Album Review :: Jaws - Be Slowly

Jaws

Be Slowly

September 15 2014 (Rattlepop)

6.5/10

Words: Alison Mack

It can be a little worrying when a band leak their own album in advance of its official release, or stream it, if you prefer. So when Jaws, one of the Big Brum Three along with Peace and Swim Deep, choose to do so, there is a tad of apprehension that this is because advance sales and/or reviews have not been too impressive. And Jaws certainly have a lot riding on this, their long-awaited full-length debut.

They have already indulged listeners with tracks like 'Surround You', 'Gold' and 'Think Too Much, Feel Too Little', all released as singles over the last two years. Of the others, opener 'Time' is tight on rhythm and hooky guitar riffs, and closer ‘NYE’ dishes out the reverb full-on like guitar bands never died... they just moved to Birmingham.

In between come ‘Home’ and ‘Filth’, both plunging into the dark, grunge fuzz pool, before coming up for air on the shimmery, summery ‘Swim’ and equally infectious ‘Sunset State’ - Connor Schofield taking a cue from The Cure's Robert Smith. ‘Cameron’, unfortunately, does little to engage, likewise ‘Think Too Much, Feel Too Little’ - unless Bombay Bicycle Club are your sort of thing, of whose style there are certain inflections of to be found here. Highlights come by way of the luminous title track, and 'Gold', which does, ultimately, live up to its name.

'Be Slowly' is neither a bad album, nor a great one. It's an okay, give-it-a-spin-once-then-move-on sort of album.