Minotaurs - Eat Yr Hate

The friend and bandmate of my friend, Dave (of Frankie & The Heartstrings), Mick Ross' band Minotaurs have released an album. I wouldn't have to mention it, because I haven't actually met Mick and so have no Christmas card list to be crossed off for not featuring it.

Anyway, it is quite a nice album. The press release mentioned Belle And Sebastian, my pet hates, as an influence. I can see it, and the music is like Belle and Sebastian without the contrived lyrics and pretense of a lack of musical proficiency. Also, an added bonus for a band these days, the singers can actually sing in tune and everything.

Witches is a cracking, bitter, loving slice of pop like all those bands influenced by the Velvet Underground should have made. Dictaphone is the song you need on in the car after a crap day at work. When they are weak, the guitars sound a little bit pompous, overdriven and rock out that little bit too much but when the band are truly on top form, the guitars sound brittle and warm like the old bloke in the corner of the pub who everyone knows and loves.

If you need something slightly bitter but not miserable, this is your cup of tea. If you like pop music with a folky bent to it, without being 'quirky' you should snap this up.

Minotaurs have free tracks available here.

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