By DJ Monk
We first came across “irrepressible merry makers and noise makers” (their words not ours) TV Coma when we featured the track ‘Unemployable’ – the second cut to be lifted from this, their debut EP – in a recent edition of the Singles Club. The track served as a worthy introduction to the St Albans quartet and their brand of inanely infectious power pop. And the rest of this six-tracker doesn’t stray too far from the path paved by that appetizer.
Comparisons with what has gone before is always inevitable in this reviewing came and the first one that leaps out and smacks you in the face as soon as the laser hits the groove of ‘Have A Party’ is to Damon Albarn and Blur, with it’s opening chantalong chorus and hands-in-anorak-pockets, gazing-at-your-shoes style verses: the chorus itself is more redolent of the likes of the Lightning Seeds or Supergrass as the songs slowly builds to a crescendo in its second half. ‘Digital Girl’ actually reminds, in weird way, of our very own power pop pioneers The Wildhearts, with its heavy-ass hook and incisive lyrics, while ‘Trudy’ and aforementioned new single, ‘Unemployable’ see them revisiting Blur’s country manor while jamming with Weezer and just about every Nineties’ pop punk band you care to mention or watch on heavy rotation on a certain cable TV station, as the band once more treads the fine line between indie pop and West Coast emo.
One thing songwriting siblings Leo and Max Troy do manage to produce are some very witty one-liners, as demonstrated especially on the opening two tracks. But one of my favourite lines is on the riotous ‘Football Sons’, written, and originally released last year as, so the band say “a special celebratory release in honour of England losing all the football in the World Cup”: “every time they kick the ball, I knock back the alcohol”, it’s the complete antithesis of It’s Coming Home’ and all those ingloriously stupid football songs, and definitely my favourite song on this collection. Closer ‘Grow Up’ rounds things off with more of the same as what has gone before, with its cheeky, cheesy lyrics and infectious drive.
‘Body Negativity’ is something of a Marmite release. If you love indie pop fused with pop punk, you’ll probably love it. If you don’t, then you’ll hate it. Unfortunately, I find myself with one New Rock clad boot very firmly planted in the latter camp. Sorry lads, but I nevertheless wish you all the best success as undoubtedly there are a lot of people out there (including quite a few on the ÜR team) who will enjoy what you do, especially when it is as well constructed and performed as on here.
- ‘Body Negativity’ is out now. You can get your copy HERE.
- TV Coma host an EP launch show at The Horn in St Albans on Saturday 15 June, with support from Zen, Bison Face and The Mighty Orchid King. They then play the Jericho Tavern in Oxford on Friday 21 June.
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