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...REVIEWS !!
The
#1s
Sharon Shouldn't 7"
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RAZORCAKE
MAG Feb #78 2014 Sweet, sweet dripping power pop like chocolate
syrup on a triple scoop banana split. What really makes this for me is the vocals.
Each member has their different parts that they do; it really feels like a group
effort. Dublin by way of Canada pop perfection. The pace slows down a little
on the B-side, but only because after “Sharon Shouldn’t” you
just want to curl up and figure out what just happened to you. This is how 7”s
should be done. –Daryl
RIDE A DOVE (GER) FEB 2014 The #1s are the new star in the powerpop sky. They are a Dublin based four-piece featuring members of The Pacifics, Strongs Boys, Cian Nugent & The Cosmos and Cheap Freaks. Even if they are from Ireland their music sounds like it was written in the Northern part of the island about 35 years ago. The band's sonic blasts recall the classic sound of The Undertones, Rudi, Protex and Victim. The #1s play an incredible hybrid of sugar sweet melodies, catchy choruses and the primal energy of '77 punk. The lead vocal delivery is just as brilliant as the harmonizing background vocals. "Sharon" is a true smash hit and a kind of song you want to take right to the next part. "Boy" on the b-side is another straight on powerpop blast, while "Girls" is a solid, slower ballad. Don't miss this powerpearl!
MRR
- MAXIMUMROCKNROLL(US) #369 FEB 2014
It’s top-notch Dublin power-pop from a bunch of young whippersnappers.
The title track is every bit as good as the best stuff from the likes of TRANZMITORS,
STATUES, EXPLODING HEARTS, FM KNIVES, etc. Sometimes the Irish lilt brings to
mind STIFF LITTLE FINGERS, but this is much poppier. Great stuff, can’t
wait to hear more singles. (AM)
GYPSY DEATH AND YOU Blog OCT 2013 When I was at college I was a big fan of The Cribs. I enjoyed their Garage rock sound and probably enjoyed the fact they’re from Yorkshire too. Easily swayed, but not anymore. The Cribs played fast and their sound was unlike the rest. It’s been a while since a band has pulled off that sound in the way The Cribs did. I’ve not listened to The Cribs in some time; I sort of lost interest after 2008/2009. Typical. There’s a band from Dublin called The #1s and they remind me of The Cribs when they first started. They play fast and with fury. You can hear a clear and raw distinctive sense of urgency in the vocals. Their songs are the kind you are supposed to scream back at them at one of their shows with sweat falling freely from your face and it trickles into your mouth as you scream the words back. The morning after, you’ll have a sore body and you’ll be unable to speak. This happened when I saw Crocodiles last month, and I’m hoping it happens tonight when I go see them. Lord knows I need it. The #1s self-released a cassette, Italia 90 and it’s my favourite thing I’ve heard by them so far. I love how every song feels like a slight punch in the gut. I think it was released a few years ago, but since then they’ve released a 7? on Cork/Leeds based Art For Blind Records and later this year they’ll be featuring on The Big Itch Club’s 7? which features Faux Kings and my personal favourite. September Girls. Big things are happening for The #1s and they truly deserve it. What I love about their music is that they are capable of unleashing all the feelings that make us feel fed up. I feel fed up and disconnected from most things, which is why music is a huge help. The older I get, the less I relate to everything around me. I don’t know what kind of person this makes me, but if I think about it- I just get more annoyed at myself. Music is the one thing I’ll only ever lean on because people are not permanent. And I think to be dependent on a person sort of weakens you. It’s alright to be weak though, that I know. I’m not a tough person at all. Never will be. Music is a crutch. My point is, The #1s make music that unleashes the shit feelings we feel in a very real way. All too often bands do it but you cannot connect due to how they project it all. Or how they act. Bands like The #1s are obviously true to their words, and you connect. I’m just speaking for myself, so there’s a good chance I’m wrong. But that’s okay. The #1s have a new song called Sharon Shouldn’t which is released 4th October. In Europe it will be released on Alien Snatch! and in America on Sorry State. The release will feature two b-sides, Boy and Girl. It is an evidential step-up from what they’ve previously released, but it is as rambunctious as their other songs. Sharon Shouldn’t is their third release; it is slightly more ferocious than their past releases but clearly shows how strong the band are. If this is the first time you’re hearing the band then I highly recommend you explore their back-catalogue. It is full of blissed-out gems that will fit any mood. The #1s are a band anyone can relate to, and with most things in life separating ourselves from others it is good to know music is probably going to be one of the few things that bring people together. You can listen to The #1s glorious sounds here: https://soundcloud.com/thenumberones (I Wish I Was Lonely is a good one!)
