The Districts - Popular Manipulations

Like the more uplifting, US counterparts to Scotland’s big-hearted, downbeat emoters (see: Frightened Rabbit, The Twilight Sad et al), Pennsylvania quartet The Districts deal in epic, gut-busting sonic climaxes and Feelings with a capital ‘F’.

On third LP ‘Popular Manipulations’, it’s a well-executed ethos that should happily find them on a support tour with The National before long. There are some easy highlights in the darker, Interpol-channeling ‘Salt’ and the almost Biffy-esque ‘Point’ (were this lot Scottish in a past life?), but sometimes all the bluster and crescendo leaves you craving something simpler. Dial it down a notch or two and they could have something truly special.