Casparcritique #3: you never get a second change to make a first impression.

It struck me when I listened to the CD Marchin' Already by Ocean Colour Scene. Even though I have had it for many years, I realized that I hadn't listened to it that often. I must say, the album is absolutely brilliant!!! But, why didn't I listen to it more often? Much has got to do with the first impression you get when you play it on the stereo.

The album starts with the song Hundred Mile High City, which also appeared on the score for Guy Ritchie's movie Lock, Stock and two Smoking Barrels. I'd say it is a pretty good song, but there is a problem: it is over produced. It begins with a full guitar riff, then fills with this wild drum track, high pitched guitar licks, combined with a progressive bass line. It is just too much! Once you get through this first song, you'll find 12 great songs, produced to the max, which means well balanced, sometimes spaceous, sometimes more direct. The second track already gives a beatlesque piano riff, beautyful melodies, acoustic where possible, electric where needed. Many layers, much producing, but very, very well done! After that, it is all fantastically good songs, melodic, harmonious, musically not too pretentious, balancing between pop and rock. The britpop album pur sang ends with a soulful song called It's a Beautyful Thing. One of those greatly orchestrated ballads a band like Oasis, or Suede did to end an album.

And then, you think that is it. Great album, just a shame of the over-the-top first song... But it isn't. After that last track, there is another version of Hundred Mile High City! And after that, another alternate version without vocals. And when you use a computer to listen to the CD, you'll get... yes again the two last racks with live images and a video!!! You just want to put your fingers in your ears not to hear the loud guitar riffs any longer. After all this, I must conclude by saying that because of this overdose of Hundred Mile High City, I haven't been able to appreciate what happens in between! A first impression, a first introduction to an album can make the difference, obscuring the rest of happened to be a great piece of work!

In the next critique I'll pay more attention to the first impression the record makes. I mean, I cannot wait 15 years for finally finding out what an album is really all about, right!?