One of 2007's big releases
In 2007 you'll be mostly listening to The View. Not necessarily by choice I might add but simply by switching on the radio, watching a music TV channel or turning up to a mainstream rock festival...they're gonna be everywhere so you might as well get used to it!
'Hats Off to the Buskers' is the eagerly awaited debut album from Dundee band The View. 2006 saw them play a breakthrough gig at a Radio 1 event in their home city, appear at the Carling Weekend, score two top twenty hit singles and be added to the line-up for the NME Indie Rock Tour for early 2007, not bad eh!
It's highly likely they'll score their biggest hit single to date with track three from this album; 'Same Jeans' is snowballing for them in the same way 'Whistle For The Choir' has done for fellow Scots the Fratellis. The song sees the View take a slightly softer approach from previous releases 'Superstar Tradesman' and 'Wasted Little DJs' although it does build to a full on energetic rock conclusion.
If you're gonna make an impact with your debut album, you may as well do it in style and really hit the ground running from the off. 'Comin' Down' does that with its 'in ya face' attitude, crashing rifts and even a kind of yelping scream that heavier rock vocalists seem to think is an essential way of announcing their arrival.
As ever with new indie albums you can spot bits of other bands, be it contemporaries or those who may have had some kind of influence. At times if you're looking for them you can hear bits of Fratellis, Libertines, Arctic Monkeys or Oasis, the latter understandable as this album is produced by Owen Morris who has 'Definitely Maybe' on his CV. There isn't though, any one name you can use to describe what the View do, there's a great blend of rock, funk and ballads to make this an interesting debut throughout.
'Don't Tell Me' has a funk edge to it that makes it a strong contender for a future single and Indie club anthem. 'Claudia' and 'The Don' also fall into this category and all will stand out in live sets over the next year and plenty of opportunities for the Celtic dancing that was going on during their Leeds Festival show. 'Face For The Radio' however finds the View in a melodic mood and is this album's potential lighter in the air moment.
Although 'Hats Off To The Buskers' does seem a couple of songs too long, it's certainly a strong debut and one well worth owning. They're also a band that should be on your 'go see' list when the festivals come around again.