WHEN YOUR MOTOT AWAY (IE) OCT 2013 One can imagine the discussion among Sean, Eddie, Cian and Conor to choose the name for their band. After rejecting every version of "Bear + _____" and "____ + Bear" as already taken, they moved on to names that they hoped signified the quality of their work. Best Band You'll Ever Hear didn't fit on the kick drum, the second vote-getter had been claimed by one of the member's younger sister for her band, and the rights to the third choice were lost in a poker game to an armless man called "Fingers". So the young Dubliners (no, that name had already been used by some Yanks) settled on The #1s. [Editor's Note: Scott's research file shows no sources for any of the statements in this opening paragraph. We suspect he may have been drinking. Again. However, he is very feisty, so we'll just add this disclaimer after he posts and goes to sleep.] So, how does the name fit? Pretty well, thank you. Their music is energetic power pop and garage pop with punk pace and plenty of hooks. I don't know whether their song "Sharon Shouldn't" will ever be number 1, but it certainly deserves plenty of play. And you have to admire a band whose video budget only covered interior shots of the corner market. I don't know whether any of you need an explanation of the key lyric "Lisa says she can't, but Sharon shouldn't", but I'm not going to do the job. Interested? You should be. "Sharon Shouldn't" is an adrenaline-soaked power pop blast worthy of The Undertones, but with a lot more pop in the chorus. By the way, it is available from Sorry State Records in the US and Alien Snatch Records in the Old World. And rest assured that The #1s have more quality songs in their catalog. Click on the Soundcloud link below, and you'll have five more delightful tracks. But let me do some of the work for you and provide two of them --
THE JOURNALIST (IE) OCT 2013 Dublin-based punk-pop quartet the #1s have released a new music video for the band’s forthcoming single ‘Sharon Shouldn’t’. Shot by Lyndsay Putt, the vibrant colour palette and grounded location of a local shop blend perfectly with the #1s’ jubilant pop aesthetic and thrashing indie sound. Opening with a suitably surreal piece of satire the tone and concept of the video is set clearly from the start. The quirky visuals are cohesively presented within the promo’s mise en scène as Putt places the group front and centre, surrounded by the vivid primary colour confectionary. ‘Sharon Shouldn’t’ is a faced paced, jangling burst of indie-pop that effortlessly captivates and hooks the listener through its effective use of hook laden melodies, pounding percussion and growling distorted guitar. Multiple listens continue to entertain and unveil unexpected elements that may have gone unnoticed. Indeed the single so fast-moving and concise in its structure that placing the track on a constant loop almost becomes a must. A sublime piece of indie-pop production that highlights a group with a deeply relevant sound and voice. Click above to check out the #1s new video for ‘Sharon Shouldn’t’. The single will be released on 7” via Alien Snatch! Records and Sorry State Records on October 4th.
MOLOKO
PLUS (D) AUG 2013 Was war ich nur für ein Idiot, als ich dachte,
dass Bands, die auf dem Cover ihrer Single einem Strauch posieren, nur scheiße
sein können und ihre selbstbetitelte Debüt-7'' links liegen ließ,
selbst dann als einige als generell sehr geschmackssicher geltende Personen
von dieser Single auf Art For Blind ins Schwärmen gerieten. Dass die mit
einem, wie sich im Nachhinein herausstellt, Gespür für's Realistische
als THE #1s benannte Band darüber hinaus bereits ein Tape auf Italia '90
veröffentlicht haben, lässt meinen Gram nicht schmälern, denn
allerspätestens jetzt – zum Zeitpunkt des Releases ihrer "Sharon
Shouldn't" 7'' in Europa auf Alien Snatch, auf Sorry State in den USA –
könnte ich mir in den Arsch beißen angesichts meiner eigenen Ignoranz.
