Courtesy Drop: Songs To Drive To; Cry, And Make Love To

Artist: Courtesy Drop
Title: Songs To Drive To; Cry, And Make Love To
Format Reviewed: MP3
Format Release: 15th October 2013
Reviewed By: Millie Manders

I started listening to this album with cynicism. The press release told me that an old school, purposefully unpolished sound had been created which for many a band essentially comes hand in hand with rushed, lazy, and budget. I was wrong.

This album feels like old school style, garage band rock reminiscent of recording a demo on a dat tape 4 -track in your mate’s loft conversion, but with the maturity and passion of people who love what they do and are unapologetic about the way they want to do it.

Courtesy Drop’s album, Songs To Drive To; Cry, And Make Love To is worth a listen. It’s worth a purchase; especially if you’re feeling nostalgic and want something of the old school in your new collection.

It’s raw, unprocessed and unpretentious in its deliverance. The musicianship is tight and not overdone, with no millions of layers and double tracking. A ‘this is who we are and we won’t change’ gift to those of us who remember lying on our beds staring at the ceiling, our teenage angst being ripped through us by the raging pain coming through our speakers, air-guitaring and drumming along, singing as though we wrote each of the songs ourselves.

The first song on the album, History Will Remember Our Generation As A Shining Example Of How Not To Exist opens with surprisingly beautiful guitars that instantly hooked me and got me listening in a serious way. Paul Chalos’ voice is full of emotion that hits your gut like a lead weight.  “No one is ready to acknowledge the fact that we’re hardly living” is a poignant line directed at our society, and, added to the grimy distortion and plenty of crash bring a garage band crescendo at the end of this short but brilliant introduction to the album.

Appleseed From Ash Night has a classic structure, dirty guitars and a surprise 3/4 break down that spins you out and keeps you listening. I actually started smiling when the keys came in, giving the track an almost circus like feel before the fade out. A sweet lift and twist that lent an extra dynamic.

A Toast To The Valiant Phil Coulson: Lovely 3/4 swing to a heart break sour note for the album and a one off belt out from Paul before the song climaxes, but I can’t help feel a little sad that there wasn't just a touch of falsetto in there. The vocals, whilst delivered well, are somewhat predictable and limited in range. This far from ruined the track: it is a decent song, but from a personal point of view it didn't shine as much as it could have.

Science Is A Liar Sometimes: Definitely a driving song. I don't drive, but I'd be air drumming next to someone who did, window rolled down, volume up, screaming along.  It's probably my favourite track on the album because it is so dirty and dangerous.  “In a comfort zone, filled with poisoned smoke, get out now or, breathe it all in and choke” is an awesome line which made me want to vomit, mosh and run away in equal measure. The claustrophobic, cloying destruction that is simultaneously attractive and repulsive delivered in a single lyric.

Overall, Songs To Drive To; Cry, And Make Love To is a decent album for diehard garage rock fans.  It’s a little predictable and ‘samey’ in places but with enough little twists to keep the listener's interest and more than enough raw emotion to go round.  It does exactly what it says on the tin. It’s road trip worthy, sob your heart out worthy, and in places its tender make-love-to worthy. A decent 8/10.


Songs To Drive To; Cry, And Make Love To is available now. Check the band out on Facebook here: www.facebook.com/CourtesyDrop