Sunny Prozac Pop
Blissful, uplifting indie delivered with confidence and a hint of mystery that sees the band boasting a fan club called the Wolf Cub Club with a handbook and membership card, Scouting For Girls appear to have a bright future sorted. It must be admitted that tales of such organised fan activity always make one nervous with images of frantic fan girls coming to mind, but Scouting For Girls are the kind of band that deserve this attention.
The overwhelming theme on this album is of love and regret, it's the kind of sweet and innocent sentiment that's best suited to the glittering, frothy indie pop tunes that advance touching ideas like, "Elvis isn't dead and you're coming back to me". There's nothing too heavy or suffocating in these tunes, although they handle real situations, this is the kind of album that could cheer you up from any situation without rubbing your face in its giddy joy.
It seems that Scouting For Girls can make light of any situation, "How I hate this job cuz the days do drag, they work me like a dog and the money's bad", bounces the melody on, 'I Need A Holiday', a buoyant slice of sunshine pop with shimmering synths and glowing vocal harmonies like the iridescent shimmering sounds of The Beach Boys.
The jaunty tunes somewhat resemble the twinkling theatrical elements of The Fratellis but with rich keys clattering away. 'James Bond' is the height of drama on this album with a tense intro that turns into a lovely tale of childhood dreams, "I wish I was James Bond just for the day, kissing all the girls" full of longing and delight.
'Scouting For Girls' truly should be issued on the NHS to alleviate depression, such is its profoundly cheery answer to any problem that can't help but put a smile on your face.