Gary, Ryan and Ross Jarman, known collectively as The Cribs return with a new album `Selling a Vibe` their ninth release, first in five years and an album that is rooted in family.
The album opens with `Dark Luck` a quite light and breezy stop start number that the title would suggest is about misfortune. Title track `Selling a Vibe` follows and it`s a fairly dreamy thoughtful offering with harmonies at times that the Beach Boys would be proud of.
`A Point Too Hard To Make` reflects on the initial joys of success but then what is left afterwards, a pleasant rhythmic number with a guiding drum cadence and harmonious bassline. There`s a real summery vibe to `Never The Same`, a song originally written for Louis Tomlinson but of which the brothers became attached to.
I read somewhere that `Summer Seizures` is a song about love, tragedy and learning to live with yourself, all set during summertime in NYC. A simple but captivating ear-worm. There`s a quiet build up to `Looking For The Wrong Guy` which ponders on personal issues from a life lived on the road.
`If Our Paths Never Crossed` another reflective musing has a pulsating steady beat that I found really appealing while `Self-Respect` had a delightful meditative maturity about it.
`You`ll Tell Me Anything` has an almost operatic opening before relaxing into a steady groove. The title of `Rose Mist` conjures up images of a calming aromatherapy product that benefits one`s skin and mood and the track itself has a measured reassuring “all`s well with the word” ambience.
`Distractions` does elicit a kind of gentle state of preoccupation with lyrics that have a fairly deep significance. The album closes out with `Brothers Won`t Break` which is a kind of reaffirmation of this trio of siblings continuing attachment, friendship and devotedness which is in itself a real strength and power.
The Cribs after two decades and nine albums seem to have reached that point in life when you look back and reflect on the passage of time and `Selling A Vibe` appears to be the result of this introspection. A pretty sincere and honest contemplation or self- analysis and soul-searching and a creation that i`m sure was pretty cathartic.
The band head out on a UK headline tour in March in support of this latest release with a huge outdoor show at Leeds Millennium Square to follow in July, an ideal opportunity to hear these new numbers in a live setting.
Rating 8/10
