The Courteeners – St. Jude (2008)

So, I see a Courteeners album in the charity shop for a couple of quid and think "it's that new young band I've heard so much about from younger relatives. Let's give it a go".

Only to see that this, the band's debut was released in 2008. Eighteen years ago. What happened to the years?

Remember albums of a dozen short songs that didn't outstay their welcome? Where even if you didn't like one, you knew something decent might be along in a couple of minutes? Clearly the Courteeners do.

There's no pretence with this album (well almost - see later), just simple rock songs full of energy, intelligent narrative lyrics, all well delivered with enough dexterity to support the songs, without any showing off. For me, it works best when it's high energy, on songs like Cavorting, If It Wasn't For Me, Kings of The New Road and Fallowfield Hillbilly. But I'm also quite taken by the jaunty, jangly rock such as Bide Your Time and No You Didn't, No You Don't.

Where they disappoint, to me, is where they try to slow things down, which really doesn't work in the context of the rest, but these are few in number. Their mixture of Northern vowels and urbane lyrics are endearing, and this is an enjoyable collection of songs.

But, a word about the 'hidden track'. Don't do it, lads, it's old hat, crappy, and obvious when your CD player tells you there's 21 tracks and only 12 are listed. Acrylic is a decent song, and worth its place.

Link to album tracks

4* - a breezy debut with a real feel good sound