Sons & Daughters – This Gift
It’s bluesy, punky, politically raging and Glaswegian – I should love this record, but I don’t. In fact, I am not sure I even like it particularly. I have loved some Sons & Daughters songs in the past, most notably from their debut EP, but I wasn’t keen on The Repulsion Box really, and despite the less choppy, brutal approach I don’t like this very much either.
I don’t think this is indicative of there being anything wrong with the music, and I am not trying to say that they are shite, but I seem to be forever on the verge of loving Sons & Daughters and just never quite end up doing so. The elements are all perfect, there’s no reason I shouldn’t love it, it’s exactly my kind of music I just have never managed to click with it. Abrupt, punchy blues with an angry garagey edge is generally right up my street, and this is how they began their career. With This Gift they have mellowed a little and there is a little bit more pop smoothness to the music but it still isn’t floating my boat entirely.
The lyrics are even a blistering attack on modern cultural vapidity and even that doesn’t help. I don’t know what they could do that would make me fall for this a little more, but I’ve been asking myself this since their very first release. At some point I am just going to have to face up to the fact that I don’t actually like Sons & Daughters very much. But I doubt I will ever understand why.
Sons & Daughters – Gilt Complex
Sons & Daughters – This Gift
Have you seen them live, Toad? They actually put on a really great show, maybe that’ll change your mind. I have to admit, though, I’m in agreement that Love the Cup was better than their actual full-length. I hope I disagree with you about this album, I really hope it!
You may well. I missed the chance to go and see the live quite recently actually and I rather regret it. I am having this exact same discussion with DC on another thread about iLiKETRAiNS. Sometimes it takes that little bit extra to really click with a band.
This is interesting….
Sons & Daughters are one of my favourite bands – and I’ve been lucky enough to see them live on a number of occasions including a really gutsy performance supporting Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds at the Alexandra Palace in London when they had real problems with the sound and equipment but still gave it the proverbial 110%.
I also once was standing in a clothes shop in Martinique in the West Indies when ‘Johnny Cash’ came over the airwaves of a French-speaking radio station, and the bemused locals stared at me as I danced and kind of sang along…
However, the last two singles have left me quite cold – and as for their dreadful cover of the truly awful ‘Killer’ by Seal, the least said and all that…
I mentioned the other day about bands releasing LPs in January getting totally over-exposed and over-hyped in the press. Going by the Toadmeister verdict, it looks like that jinx has struck again.
But I will still go out later this week and purchase a copy, give it a listen and then form my own opinion.
If it does prove to be a letdown it will be something of a sad occasion.
Interesting. I love the single Darling, and I had some hopes for this album…
Johnny Cash might actually be my favourite song of theirs JC, so I’d probably have been making an arse of myself under those circumstances as well.
You’re a Weegie, Tim, you’ll probably like it out of patriotism.
Actually, I wrote that without a comma first and then realised that “you’re a Weegie Tim” is very different from “you’re a Weegie, Tim” and rushed to sort out my punctuation.
Yes, that name has caused me some problems in my time! There are a good few stories there, but now’s not the time nor the place…
I was kind of intrigued by the first two singles I heard off the album -Gilt Complex and Darling, which I really liked, and thought Bernard Butler producing had had kind of a good effect. But I still think that Love The Cup is the best thing they have done. Will be getting the album ASAP, but how much of that is out of loyalty, I don’t know.
I do agree that they should be seen live, have seen them seven times, and it’s about to be an eighth and they have got better and better with time. The passion between the two singers is electrifying.
Seven? Christ that’s verging on stalking! I haven’t even seen Billy Bragg that often (although come to think of it, it’s close).
Okay, I hereby formally commit to going to see them the next time they play here in Edinburgh.
Well for what it’s worth – I’ve seen them live and thought they were very disappointing – and for me that’s quite surprising. I don’t like to criticise bands openly but seeing Sons and Daughters was a souless and empty experience.
And I’m not trying to be controversial…..I just don’t like them and don’t get all the fuss.
Odd that, because soulless seems to be the exact opposite of what everyone else is saying. Not liking the music I can easily understand – that’s pretty random half the time – but I am genuinely surprised to hear you say they were soulless. Ah well, I shall definitely have to get along for myself now and just make up my own mind. Bloody hell!
Well – for me, it’s all glitz and glam artschool rock A lot of energy but without much substance or life to it – if that makes any sense?? And yes, I am one of the few who find it a bit pretentious and wanky and a bit dull. Not saying I’m right though – just got bored quickly listening to them. Though it was about 3 years ago and they may have improved significantly in that time. Always willing to give people a second or third or in this case 4th chance. :O)
Shit…I’m a stalker.
I reckon I’ve seen Billy Bragg 20+ times….
Add one in Spring! He’s in the Weeg. I have cheekily emailed and asked for an interview. It’ll never happen but it would be fucking amazing. You coming along to that one JC? How about Monsieur Kipper?
I’ll be there….the Kipper should be there….and quite possinly both of our other halfs.
If you get the interview….give me an invite…
Loving this post Matthew
) Really good write up, and, as ever over here, it’s kind of refreshing to read something other than just the usual “this is brill folks!” stuff!
I’m with you, Toad, on The Repulsion Box. I loved Johnny Cash but the full length did little for me. I actually saw them supporting Throwing Muses back in 2003 and they were OK but they seemed a bit more muted then.