 It's gotta be said: British rock is in its healthiest state for many, many years. Number One Son, Lostprophets, Biffy Clyro, A's Hi-Fi Serious . . . the list goes on, but this debut from Hundred Reasons takes the prize for me.
Four of the tracks on Ideas Above Our Station have already seen the light of day on Hundred Reasons' already sizeable pile of singles and EPs. Shine might have been hidden away, but I'll Find You, If I Could and Silver should all be familiar by now. Take a step back though, and listen to these songs with fresh ears. While the band may flirt with the concepts of emo, post-hardcore and punk, they really don't sound like any of their peers. Rival Schools are probably your closest reference point, but Colin Doran's incredibly emotive vocals set Hundred Reasons apart. You can't quite tell whether he's going to collapse in tears or beat the hell out of you in rage - and this isn't faux nu-metal angst; this is completely believable.
Incredibly, the singles don't outshine the rest of the material on show here. While every track may not be an instant classic, there are absolutely no fillers on Ideas Above Our Station. Whether it's the beguiling dynamics of Dissolve, the stripped-bare charm of Falter and Avalanche, or the emotional charge of Drowning, each song leaves you wanting more. In a time when 'best British band' plaudits are seemingly handed out daily, it really is a pleasure to hear a CD from a band who so obviously deserve the that level of accolade. The real killer is that this album is Hundred Reasons' debut, yet the songs display the maturity of a band many times their age. It's sobering to think that Hundred Reasons' best times may still be ahead of them . . .
:: Rowan Shaeffer |
