Album of the week- 180 -Palma Violets

This weeks album of the week is '180' by Palma Violets. I have listened to this album basically non-stop for a week. All the songs seem incredibly raw and rough, tracks like 'Johnny Bagga Donuts' and 'Tom The Drum' sound positively clash-like. The songs bass player and vocalist Chilli sings on are very punky, he has quite a raw, shouty voice, but this offers a nice contrast between the generally smooth vocals of Sam Friar, the guitarist. The lead single 'Best Of Friends' is by far the best song on the album and probably the best single of 2012. It's an absolutely classic; brilliantly catchy chorus, beautiful irreverent lyrics. A quality piece of music. But at points you feel as though songs like this prop up others like '14', 'All The Garden Birds' and 'Chicken Dippers' (although it probably has the best song title ever!). Although, after seeing them live at the NME awards tour you can tell these songs do work live. '14' in particular is a belter live, a proper sing-a-long song, but just doesn't work on the album. This is probably due to it having only two lines of lyric; 'Oh fourteen, Oh fourteen take me home, through the night.' The production also seems slightly off in places, violins in 'All the Garden Birds' almost feel awkward and really aren't necessary. But, these slight blips ignored, it's a cracker of an album. Chock-full of anthems and with really quite interesting numbers (like the slightly proggy 'Last Of The Summer Wine') it shows promise and room to grow. Which is what a debut should do!

8/10