This Is Not the World

by

The Futureheads

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Really great energetic post-punk, powerpop, punk, britpop, whatever you wanna call it, from these Northern English dudes. If you've never heard them before, this is a great place to start.

I was disappointed to read other reviews on Metacritic that said this was just a powerpop record or something like that. I think this is a great follow up. Quick, short, and energetic songs make for a tons of fun - with typical great Futureheads lyrics to boot.

I can't say yet whether this is better than their debut LP but it is definitely better than their second album (which I also enjoyed).

The third Futureheads album is a bit of a hidden gem, considering the minimal exposure and attention it has receieved since its release. To me, the Futureheads were at their creative peak on their 2nd album (News and Tributes), though I realize I'm in the minority on this. Songs like Skip to the End, Cope, and Thursday were great pop tunes with enough of a rock kick to keep you intersted. While the new album doesn't climb to quite the same heights as its predecessor, it is on the whole a lot more consistent and feels similar to the vibe of their self-titled first effort.

Opening song Beginning of the Twist is perhaps one of the Futureheads' greatest moments, rivaling the savage fury of Carnival Kids and the irresistable melody of Skip to the End. The album blasts forward from there with Walking Backwards, slowing only slightly for a few ballads (Radio Heart, Hard to Bear ). This is not the World's propolsive energy is both its greatest strength and its limiting weakness, however. By the mid-way point of the album, songs start to sound a little same-y.

All in all, the Futureheads have made another solid and lovable record. The fact that this band has only gotten major attention for their Hounds of Love cover is a bit of a shame, since they have more talent and skill than most of their over-hyped peers (Bloc Party, The Bravery, etc).