Dirty Words

by

The Departure

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Sure. If you're over 30 you've heard it all before, and even better you might claim. Yet, this album is worth listening to as well as owning. Why? Well, for starters, if you think that the 70-80s rock/punk sound was one of the most intriguing pages of rock history, why not give it a shot, as more modernised, fresher take by a band that seem to have all their elements aligned right?

Departure do carry such assets and this becomes apparent by the the very first spin of the album on your stereo. They've got their charismatic signer who seems to be perfectly at home when he shouts out those alternative vocals of the past. Which in turn is a paradox because those vocals never became the mainstream actually.

Then there's Departure's music. Again, a sizey array of bands will spring spontaneously to mind once you hear the opening riffs and the accompanying drums. But, and that's what important here instead of being turned away, you'll be inclined to listen on. And you wont regret it either.

The band seem to take themselves seriously (yes, i know that can also be a bad thing) and have delivered a formidable album with almost no filler tracks, and which has all kindsa cool atmospheres that emerge the more you get into it.

This alternative 80s idea is looking increasingly better and better. Even if it all seemed dodgy at first.

Other observers seem excitedly sidetracked by talk of early 80's new wave and post-punk when they're referring to the Departure debut album: 'Dirty Words'. Fair enough.

To me, their inspirations go further back; Cockney Rebel, and more recent; Blur.

Of course, being a lot more receptive and perceptive than most of the hacks that buzz hornet-like around the Amazon review pages, I see things the average Joe wouldn't, and by extension, proffer chillingly accurate assessments and insight that others might miss.

Modestly - a quality yardstick.

'Dirty Words' (naff title, Adam would squirm) is not the calm masterpiece others would have us believe, neither is it a complete disaster; rather it's a rather sluggish tailgater to the likes of the Organ and Editors.

It sounds like Damon Albarn backed by 'October' period U2. Loud, echoing guitars chime in the gloom, dance-worthy rhythm lines and snappy vocals elevate as the songs progress...

It's all present but not quite correct.

There's far too much of this stuff out there at the moment (more than there was originally!), and the well is starting to run dry. The groups touted as influential have only become so during the time lapsed; originally they were mostly disregarded as 'student' or 'long mac'.

Some were incredibly obscure, and the more visible acts like Gang of Four or Bunnymen became embarrassing in a very short time after initial bursts of vital creativity.

So it's pretty obvious groups like the Departure, imbibing indiscriminately, are gonna make the same mistakes and get the same mixed results.

'Dirty Words' isn't awful - 'Only Human' is tidy - but it's naively old before its time ALREADY.

It doesn't have that jump-out-your-seat factor; it sounds too convenient, lax and sickly even. Groups searching for influence and inspiration in the areas the Departure, Kaiser Chiefs, Bravery et al are scratching in, are finding the small space where the good stuff is, depressingly crowded. There's a marked shortage of breathing space, and you can hear it across most of 'Dirty Words'.

Only the Organ successfully plundered, then split after an album.

There is a wisdom to this - but even they came under fire for being derivative, and ludicrously: Blondie copyists.

Even when groups get it right...they get it wrong!

There'll always some-one pulling the rug from under scenes like this because it's so easy to do. It's obvious and so not really worth the bother.