THE LAW - A Measure Of Wealth Four Track Album Sampler (Promo Only) CD-EP
To be granted a preview of the new Law album is akin to an audience with the Queen – you feel well privileged!! What's even better is when you find it does way more for you than you ever thought it would – and you thought it was gonna blow you away, anyway!!
First an overview – what's evident from these tracks, and which backs up something I – and many others – have been saying for a while – is that this band can write songs that are not merely great, but songs which you feel will last a lifetime of enjoyment, songs that will never date and songs that, if there's justice, will live in the annals of rock and pop alongside such legends as The Beatles and Oasis. That they arrange these well written songs with a band performance that mixes economy with strength, a full sound with crispness and crunch, and much more besides, illustrates that this is a BAND at work, each individual vital, but the whole greater than the components.
“Television Satellite” is, quite simply, magnificent. If eve there was a contemporary song that matched anything out of the writing stables of the two aforementioned bands and had “hit single” written all over, it's this track. The hook is addictive, the vocals delivered with a sublime mix of casual ease, observational strength and a wry smile, the lyrics absolutely spot on, and the band driving forward with solid rhythmic foundations, an almost garagey feel to the drums, as the guitars ring and chime to soaring effect, underlying rivers of guitar riffing filling out the sound superbly as the song just glides ahead with every facet a totally infectious slice of amazement that hangs around your head for hours after it's gone, something you wake up with the following morning, something you find yourself humming in the streets and something that just won't leave you alone – but you love it. It's solid but it's emotive, catchy as hell and absolute genius.
“The Chase” is more of an anthem – a driving sea of guitar riffing set under crunchy solid drumming, surging bass work and even more guitars as Stuart's vocals take off to the skies on a song that gets the adrenaline going, that builds and builds to dramatic effect, and yet a huge, towering anthem of a song that's absolutely mesmerising, something you feel has “epic” written all over it, and a song that is positively breathtaking in its awesome effect, lyrically brilliant, superbly delivered, Stevie's guitar work shining like a beacon as the most economic yet blisteringly effective leads rain down like gold, before the whole thing drops back to a gorgeous finale that's got The Beatles genius written all over it, as wafting vocals drift over lilting piano. It's an absolute classic and then some.
“Local Boy Lost” tells its tale in a driving burner of a song as the whole thing proves to be this rising tide of addictive hooks as the verses and choruses once again prove to be utterly irresistible, the band driving forward in a blaze of chiming guitars, underlying riffs, rock solid rhythms and a huge sounding production – as through every song – with the vocals delivered with Stuart's trademark style of strength and emotion, on a song that's simply stunning and so well written, totally infectious and catchy, and another gem that will prove to be completely timeless in its longevity of enjoyment.
Finally, long-standing stage favourite “Milk And Honey” finally gets the perfect version committed to album as the band deliver one ace of a song that's got it all – memorable hooks, irresistible choruses, driving verses, soaring guitars, solid rhythms and a huge-sounding builder of a track, with vocals that start off Beatles, continue briefly through Oasis and end up totally The Law. Chiming guitars, multi-tracked vocals, towering choruses, cohesive rolling rhythms and a red hot lead guitar break that's the absolute epitome of economy of approach working more than any fanciful dexterity, all combine to make a song that, once more, will have you singing the thing days later, and forever after that, a song that you'll play to death but never tire of hearing.
As I said, this is incredible stuff – and there's a whole album of it to come – if there's one album you're gonna have to buy in 2009 – and beyond – it's this – trust me!!
