Ocean Colour Scene : On The Leyline

One of the longest survivors of the Britpop era, Ocean Colour Scene has come up with another edition of rich, post-1964 Beatles rock....
7.2 Moseley Shoals
2007 

Ocean Colour Scene : On The LeylineOne of the longest survivors of the Britpop era, Ocean Colour Scene has come up with another edition of rich, post-1964 Beatles rock.  The band’s eighth album features more of the Simon Fowler’s howling vocals and Steve Craddock’s renowned groovy grunge melodies.  On The Leyline sags a bit with age, but dutifully extends the band’s catalog and further defines them as one of the most reliable British rock bands of the last fifteen years.

On The Leyline starts with off an understated anthem, “I Told You So” that bobs during the verse and stomps during the refrain.   The rest of the first half of the album is more distorted and more rock than pop.  The echoed vocals and dense riffs on “I Just Got Over You” soar as high as anything the band has ever done.  “Go To Sea” features a similar jam and even loftier solo.

The second half of the album is more restrained, starting with “These Days I’m Tired”.  An acoustic ballad sways in a thoroughly down-trodden breeze and the shimmy “You Don’t Get Me” employs a winsome harmonica before leading into the infectious harmonies of the sad-eyed hit, “Lonliest Girl In The World”.  “Two Lovers” even recalls an organic Van Morrison sound as the whole second half of On The Leyline is distinctly more low-key.

While not as loose as previous efforts, the album is at least as solid.  There’s an interesting dynamic between the halves of the album, and shows that the band can definitely exploit both the harder and softer sides of rock.  Ocean Colour Scene are underrated Britpop heroes, and their legacy continues on.

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