Released 2/3/09 on LaVolta Records

 Music is full of rip off merchants. Oasis admittedly copied The Beatles ruthlessly, The Libertines spawned Carragher (God) Knows how many copycat bands, Jet’s Are You Gonna be My Girl? got well received despite sounding a hell of a lot like Iggy Pop’s Lust For Life, and Coldplay nicked a guitar riff from Joe Satriani. Why didn’t they just buy it off him? Millionaire ponces.

 
But let’s face it, if you are going to try and emulate a band, you may as well choose one of the best bands around. When I first heard this song, my first thought was ‘I didn’t know Arcade Fire had a new song out?’ Apparently not. This is Arts & Crafts by Red Light Company. Even their Myspace profile pic looks like a take-off of the Neon Bible album style.  Tis a sweet enough pop song, boy and girl singalong included, and it’s really listenable. I cath myself singing that I wasn’t good at arts and crafts. I can barely draw stick people. It is catchy and very radio friendly.

 BUT…  

It’s nothing that hasn’t been done better over their last two albums by Arcade Fire. It’s a fine song, but it’s no Wake Up or No Cars Go. It worries me that this lot might get shoved down our throats if they get successful especially when there are better alternatives out there. Then again at least they have decent enough taste to rip off a decent band. Their album is only £5.99 on Play.com, which could well be a bargain.

Posted In Single Reviews, Mar 06 2009. Words - Paul