Hard-Fi Once Upon A Time In the West

Published Sep 04, 2007
Just two years ago, Staines, Londons Hard-Fi appeared with their debut, Stars of CCTV, a spirited throwback to the sophisticated rock of the Clash and the baggy bop of Madchester that was distinct yet desired; it sold a bundle. But now something doesnt seem so right. Once Upon A Time In the West, their follow-up, doesnt arrive with any sort of momentum, other than some imposing cover art that demonstrates their politics havent suffered from their success. No longer are they the flavour of the week but something tells me the hard-working neighbours to Ali G couldnt care less. Once Upon A Time is the band continuing to bite with direct social commentary ("Suburban Knights confronts the ignorant, affluent burbs) while honing their expansive arsenal of rock motifs. Nothing is quite as immediate as CCTVs quick-to-the-punch singles platter but they certainly show their ability to advance in the studio. "Watch Me Fall Apart has the grandiose orchestral stroke that makes a Bond theme so dramatic and "Cant Get Along jumps into a Motown time warp with an army of horns and strings; its their best moment yet. "I Shall Overcome, on the other hand, recalls CCTVs robust choruses and dub flirtations, ensuring they arent looking to reinvent themselves. However, they still cant pen a ballad; "The King is a lifeless buzz-kill waiting to be knocked off any iTunes playlist. On the whole, Hard-Fi pull off another solid album that hopefully wont be overshadowed by its horrific artwork.
(Atlantic)