Review: Raglans - Raglans
[Cuckoo Records; 2014]
Rating: 7.5/10
By Ethan Forness, Contributor
Key Tracks: “Digging Holes,” “(Lady) Roll Back The Years,” “The Man From Glasgow”
Not many bands can say that they know their exact musical identity on their first album. Raglans seem to be the rare exception to this instance. With the release of their debut full-length album Raglans this Dublin based foursome has a lot to offer.
Let’s start from the beginning. Raglans are a captivating indie folk/rock group with a slight hint of Irish pop that makes it easy to become instantly enamored with their sound. They feature a fresh mix of inventive guitar pop and a sense of youthful, sometimes angsty lyrical creativity. Paired with the strong new-wave guitar, Raglans also mix in the mandolin. Who doesn’t love musical creativity involving a mandolin? This band is a breath of fresh air, representing a healthy cross between Two Door Cinema Club and Sir Sly that makes for pleasant listening.
Raglans takes off out of the gates immediately with the first track “Digging Holes.” It’s an immediate hook, the perfect statement song that showcases the talent of the band as a whole. Stephen Kelley’s smooth and energetic vocals go hand-in-hand with Liam Morrow’s melodic guitar, and upbeat lyrics such as, “I see the first, the last, the future and the past / I see your body breathing but your mind is asleep,” make for a magnetic, toe-tapping tune.
“(Lady) Roll Back The Years,” the second track, represents the coming-of-age anthem for the band as both men and musicians. The song is simple and straightforward but gives a reminiscent sense of how far the band believes it has come in four short years: “And I feel a long way from London / And even further now from Dublin / I hope some day you’ll come calling / But I don’t know where I’ll be.”
Raglans comes to an end as enthusiastic as its beginning with “The Man From Glasgow,” “Down” and “Born In Storms.” This album is fantastic as far as debut albums go and Raglans are certainly going to be a group to watch in the not-so-distant future, but Raglans does leave something to be desired.
It’s true that they created a unique sound. It’s also true that this album brought to light this contributor’s love of the mandolin, but diversity is what Raglans will need in the future. After a few listens to each track, all of the songs seem eerily similar in one facet or another.
Diversity isn’t always a bad thing in the music world, and should the band change their pace for a few songs or add an acoustic side, it would be much more well-rounded. Look for Raglans on the international circuit as their name continues to make waves in the UK.
