Grouplove

When Grouplove burst onto the scene a few years ago they brought with them a breath of fresh air; an almost tangible youthful exuberance and an infectious zest for life. With their self-titled first EP and debut album 'Never Trust A Happy Song', they injected life and soul into their music creating a real party atmosphere with a disposition so cheery, it was nigh on impossible not to be drawn in and won over. With a plethora of catchy hook-laden tunes like 'Colours', 'Naked Kids', 'Lovely Cup' and 'Tongue Tied', it was like they'd arrived fully formed and nothing could stop them.

Fast forward a few years and we have the band's second album 'Spreading Rumours'. Now, we all have to grow up, move on and explore different creative streams, but this is in parts like listening to a different band. I'm not sure whether I just don't like the album that much or whether I don't like it because it's a disappointment given the quality of their first record. If I was listening to this and filtered out the obvious individualities that tie the two pieces together, I might find more merit in it but, because I know this is not as good as it can get, the over-riding feeling is of being let down and under whelmed. 

'Spreading Rumours' is, on the whole, harder ('Shark Attack), heavier ('What I Know') and a lot darker ("I'd rather be the dying than the rising sun", from 'Hippy Hill') than its predecessor. The joie de vivre and endearing naivety that was so captivating has seemingly been thrashed out of Grouplove as if they've been force fed an aural diet of thrash metal, EMO and Foo Fighters on rotation until they've surrendered what they had and given in to produce whatever this is.

Continue reading: Grouplove - Spreading Rumours Album Review

After the release of the fabulously infectious and riotously enthusiastic joy filled 'Colours' EP, Grouplove have released their debut album 'Never Trust A Happy Song'. Of the six songs they treated us to previously only two make the cut onto their first album. 'Never Trust A Happy Song' thankfully carries on down the same stream of unadulterated palpable pleasure that the band seem effortlessly to convey through each of their songs. If Grouplove never make another record ever they would still be able to release a greatest hits album at some point in the future, their material to date is that good. Whilst I'm not a big fan of the phrase I can think of no more apt description to sum up 'Never Trust A Happy Song'.............."It's all killer, no filler".

Continue reading: Grouplove, Never Trust A Happy Song Album Review

'Carpe Diem', 'Follow your heart', 'Your dreams can come true', 'If you think you can you will, if you think you can't you won't'. Whatever mantra, seemingly idealistic vision or self development ideology the five members of Grouplove have chosen to adopt seems to be working beautifully thus far. After chance meetings and brief encounters involving art, The Med, photography and eventually music a quintet of kindred spirits was born.

Now focused in L.A, mainly due drummer Ryan's previous production work and the usefulness of his having a studio, Grouplove were a disparate five souls who set out as two from NYC. Hannah met Christian who in turn met Sean and all three then met friends Andrew and Ryan. They all bonded as soulmates and decided that the duller considerations of life such as security, familiarity, risk and practicality should all be silenced in favour of instinct, adventure, creativity and friendship.

The Colours (Yes they even spelled it right) EP is the group's debut prior to the release of their first full length feature. You can hear the enthusiasm within each of the tracks, their enjoyment is almost palpable. 'We seriously had the best time of our lives doing that record. We all understood how rare it is for five strangers to feel as close as family and create passionate music together.' The 6 track EP is a great taster for what promises to be a very exciting album.

Continue reading: Grouplove, Colours EP Review