The Futureheads - The Futureheads

We’ve been waiting for this one for ages. At last The Futureheads release their debut album, but have they left it just that little bit too late?

After all, it’s been months since ‘First Day’ and ‘A To B’ made in roads to the MTV2 playlist, and while ‘1-2-3-Nul!’ was the most fantastic EP DIY has heard in ages, it’s little more than a hazy eyed memory now.

Or at least thats what you think before ‘Le Garage’ sneaks up on your with its vocal harmonies and mugs you up a back ally like the cheeky Mackem scoundrel that it undoubtedly is. Edgier than a kitchen full of knives, Sunderland’s finest just don’t lose their charm, even up against some of the bands already starting to break through in their wake.

The songs fly at you faster than a White Stripes live set. From ‘Robot’, a song which fits its title better than you can ever imagine, to ‘A To B’ without even breaking a sweat, you can’t help but think this is how all albums should be made.

Add to this the undeniable truth that The Futureheads don’t know how to write a bad song, and it’s hard not to get excited by it all. It’s a shame that tracks like the fantastic ‘Ticket’ and sing-a-long inducing ‘Picture of Dorian Gray’ didn’t get a reworking for inclusion, but the new tracks present more than make up for it.

‘Meantime’ throttles along at the customary breakneck speed, yet still manages to fit in more harmonies, melodies and jerky spaz-pop than any other band could manage. ‘Alms’ loses none of its immediacy with a slicker production job, and ‘Danger Of The Water’ has probably the most infectious intro since that frog song Macca did for Rupert the Bear. Or not.

It’s ‘Stupid and Shallow’ that really steals the show though. More impish and charismatic than anything The Libertines could come up with, more immediate than downing a whole bottle of Sunny D, and coming in at well under two minutes.

If Franz made you want to dance, The Futureheads will make you want to have an epileptic fit. In the nicest way possible, obviously.