Review of The Subways's CD "With You"

The Subways: With You

This latest offering from the up-and-coming whippersnappers from Welwyn Garden City encapsulates perfectly what this band are all about; a three-minute burst of loud, simple, magnificent punk rock. The lyrics aren't great but who cares when they are delivered with such conviction and enthusiasm?

For those of us whose teenage years are now well and truly over, the youthful optimism and attitude displayed in Billy Lunn's songs are a breath of fresh air. When he snarls "I don't like giving up 'cos giving up is easy," you believe him, whilst most of us, loathe as we may be to admit as much, can relate to his unashamed declarations of love ("when I'm with you, it seems so easy").

If the stabbing guitar riff, powerful drumming and rasping vocals are catchy, then the sheer energy and vibrancy of this track (and indeed this band in general) are irresistible. It's not ground-breaking music by any means, but The Subways manage to make it sound fresh and meaningful.

A live favourite, this track perhaps doesn't quite live up to the sheer brilliance of their two previous singles, but it is still a fine offering. And at a time when proper rock 'n' roll seems to be becoming more about image than substance, it's good to hear a bunch of kids with decent musical influences and talent coming to the fore. Give me proper, grunge-ified rock 'n' roll over art rock poseurs and bland stadium dad-rock any day.

And if this is what The Subways are like when the singer is loved up, just imagine what they could do if this guy ever got angry...

• www.thesubways.net

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