Release Date: Jul 17, 2006
Label: Vertigo/Universal Motown
Genres: Indie Rock
Number Of Tracks: 10
Razorlight are playing with music styles, guitar sounds and song structures so easy and effortless like they've been learning to do it all their lives.
Featured review by:
UG Team, on september 27, 2006 3 of 4 people found this review helpful
Sound: There were a lot of debates and talks about whether Razorlight (and Johnny Borrell first of all) are gifted musicians after their 2004 debut “Up All Night” -- will there ever be a sophomore CD? is He any good without Pete Doherty? and the main -- should we believe him when He proclaims himself a genius? Well, here’s the moment of truth...
Listening to the second album, which Razorlight modesty self-titled, you’ve got no doubts about their talent -- they are playing with music styles, guitar sounds and song structures so easy and effortless like they’ve been learning to do it all their lives.
The album meets you with an upbeat “In The Morning” -- guitars here are so sharp they almost hurt your ears -- you get the whole picture of what it’s like to wake up after a good party. Apart from being the first song on the album, the track is also the first single. Being written about two years ago, it’s the “oldest” song on Razorlight. “America” has some wonderful delicate guitar work in the beginning and turns into a huge ballad after the first chorus. Congratulations! It’s their first effort to make something necessary for any rock band -- a great stadium ballad.
“Before I Fall To Pieces” has a rolling rhythm and a happy guitar tune that create a careless mood of a late hour in a pub. Bjorn Agren is maturing as a guitar player -- on Razorlight he learned to feel his guitar and create sensible solos. His guitar courtesy is starring in every track -- it even doubts Borrell’s only genuis in Razorlight. “Idiot Piano” (as they call it in a CD booklet) fill-ins, played by Borrell, are almost unnoticeable, but it adds variety to the sound.
“Los Angeles Waltz” sees Borrell aiming to be the next Springsteen and telling us about the difficulties of his life. A charming ballad closes the Razorlight with a sad overtone. The album is full of happy sing-alongs -- after the second listen you’ll find yourself not to be able to resist to yell out the choruses. // 9
Lyrics and Singing: Writing poetry, Borrell carefully thought it out, but managed to keep it raw at the same time. The band is growing up and it’s obvious through their lyrics -- the album’s mood is happy with a bit of disappointment now. The guys have learned what it’s like to party, now they’re learning what an aftertaste is. On “Razorlight” they’re disappointed in love (“Who Needs Love”) and have a hangover (“In The Morning”).
What sounds like “All my life I’ve been watching a miracle” in “America” turns out to be “...watching America” which ruins all the romance... Razorlight make a perky effort for something everybody’s only thinking about. It fits their image great. Johnny Borrell’s vocals are impulsive, but don’t grab you attention. They complete a song and let you enjoy it as a solid piece. // 8
Impression: All tracks are short and the album merely reaches 35 minutes barrier -- the instant CD suddenly ends up just after you start to enjoy it... which only makes you push “play” button again.
There are only 10 tracks on the whole album, but each one of them is unique -- Razorlight managed to give each song a different personality and at the same time fit them all in one record. All tracks are so catchy they’ll be playing in your head until it makes you sick. If you’ve ever been to any Razorlight show, you know how good they are live. I guess the band’s biggest achievement is that they’ve found the way to convert that passionate energy into their records.
