Love Hits ...like a Cricket Bat-out-of-hell (DOUBLE CD)

A work of art. The originals blow the covers away.

     

David Bowie is good company to strive for and in 'Janine', Simon and the crew of XUK not only blow the original away, but in honest retrospective show that the cover is one of the weakest tracks on the first 'side' of the album. Not because it is in itself weak, but rather because the original works, with telling lyrics written by Simon Holden, are that much more powerful and dynamic than might be expected in a DIY effort. The music itself, speaking of dynamic, makes you believe in classical string instruments again, if you've been losing faith. Violas are made to soar through rock arrangements in a refreshing revealing of the player's emotions and love for what they do... and that is really what is at the heart of this double album's success (and I do call it a blazing success)... not for a moment do you believe that any less then their best and most driven effort was poured into each and every song. With stand outs like "Unzip" and "New Way" opening the first side, songs that should soon be playing on college radio stations across the country, and national/local radio stations a few days later. Suddenly there are songs like "Crashing in a Jet", quirky songs that seem to dare the listener to fall out of the trance caused by the in-depth lyrics of all the songs up to that point... you really listen to the song and realize that it's point is just as valid and 'important' to XUK as any other. It is important, too. This album needs a label, indy or otherwise. This album needs to be heard by the masses, so fans... spread the word.