The Lodger are an energetic boy-boy-girl three-piece that hail from the bustling scene in North England that spawned both the Kaiser Chiefs and the Arctic Monkeys. Their new album “Grown Ups” sounds like a modern day Buzzcocks with the lyrical style of incorporating social/relationship commentary into pop songs that bands like Maximo Park, and to a greater extent The Smiths, have made their trademark. While their songs are poppy and fun, after repeated listenings they reveal themselves to be more than fun freak outs. There is significant substance underneath their shimmery surface. For example, the song “Kicking Sand” buzzes along with a clean sound that is immediately dance-able, but the song itself is about not taking those little trip ups that happen to us all too seriously and getting back at it, whatever it is. The band uses a carefully calculated variety of instrumentation that includes guitars, bass, drums and the occasional nudge from a synthesizer or piano. The Lodger provide perhaps the best example of unruly punk fun that possesses a dignified stateliness at the same time. This is due to the uniquely calm and composed vocals of Ben and the consistently fun inventive beats from Katie. I usually take hyped up bands from England with a grain of salt, but these guys really have that special spark, that heart, that makes them more than just another British rock band. Their drummer is cute too, so that’s also a plus.

The Lodger Myspace

Stream “Grown-Ups” here

MP3 – The Lodger – Kicking Sand

MP3 – The Lodger – Many Thanks for Your Honest Opinion

“Let Her Go” Video:

Maximo Park’s “Our Earthly Pleasures” contains all the elements that made their debut so successful; manic stop and go rhythms, melodic guitar, and sparkling twitchy keyboards, and of course, Paul Smith’s trademark dictionary checking lyrics. There could be a seamless transition from the last track of “A Certain Trigger” to the beginning of the new album. To those who fell in love with the first album, this is great news.

If anything the overall feel of the album is that the sensitivity factor has been played up big this time. Many songs recount incidents of relationships that ignite and fall apart and are told with such emotion and intelligence that they will surely burrow themselves into your consciousness. One such tune is “Books from Boxes” (3), that is clearly inspired by Johnny Marr’s guitar work, but it’s the lyrics again that steal the spotlight. The lyrics present Mr. Smith as a romantic growing ever more cynical; “Well this is something new/ but it turns out it was borrowed too/ Why does every let down have to be so thin? / Rain explodes at the moment that the cab door closed/ I feel the weight upon your kiss ambiguous”. You can feel the frustration and disappointment as the chords gently fade and he decides “just to write, after all.”

Not to worry though full on fun tunes are still here, most notably with the keyboard driven flagship single “Our Velocity” (2) that explodes with the urge to run and jump around as much as possible at breakneck speeds as you mull over the concept of love; “love is a lie, which means I’ve been lied to, which means I’ve been lying too.” The neurotic theme of Maximo Park’s work carries through, but there are shining moments of optimism. In the fevered quest to catch a girl’s eye “A Fortnight’s Time” (10), Paul Smith exudes a sweet charm as he croons “So, would you like to go on a date with me?” With an album like this, I don’t see how any girl could decline that invitation.

Buy “Our Earthly Pleasures”

Maximo Park Myspace

MP3 – Books from Boxes – Maximo Park

MP3 – A Fortnight’s Time – Maximo Park

MP3 – Our Velocity – Maximo Park