Hoggboy's new single, Shouldn't Let The Side Down, is a surprise for two reasons. Firstly, the B-side is catchier than the A-side. Secondly, this sounds like the work of a highly mature band with a definite direction about them - so why haven't we heard of them before?
On Urgh!!! (fabulous title, chaps), Hoggboy's vocalist sounds like The Strokes' Mr Casablancas, with plenty of lazy vibrato about his tones and a good range. He even does a Johnny Rotten routine at the end of verses, yelling against the melody of his song.
The music, however, is fuller than The Strokes' sound and gets perilously close to a combination of early The Rolling Stones and Velvet Underground territory. Bundles of energy and a rollicking bass holding it all together, this is a damned fine release.
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