Dublin Rock outfit Reader’s Wives bring their newly released album to the ears of Goldenplec and the nation’s public sporting more of that edge and flair that gained them notoriety via Hot Press with their EP Secrecy & Sex in 2009 and a fantastic show at Electric Picnic to boot.
Niall James Holohan and his merry band of misfits are back with their new album Rachel’s Apartment, and have continued to shape and define themselves to their growing fan base in the same positive progression that first put them on the map.
The Album kicks off in style, with the in-your-face aggressiveness of Lenny Fucking Bruce, a fantastic opening track for any album which immediately draws comparisons to Arctic Monkeys with very pre-shadow puppets Alex Turner similarities (a comparison the band are well used to at this stage). This in no way a negative thing and the album continues in such form with the following songs Wasted Youth and Light Up. In fact, the album kept my attention right up until Isadora Duncan, a spoken word track featuring Cathal Coughlan which unfortunately for me translated into nothing more than a pretentious attempt to add an unnecessary intellectuality to the album. It gradually deteriorates from there, with the only track standing up to the first five being the tenth and penultimate song Get Laid.
A good effort from a great band, this album could be a grower and I could be reading this very review in a few months regretting not giving this a higher rating. One thing is for sure, with their straightforward indie rock direction and fantastic compositional skills, not to mention very recognizable vocals; these guys would fit nicely into the NME scene and could quite easily take it over in years to come. Reader’s Wives are definitely a name to remember in the future, and Rachel’s Apartment is a pivotal stepping stone to making their mark.
7/10