Two decades on from their explosive arrival, The Subways are celebrating 20 years of fuzzed up riffs, unfiltered energy and unshakable charm with When I’m With You – a 23 track record that feels as alive as their earliest demos.
For those who’ve followed the trio since their teenage years in Hertfordshire, this collection is a true time capsule. For newer listeners (myself included, before this deep dive), it’s the perfect crash course and a reminder of why The Subways became such a vital part of Britain’s indie rock DNA.
Opening with debut single Oh Yeah, the album wastes no time reintroducing that signature Subways formula: chaotic in the best way, punchy riffs colliding with shout along choruses and infectious confidence. It’s DIY in spirit but delivered like absolute pros – proof that their raw sound was never a lack of polish, but an intentional middle finger salute to overproduction!
Tracks like We Don’t Need Money To Have a Good Time are pure euphoria – you can almost hear festival crowds bellowing every lyric back at them. That’s the magic of The Subways: they write songs designed to be lived loudly, best experienced with a drink in hand and a hoarse voice by the end of the night.
The compilation flows like a live set, stacked with fan favourites, early anthems and even two brand new songs (I Need to Feel You Closer and Passenger’s Side). The newer material still carries their signature adrenaline rush, with a touch more maturity but the same riotous energy. It’s the sound of a band still in love with what they do, but no longer need to prove anything.
While many of their early peers have faded, The Subways’ influence is easy to trace across the newer wave of British guitar bands. That blend of grit, melody and heart on sleeve honesty has clearly left a mark. Yet When I’m With You is less about legacy and more about celebration – a thank you to the fans who’ve been shouting the words right back at them for 20 years.
Closing, fittingly, with their instantly recognisable song Rock & Roll Queen, it’s impossible not to grin. That track alone could power a festival tent, but here, surrounded by two decades of noise and nostalgia, it lands with even more meaning.
When I’m With You is both a love letter and a victory lap – a reminder that The Subways have never stopped doing exactly what they do best: making rock music that feels gloriously human, joyfully messy, and built to last.
Instore & Signings:
17th October 2025: Banquet Records, Kingston Upon Thames
18th October 2025: Resident Records, Brighton
19th October 2025: Rough Trade East, London
20th October 2025: Jacaranda Records, Liverpool
21st October 2025: Rough Trade Records, Nottingham
23rd October 2025: Crash Records, Leeds
24th October 2025: Truck Records, Oxford
25th October 2025: Vinilo Records, Southampton
The Subways For Eternity UK Tour:
5th November 2025: BRISTOL O2 ACADEMY
6th November 2025: BIRMINGHAM O2 INSTITUTE
7th November 2025: NEWCASTLE THE GROVE
8th November 2025: HULL WELLY
13th November 2025: MANCHESTER BAND ON THE WALL
14th November 2025: GLASGOW KING TUTS
15th November 2025: NOTTINGHAM RESCUE ROOM
19th November 2025: NORWICH WATERFRONT
20th November 2025: PORTSMOUTH WEDGEWOOD ROOMS
21st November 2025: LONDON ELECTRIC BALLROOM
Cover Image by Laura Lewis
