 "Photo: Courtesy of The Subways")
After recuperating from a near break-up, U.K. garage/rock/indie trio The Subways have revived with a new, adventurous album "All Or Nothing" (Warner Bros., 2008) that's soaring with a No. 17 spot on the UK album charts.
Members Billy Lunn, female bassist Charlotte Cooper and drummer Josh Morgan doubted the band's continued existence after the nodules on Lunn's vocal chords required surgery during a strenuous tour. But it's not surprising - much of their album is filled with cymbal-heavy drums, heavy vocals and occasional screams.
"I was told that if there was any trouble with the recovery, it wasn't that I wouldn't sing again," Lunn said. "I might not be able to speak again."
In its second time around, the trio is filled with a fun, loud sound and teen angst.
"Kalifornia," a celebrity-bashing hit, is one of the heavier tracks. The strong bodied guitar riffs and lyrics "Do you feel the paranoia, do you feel it's waiting for you" exemplify Lunn's frustration with the celebrity high life.
"I just want to tear the throat out of these f------ idiots who contribute nothing to society," Lunn said. "If you think back to 100 years ago people who were famous were artists, poets, politicians, scientists and now it's f------ imbeciles who have nothing to say hogging the limelight."
"Turnaround" is a playful, carpe diem song similar to Franz Ferdinand's "Take Me Out" and Jet's "Are You Gonna Be My Girl."
"Some people are just prepared to sit back and hope things come to them," Cooper said in an interview with Rock Sound. "They're content to do something and that they're not completely happy with. No," Cooper said. "You have to strive."
"Lost Boy," written when Lunn was vocally at his weakest point, is a softer, acoustic, Death Cab For Cutie-like tune about finding someone to keep him safe and warm.
"It was around that autumn time when everything's really beautiful and orange, and you're reminiscing about the summer before," Lunn said in an interview with Rock Sound. "About going out and having fun, and after a night out drinking, standing with your lady by the taxi rank and saying, 'You know, I can't wait to get home and cuddle up and watch a movie."
Honed by L.A. producer Butch Vig (Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Sonic Youth), the album highlights a driving yet strong attribute of the band.
"Coming back to the UK was almost too comfortable for us," Lunn said. "We challenged ourselves cognitively, emotionally and musically."
Lunn said the band has put its full effort and faith in its latest release.
"We like to keep ourselves on our toes and we wanted to dive into this record and make it the best we could."
Overall the trio's album is emotionally and musically both heartfelt and mature.
"I really wore my heart on my sleeve," Lunn said. "All the trials and tribulations that we've been through, they're there. I haven't left anything to myself."
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