All my life, I have suffered from terrible arachnophobia. Seeing the film of the same name damn near killed me and my weapon of choice is my prized spider sucker, which is shaped like a light saber and hoovers the buggers into the tube so they can be disposed at arms length (into a raging fire or vat of hydrochloric acid). Therefore reviewing an album by a band called Eight Legs makes my soul weep for mercy. I can feel one creeping up my back now, I swear. So, is The Electric Kool-Aid Cuckoo Nest a miniscule wall hanger, or fire breathing tarantula determined to devour all in its path?
Eight Legs are four young lads (cripes they are young, two are 18 and two are 19), hailing from London and historic Stratford Upon Avon, home of the Great Bard himself. Amazingly for such a young band, this is their second album to be released; I just hope they have still had time to spend their youth in the best way possible, namely drinking until sick in someone's shoe, and watching the best TV and films available. Judging by their album cover, it looks like they have each invested in box sets of Trigger Happy TV, as they are dressed in animal costumes. Could Sam Jolly be the bastard lovechild of Dom Joly, with the surname spelt incorrectly on purpose to throw the benefits agencies off the scene? With such superlatives thrown at them as 'The Musical Equivalent of Cristiano Ronaldo' by the NME (which makes me believe that they will cry, fall down a lot but have moments of sheer brilliance that will only make you mutter at them under your breath), can they live up to early hype?
Opening track "I Understand" is filled with enthusiasm, joy, and shouty backing vocals. It's certainly a grower, and makes you wonder that if Pete Doherty had overdosed on sunshine and Smarties this might have been the result. "Stay Cool" is a tad more rocky, akin to something The View might conjure up after a night on downers and lime jelly. What it loses in catchiness it gains in intrigue, though it might not be as strong as the opener. "Just So You Know" regains the feelgood vibe, throwing in xylophones to heighten the sense of play. It's a singalong, a toe tapper, and all things inbetween and far beyond. Most of all, it's fun.
"The Dystopian Not So Future" begins like an Italian film, before settling for a more laid back approach, and even some forlorn lalala's for good measure, over a string backing that really adds something to the song. Music made by teens never sounded so... mature (in the good way, like a mature wine or cheese, not some smelly old tramp reeking of gin)."Best Of Me" raises the stakes considerably, with some impressive guitar work and drumming. If songs before have been toe tappers, this one is a full blown head nodder. "I Don't Have The Time" is affectionate, relaxed, like the Cup A Soup hug in a mug, and ultra simplistic, so much so that it shouldn't really work following the endeavour of the previous attempt, but it does. Just to keep you on your toes, "Cloak And Dagger" sounds like The Libertines attempting the surf songs from Pulp Fiction, before breaking into a kickarse chorus. Feisty.
"More Than Nothing At All" falls somewhere in the middle of all that has come before it, retaining a simplicity but with intricacies that are impossible to ignore. "Wish It Was The 60s" sounds distinctly Strokes-ish in parts, and is none the worse for it. It still keeps its own identity, and is another song filled with hooks. "Untitled" is the first time that an element of similarity has crept in; while it's still good it just doesn't capture the focus in the same way as the other, stronger songs on the album. Yes, Eight Legs have a distinctive sound, but until now there has been variety. "Nothing Between The Lines" is easy on the ear, but again it remains within their comfort zone. Luckily, final song "The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test" is a return to the band's strengths; solid instruments, (what sounds like) male/female lyrics, a welcome back for shouty lyrics, a near ending that drags back to wonderfulness rather like the Arctic's "A Certain Romance." A fine way to finish.
Eight Legs are a scene waiting to happen. Naysayers may say that they have one sound and play to it, but if you investigate there is plenty to go against that. If anything, the album suffers from being two songs too long, with the two penultimate tracks holding back the album from being something brilliant. It's still great mind you, but you can't help but feel that without them we would be looking at a contender for album of the year.
Posted In Album Reviews, Feb 26 2010.
Words - Paul