Wer diese Tonträger zu veräußern hat, möchte sich bitte
vertrauensvoll an mich wenden. Aus Dublin kommen die #1s, einer Stadt, die ich
vor fünf Jahren totlangweilig fand, was wahrscheinlich nur daran lag, dass
ich nichts vom Big Itch Club wusste, dem Dive Hole, in dem sich der lokale Bandklüngel
konzentriert und dem in naher Zukunft eine Single auf Bachelor Records gewidmet
wird, auf der neben dieser Band die SEPTEMBER GIRLS und FAUX KINGS ebenfalls
vertreten sein werden (beide antesten, Punk!). Und wenn wir schon beim Umzeichnen
des Stammbaumes sind, sei erwähnt, dass die Mitglieder der 1#s in Bands
wie CIAN NUGENT & THE COSMOS, STRONG BOYS, dem Slack-/Psychgarage-Outfit
CHEAP FREAKS oder bei der adrett gekleideten Kaiserbeat-Maschine THE PACIFICS
spielen. Hätte ich das alles doch nur vor fünf Jahren gewusst. Es
ist ein gewisses Maß an Nostalgie, dass THE #1s mitbringen; sie erinnern
an Rickenbacker-JingleJangle mit "Miracle Man"-Kassengestell, Skinny
Tie Powerpop und verbreiten Good Vibrations galore, you name it! Die diffuse
Projektion einer Zeit, zu der truly yours noch tot war und unter dessen genreprägender
Fuchtel zeitgenössische Bands immernoch zu leiden haben, sich messen lassen
müssen mit den "Strange Obsessions" einer long-gone Ära.
ANY TROUBLE, TEENAGE HEAD oder BUREAUCRATS fallen da ins Ohr, ebenso Landsleute
wie RUDI, PROTEX und XDREAMYSTS. THE #1s schlagen ihre Kerbe auf dieser Messlatte
nur knapp unter dem eingestaubten '79-style "Alternative Ulster"-Parameter,
kommen dem aber um einiges näher, als benannte Originale und Artverwandte
es selber auf der x-ten Rebellion-Butterfahrt noch zu Stande kriegen. THE #1s
sehen nicht nur aus wie die REAL KIDS im Schlabberlook (ganz ehrlich, die Covergestaltung
ist wahnsinnig gut!), sondern klingen auch in etwa so. Sie entkorken hier kein
schales Sirup-Draught, sondern eine geschüttelte Dose "Fizz Pop"
und machen sich ohne Vorwarnung als "Radio Sweethearts" 2013 im Powerpop-Kanon
breit.
"Sharon Shouldn't" ist catchy bis zum Zuckerschock, ein Knaller, wie
man ihn schon beim frühmorgendlichen Zähneputzen summt, der den hüftlahmen
Körper zu den gewagtesten Tanschritten bringt, zumindest so lange, bis
man den heimischen Gummibaum umreißt. Doch wollen wir mal nicht zu viele
Vorschusslorbeeren verteilen, sondern uns in der Benotung übertrieben streng
geben und hoffen, dass Alien Snatch einen wasserfesten Knebelvertrag für
diese Jungs aufgesetzt hat, auf dass sie noch mindestens fünf weitere Singles
mit Powerpop-Gems von diesem Kaliber herausbringen. In ihrem nächsten Video
würde ich mich bereit erklären, im Supermarkt mit herumzuzappeln,
mit meinem Lieblings-EXPLODING HEARTS-Button am Revers und dem Wahnsinn im Blick,
in der verzweifelten Realisierung all der dieszeitigen Powerpop-Bands, die zwar
gut sein mögen, im Vergleich zu den #1s jedoch als hohle Luftnummer in
der Prärie verpuffen. 2014 spielen PROTEX in Berlin. Mit den PROTOKIDS
und THE #1s sein hiermit zwei Support-Slots vorgeschlagen, nach denen das Original
einiges auffahren muss, um sowohl Gesicht als auch Legendenstatus wahren zu
können. Plattenaufleger dieses Universums: nicht immer nur in den Record
Shop- Dustbins wühlen oder dumpf bei Sing Sing einkaufen, sondern diese
Single zum Höhepunkt jedes eurer Powerpop-Sets erklären. Muss tanzen...(MB)
OX
(GER) DEC 2013
see
scan!
tba
