What do you do with good albums? Well, you get them released twice, of course! Well… sort of. The Front Bottoms’ debut album never got a proper release over here in the United Kingdom and so Banquet Records are being absolute babes and getting it released for the Queen herself to enjoy. And the thing is, I’m pretty sure she will. 

Described as indie-punk, The Front Bottoms are an acoustic duo who play an acoustic guitar and a drum kit and are full of enough honesty and hooks to hoist the Queen up and hang her on a flagpole outside Buckingham Palace (one can dream, right?).

There are a few out of place notes vocally and on the trumpet that easily could have been re-recorded but no, they’re not. They’re kept there and the thing is, I admire this. It just adds to the honesty. There’s few musicians who are always flawlessly perfect live and so why should an album be the same? This just adds to the respect that The Front Bottoms are soaking up in the most humble of manners. This, combined with the honest lyrics about relationships with girls, friends and just a general life.

These all combine to make a feel good record and it’s hard not to sing every part of the section. Oh, and clapping! Where did clapping go? It’s welcomed, fun and easily accessible like most of the songs on the album are. Some of the songs towards the end feel a bit repetitive and lack that sense of fun, young and carefree that the majority of the songs and soaking in, but if anything it just shows that the duo are capable of writing for whatever mood the please. Still, a solid album nonetheless.

And then you wonder why it’s getting an official UK release?! It all makes sense when you listen in. A solid album that will finally get the release and hopefully recognition over here.

4/5

‘The Front Bottoms’ by The Front Bottoms is out on the 11th June through Banquet Records.

The Front Bottoms links: Website|Facebook|Twitter|Bandcamp

Words by Michael Brown.