GoodBooks - Control
It's not that there's anything wrong with 'Control' as such, it's more a case of the music promising to take you somewhere and then failing to reach that destination.
Beginning in a state of semi-consciousness with 'Beautiful To Watch' and its brief and hazy a cappella version of the chorus, we are awoken unceremoniously by a sonic pounding equal to being continuously jabbed in the face like a human punch-bag. This acts as the catalyst for an atmospheric and energetic post-punk verse that leaves the chorus that follows sounding limp in comparison. This sums up the album perfectly; it's not that there's anything wrong with 'Control' as such, it's more a case of the music promising to take you somewhere and then failing to reach that destination.
Across the twelve tracks, GoodBooks suggest the following: they've got the urgency of Editors but without the edge. They can match the punk-funk of Bloc Party but with less attitude. They have the pop awareness of Guillemots but minus the widescreen colour. They share the same whimsical Englishness of Mystery Jets while lacking the authenticity. Of course it may seem unfair to base a band's failings on the strengths of others, but in a skewed way it's a backhanded compliment to do so; the quality of the songwriting and the delivery raises expectations to insurmountable heights.
As far as the music goes there's plenty to please a keen ear, with the tight and punchy rhythm section ensuring that there's rarely a dull moment. The keyboards are far from indulgent and inject life as and when required - a good example being the oscillating organ lines borrowed from The Who, as can be heard during both 'Leni' and ode to the First World War 'Passchendaele'. Similarly, the guitars are a key element, though applied sparingly to add rawness and drive to the indie-funk rhythms.
When this band do get it right, it all falls together in an impressive fashion, as with 'The Illness', a frantic and exhilarating track during which the vocals acquire an otherwise unheard dynamism. This, together with album closer 'Start/Stop', suggest that GoodBooks have plenty to offer. As a band they've got bags of energy and they've got the groove; this is blue-eyed funk with a pop sheen, but it lacks grit. It starts and ends strongly, making 'Control' a decent debut, but not a great one.
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