q magazine

cake record review

The Trash Can Sinatras are a bunch of plucky young strummers from Irvine whose jangly little tunes, though steeped in a certain Morrisseyness, genuflect most pertinently in the direction of the infant Roddy Frame before he discovered the meaning of True Love. There is indeed a detectable Scots tang to the tones throughout, only coming on a bit too strong on the opening "Maybe I Should Drive" which has one speculating on the current whereabouts of The Proclaimers, no less. Yet for the most part there's a pleasing conjunction of melody, word and troubled voice with the customary isolated stance and lyrical bleakness being well camouflaged behind some positive sounding hooklines of which "Obscurity Knocks" and "Only Tongue Can Tell" take most of the plaudits. Produced in part by the currently hot John Leckie, it's a gently pleasing debut; one for smiling enigmatically and turning up overcoat collars to.
Q Rating: ***

Reviewed By: Peter Kane