Lying; Young At Heart; Carry On...

Lying (video breakdown):

Well clearly the boys have delivered the goods in an audio sense, so let's examine what their glorious single Lying is like in the visual department (click link above pic!) Don't let me down boys...

• Ah, I see. It's a Japanese game show concept. Which is why when I first discovered the band, I thought it was a solo singer, because the video starts off with some woman standing there with a severe back combed fringe.
• But! Then the boys run through some gold dangly curtain thingy. It's Christian first and if you pause at exactly 5 seconds you can see that a) he's rather delightful to look at and b) may indeed have the exact same hair cut as game show host woman! How embarrassing! It's like turning up to a wedding and having the same gown on as mother of the bride (I imagine)...
• Then the rest of the band pop up doing hercules poses, a goofy wave, smoothing their eyebrows down (a game show cliche, well played Amy Meredith) and just a dorky "i've been called down on the price is right *squeal*" type run! Magnifico!
• Ooo the band are now ready for their questions and this is "interspersed" with clips of them performing the song. As suspected, Christian is a rather striking front man who commands attention. However, I can't help but notice that the drummer (who looks like he could be in The Baseballs) is also quite dishy, as is the dude on Christian's right in the quiz show. I shall put my cosmic horn to one side now so I can fully concentrate on the qualities of the video :P
• Christian gets the first question right, chest bumps attractive dude on his right and then gets to lie on the world's most uncomfortable looking sun lounger. This is ominous, i sense bad things are going to happen as the song lurches towards it's deliriously brilliant chorus...
• Basically he is held down by two girls, and feather fucked by another (not literally, but you get my point). He looks like he is quite enjoying it so fair play to the fella. This is once again interspersed with energetic studio footage of the band singing away and once more makes me yearn to see them live. Come to England already...
• At 1m21s just as the "dressed to impress" lyric comes up, one of the band members is wearing a balloon costume which makes me want to watch the awful Lady Gaga episode of Glee. There has got to be some sort of sexual metaphor as she pops his cherry coloured balloons leaving his man hood on display (blurred) as the song informs us "you're obsessed with the sex/you never got the best from me"...He don't half look nervous :P
• More band torture! More feather fucking for Christian! More naked balloon for guitar dude! The guy in the hat (I really should learn their names - help me out someone!) is getting spanked! Saucy!
• Blimey! Attractive to the right of Christian dude has been blindfolded. Rar! But oh no! He's being made to walk barefoot across drawing pins! How unfair. Even jesus got something soothing like water to walk on! And oh no part two! Sexy drummer fella has been tied up! This can't be good for him. Unless he's paid for the privilege. Which I believe some people do!!
It's more "misery" for the band during the middle eight until a blistering final chorus that kicks off with blindfold getting drawing pins poured all over him. It's the new acupuncture ;0
• Rather impressively he doesn't miss a note on his guitar and his writhing comes across as passion for his craft :P In your face, cruel pin lady, in your face!!
• Pause at 2m29 and hat guy has been gagged, spanked and ridden like a horse! One second on, and the drummer is getting clothes pegs pinned to his body! It's an s&m festival of pain!!
• Ultimately, this is obviously a metaphorical video that is showing us that lying inflicts pain on the people you are telling porkies to! And lets us know that AM make a mean visual feast of a video for a mean aural treat of a poptune. Aces :)