Everyone Says Hi - Funny Cos It's True 
(Chrysalis)
Release Date: Out Now
I'm always a bit wary of 'super groups' but the singles released by Everyone Says Hi have been nothing short of brilliant so I just had to give their debut album a listen - and it doesn't disappoint. 'Funny Cos It's True' was recorded at the home studio of singer Nick Hodgson (former sticksman and driving force of the Kaiser Chiefs) and we open with 'Just Like That', a mellow and assured heart string tugger that, seemingly, has no Tommy Cooper connections whatsoever. 'Communication' picks up the tempo a little with a slinky bass line (courtesy of Pete Denton once of the Kooks) giving everyone license to have fun but the smile is worn loosely over a heavy heart. On 'Don't Underestimate Yourself' the band take a slightly country approach with a slithering violin and an early 70s production quality as they pass on some advice from father to daughter.
There's a familiar melancholy to 'But What You Gonna Do?' which starts with the line "I've just had me birthday, another year away from 18" and doesn't get any cheerier despite the blast of sound in the chorus. This is a coming of middle age album and tracks like 'What You Were Looking For' and 'Real Friends' reinforce that tone with melodies that wouldn't sound out of place on Maximo Park or Razorlight records. The song that started it all (for me, at least) is former single 'Life Isn't Perfect' which still stomps and sparkles with Spacehog meets Spiders From Mars energy as each sonic layer is added.
Title track 'Funny Cos It's True' heaves and sighs with a heavy energy but the breathy vocals and guitar sound has a very John Lennon vibe that I'm here for all day. The internalised, listed lyrics of 'I Know Myself' speak of someone that has done some therapy but the indie-funk of the chorus suggests that to be a positive experience. The gentle indie-pop whimsy of 'Just Forget It' provides a moment of peaceful clarity before 'Everyone's Gonna Lose' brings the album to a close with a piano driven rattler of a tune that nods back to that Lennon influence with a little Lou Reed thrown into the vocals. What this album tells me is that here are a bunch of experienced and accomplished musicians, confident enough in their space and time to write an album about their experience of life up to this point and we need more of that. Less trying to impress, more sharing your viewpoint on life as you see it.
More information: https://www.instagram.com/everyone_says_hi_