The legendary producer Chris Thomas (Beatles, Sex Pistols, Roxy, Pulp) did a good job on this one. He made Razorlight sound so crispy new as if the New Wave was just invented a few hours ago. Thomas is famous for making a genre-defining record every decade and Razorlight are hoping it’s their time now. Releasing their second CD, Razorlight are healthy ambitious and so self-confident they don’t even try to hide it -- you’ll find their handprints inside of a CD booklet (well, at least it’s more original than their faces). // 9
Reviewed by:
Daniel Pearce, on february 26, 2007 0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Sound: Razorlight's first album wasn't much of a hit but still was a excellent debut album. They needed to create something new with a second album that showed they were actual talented musicians, and this was their comeback album which I think is even better than their first. It's always hard making a second album when your first was really good. People expect a lot of you, there's quite a lot of pressure involved. The ten songs are mixed with all kinds of diffrent techniques that all add up to very detailed songs produce a great sound for Razorlight. Although I think they should have done a few more songs would've been nice. The sound they make nice fusion of sound like 'America' is a perfect example. Everyone plays their part well, some excellent drumming and some brilliant riffs and chorus's. // 9
Lyrics and Singing: The lyrics are like about people's points of veiw, feelings and people and stuff. If you don't know what mean, the songs: 'Who Needs Love', 'I Can't Stop This Feeling I've Got', 'Back To The Start' are on that theme. This album's just named 'Razorlight' which is dull name. Loads of bands do that and it just shows they couldn't be bothered to think of one or two words for an album. Both the lyrics and the music either make you happy and good times or the other way round. Peaceful lyrics included in all the songs, Razorlight produce good indie rock, but you wouldn't call Razorlight a real rocking out band. The Killers' style is indie rock and that's something you'd call rock. His voice seems to go perfectly with the music and him playing guitar at the same time as doing the vocals is effective for the band. // 8
Impression: On the front of this album Q Magazine say: "The best album since 'Definately Maybe' by Oasis. Now comon what's that all about? That's exagerating but at least they didn't say it was better than 'Definately Maybe' This is a good album but there are better ones out there that have happened. The most impressive songs on the album are: 'In The Morning', 'Before I fall To Pieces' and finally 'America'(which was nominated for single of the year at the Brit Awards 07). If this were lost I'd buy it again becuase it's something you wanna listen to alot. It's very fresh and new, Razorlight have nice ideas for good songs. I've listened to this alot. Very impressive album overall.They have cool-dude hairstyles aswell! I'd advise you to get this. A must-have in your collection with classic modern songs that have class. // 9
munchward
: whats pete doherty got to do with razorlight? johnny borrel never needed pete, he played bass with doherty for 2 weeks but thats it, they hate each other. borrell pisses talent POSTED: 09/27/2006 - 08:32 am / quote|
pottsy
: it sounds more like a collection of singles as opposed to a complete album, but you ahve to admit the songs are brill! POSTED: 09/27/2006 - 12:19 pm / quote|
Woo!Yay!
: I actually quite like this album, the songs don't have such an "albumy" feel to them, but they are great. POSTED: 09/27/2006 - 01:10 pm / quote|
l3xbi
: Im sure if Doherty did help, it would be worse. He's a rubbish composer anyway. This albums a disappointment compared to "Up all night"! POSTED: 09/27/2006 - 01:58 pm / quote|
gordon 87
: I think it's very good album. It's very different from the first but I think thats a good thing. I hate when band keep on releasing the similar sounding material.
I think the reviewer has got Borrel mixed up with Carl Barrat POSTED: 09/27/2006 - 02:06 pm / quote|
whitestripe22
: this album is actually probably one of the biggest dissapointments ive ever had the mispleasure to experiance. yes some songs are good, but the rest all sounds the same.. rock on POSTED: 09/27/2006 - 04:38 pm / quote|
elmolikepie
: in the morning is a really good song but america is seriously average. POSTED: 09/27/2006 - 05:29 pm / quote|
scarfacesuit
: they all sounds very average. i mean, i'm usually pretty diverse and accepting with music, but i didn't find their music too appealing, or original really. POSTED: 09/27/2006 - 07:13 pm / quote|
bladeguy4543
: god damn i hate this album. loved up all night though. POSTED: 09/28/2006 - 01:06 am / quote|
FaceTomorrow
: Johnny pete and carl do not hate eachother. Great album! POSTED: 09/28/2006 - 02:33 am / quote|
woodlandsclose
: i really njoyed this album. i woz impresed POSTED: 03/18/2007 - 02:19 pm / quote|
kaptink
: I love this album, its not so impressive on the first listen thogh, you need to really grow into some of the songs. POSTED: 03/22/2007 - 09:59 am / quote|
TJ1991
: America is one of my favourite songs ever. Great album overall as well. POSTED: 04/04/2007 - 01:40 pm / quote|
jonnybassman
: this is the biggest let down of an album ever. Up all night was a brilliant debut but they really lost the plot on this one. POSTED: 11/11/2007 - 11:37 am / quote|
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