Isn’t Stars In Their Eyes great Saturday night viewing? On it, a host of average individuals dress up as their favourite music stars and try to imitate them, often getting the sound right, but looking nothing like their idols. Wouldn’t it be great if the world of punk was exactly the same? Tonight Matthew, Six Ton Squirrel are New Found Glory.
Now you may think I’m being overly harsh in my opening paragraph to this review, but believe me, I’m not. What the world really doesn’t need now is identikit British versions of superior American pop punk bands. When singer Matt opens his mouth you would expect to hear a good honest English singing voice, not a nasal, pseudo-American imitation of Jordan From New Found Glory. Six Ton Squirrel are from London, not Florida. Yet, despite this fact, they give it their best shot at being their heroes.
From of the onset of ‘Nothing Left To Say’ it is apparent that this is generic pop-punk by numbers. There would be nothing particularly offensive about this, if it wasn’t for the fact that the band, despite solid musicianship, are not just imitating the vocal style of New Found Glory. Both ‘A Thousand Apologies’ and the fairly decent ‘Dear Anyone’ follow the musical blueprint of NFG circa their self-tilted album – it’s the same drumming, the same breaks, the same everything! The tribute act in all but name continues for the final two tracks ‘Hindsight’ and ‘Nothing left To Say’ and you are left with an uninspired and unoriginal EP.
If you want to hear pop-punk in the vein of New Found Glory, for gods sake listen to the real thing. If you want good UK pop-punk, try something with an identity. If you want Six Ton Squirrel, don’t say I didn’t warn you!
Mark