Another cracker from the Xtra Mile camp
It’s not always advisable to prejudge an artist by the label they’re signed to, just because an A and R scout agrees with you on one band is no guarantee that the next thing they offer up will tick the same boxes. That said, the guys at Xtra Mile usually know a good thing when they hear it, and with Chris T-T they’ve definitely hit the nail on the head this time.
‘Capital’ is his third album, and is a twelve song collection of bouncy indie and dirty rock, with occasional mellow bits and a laid back folk rock feel creeping in too.
The album has one of the best opening tracks I’ve heard for some time. ‘(We Are) The King Of England’ has a Strokes ‘Reptilia’ feel, with, and stick with me on this one, a simple Quo-like guitar riff and some Arcade Fire style wailing thrown in for good measure. All held together by soft vocals that are part spoken, part chanted and occasionally sung. The drumming’s pretty damn ace too! (Courtesy of Andy Burrows of Razorlight). While we’re on the guest theme, Jim Bob of Carter USM fame also appears on ‘Capital’.
There’s plenty for the indie lover to cling onto throughout this album. Another stand out track is current single ‘A-Z’ which is reminiscent of Graham Coxon or Bloc Party, and those into the current alternative dance meets rock sound should find ‘Black Music’ to their liking.
Other tracks worthy of special attention include ‘Where Were You?’ a sunny, folkie indie number that manages to be lively and laidback at the same time, the instrumental offering ‘Old Men’ and ‘A Box To Hide In’, a song that would sit perfectly alongside the work of fellow Xtra Mile artist Frank Turner.
With so many comparisons easy to draw you certainly couldn’t call this a ground breaking piece of work, but there’s enough variety on offer to make ‘Capital’ an extremely enjoyable listen, and one of the best albums I’ve heard so far this year. On this evidence Chris T-T unquestionably deserves to be put on your go see live list too, and looking at the live schedule which came with this CD, we’ve plenty of opportunities to catch him in the flesh in the coming weeks.