The Cribs are a group that has always blended pop and punk, but a lean towards a heavier genre means that, rather than getting Blink-182, you get a special sound that only Wakefield’s band of brothers could produce.
The Jarmans’ latest album, Selling A Vibe, is out now under Sonic Blew, and it shows they have certainly not lost the charm they had when they exploded onto the music scene in the early noughties.
Dark Luck kicks off the record, and at a mere two minutes and fifty-seven seconds, with sharp on-and-off chord progressions, the punk influences are obvious. The title track is up next, followed by A Point Too Hard to Make – noticeably softer than the previous songs, but really emphasising the vocals. Never the Same’s hooky guitar intro is like something straight out of the Inbetweeners soundtrack, and the harmonies between singers Ryan and Gary sound like they are being pushed to their limit.
Looking For The Wrong Guy is unlike anything else on the album. The warped synth introduction precedes the longest song on record, allowing you to appreciate the songwriting more than anything. Gary’s bass gets singled out in Self-Respect, as does Ross’ drums in Rose Mist, yet the Italian opera in You’ll Tell Me Anything really catches your ear, leading into one of the best songs on the album, bringing you right back to the I’m A Realist days.
Brothers Won’t Break rounds off proceedings, yet reading into the title, it’s fair to say these brothers are here to stay. Selling A Vibe combines 12 quick, guitar-driven songs that couldn’t sound more like The Cribs if it tried.
A band perhaps better live than on record, these will only sound better when Gary, Ryan and Ross take to the stage for their highly anticipated shows later this year.
