2008 : SOME MUSICAL HIGHLIGHTS : YOUNG KNIVES

One of the few bands to emerge in recent years that both myself and Mrs Villain are extremely fond of - although I do acknowledge they are not everyone's cup of tea.

It was back in late 2005 when I first noticed Young Knives, thanks to one of their promos being aired on MTV2. They were a band I kept an eye on throughout 2006, buying each of their singles and subsequent LP - Voices of Animals and Men - as well as catching them live a few times. I argued at the time that they were worthy successors to the likes of The Kinks, The Teardrop Explodes and XTC in making great pop records that were quite clearly English and often bordered on the eccentric.

I was really disappointed that they weren't a big success - the singles barely dented the top 40, while the album only sold reasonably despite a great deal of support from MTV2 and in particular Zane Lowe and his Gonzo programme, as well as a Mercury Music Prize nomination.

As much as I loved their previous stuff, it was the release of Superabundance at the beginning of this year that made me realise just how talented and special this trio really are. It's a huge disappointment that the record was summarily dismissed on its release by so many music journos and is nowhere to be found in the Best of 2008 round-ups that dominate the media just now.

I accept Young Knives are not earth-shattering. But neither are they as one-dimensional as some critics suggest. This is an album among my Top3 favourites of the entire year. It veers from verse/catchy chorus/verse pop classics to stunningly produced songs that demand and deserve a number of listens to appreciate their greatness (much the way some folk talk about Radiohead.....).

My biggest fear was having produced 2 albums packed with songs that are immensely superior to those bands who have enjoyed more chart success and acclaim over the same period of time, was that Young Knives would become hugely disillusioned and call it a day. But I'm delighted to have read just the other week that they are in a recording studio with every intention of another album being released in 2009.

The main thing about that news is that inevitably the band will take to the road and promote the new stuff, for they are one of the most energetic and entertaining live acts I've had the pleasure of seeing in all of my 30 years of live gigs. And, while I know I'm going to be a hostage to fortune with the next few words....what is there to dislike about these great bits of music:-

mp3 : Young Knives - Turn Tail
mp3 : Young Knives - Up All Night

Go on treat yourself and buy Superabundance.

Oh and I nearly forgot.....here's a great cover version they tucked away on a b-side:-

mp3 : Young Knives - Stand And Deliver

Happy Listening