For more than two decades, The Cribs have been a band easily labelled by many as survivors of the indie landfill scene, but to anyone paying closer to attention it’s always been harder to predict what to expect. Johnny Marr jangle, radio-friendly anthems? Steve Albini alt-rock thrash? Fall apart entirely? Surely brothers don’t break up…
Musically on this, the band’s ninth studio album, there is less of the screaming urgency and sticky dancefloor riffs than can be found on earlier hits. Melodic pop sensibilities born in the 1980s — think The Replacements or Orange Juice — are more prominent here, with the aid of producer, former Chairlift member and MGMT collaborator Patrick Wimberly.
