Razorlight - Slipway Fires (2009)

By Ben Vernel

Razorlight's third album, "Slipway Fires" opens with a gentle piano waltz and Johnny Borrell's voice softly wailing (it's kinda possible, trust me), 'Love me, again and again'.

That is Razorlight in a nutshell.

They make excellent music, but most people simply tag them as 'That band with the ass hole egomaniac singer' and move on.

Well listen - the vast majority of successful, talented people are egomaniacs...

When you become internationally famous, you tend to feel pretty confident and self assured. I speak from experience.*

Somehow, I managed to avoid the hype and the negative ass hole connotations, first hearing Razorlight when they performed on an episode of Parkinson.

Yes, you heard right, Parkinson.

They played Golden Touch, and I wondered, 'Why haven't I heard of these guys?'.

Their success has been mostly limited to the UK, but they are well known and well liked outside of their homeland, and for good reason.

They are a great band.

If you have heard them, you know their sound, and that sound is still present on "Slipway Fires".

Their plucky, trebly indie rock sound has hardly changed, but I contend that this is a good thing. Unlike The Strokes, Razorlight have managed to keep up the energy and originality without abandoning the sound that made them so popular.

Some might argue that The Strokes have lost the energy, the sound, and the originality. I would be inclined to agree, if it weren't for You Only Live Once.

If you haven't heard Razorlight, then just imagine...

Okay, they are hard to describe.

They are like The Rolling Stones in their most 'pop' period, except they are undeniably modern. Maybe mix Blur and The Stones, then transplant them into the 2000s. Or just listen to them for yourself.

"Slipway Fires" might not be a bad place to start.

It is an incredibly consistent album. It might not have America or Golden Touch, but it is solid throughout.

The opener, Wire To Wire, is anthemic and grand but also incredibly understated at points. The House, the last song on the album, is simple and quiet, expressing regret and pain through vocals and piano.

Everything in between is great, cycling through thumping indie, pumping Britpop, and raucous rock.

"Slipway Fires" is a good album, and (hopefully) won't disappoint Razor-heads.

Buy it!

RATING: 4 out of 5

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