Young Rebel Set - Curse Our Love Review

There are two reasons music critics tend to talk about class. Firstly, it is typically January and regardless of the merits of the new British Sea Power album, it simply won’t fill that many column inches. Secondly, it gives the impression that we’re writing about something more important than popular culture. After all, even if The Vaccines do turn out to be a vital component of the next decade or so it will only be because they have written some pretty songs which got played lots on the radio.

Unfortunately, some bands like Young Rebel Set tend to take the debate seriously and treat it like there’s an inherent correlation between the wealth you are born into and the tunes you compose. Rather than treating their first hand experiences of life as a storytelling device, Young Rebel Set douse their songs in hackneyed ‘men of the people’ proclamations and forced references to their humble roots which frankly make for an atrocious album.

‘If I Was’ is the most horrific offender with lead singer Matty Chipchase listing, in feigned sincerity, the pursuits he would take up to bring him and his lass together. “Sailor.” Insert obvious "sail away together" line next. “Soldier.” Because real men need an AK-47 to truly express their love. “Jailor.” Still continuing with this tired militaristic line of lyricism are we? “Rich man.” Seriously? Is that actually a profession now? Like golf course manager or sixth-form poet?

Regardless of such idealistic notions Matty did not get his girl, turns out he “wasted so much time writing songs and playing on my guitar.” Further proof, if it was ever needed, that the treat ‘em sadistically mean, keep ‘em keen approach to romance is never one to pay dividends....full text Curse Our Love’, the much anticipated debut album from Stockton on Tees’ Young Rebel Set arrives on June 6th through Big Flame, please feel free to check out the amazing preview track from it ‘Fall Hard’. (links below)

After releasing their debut single ‘If I Was’ in August 2009 and playing their first ever live shows to much acclaim, overnight success beckoned for the band. Young Rebel Set instead chose to lock themselves away to write and rehearse and ‘Curse Our Love’ is the result of that: three years hard graft.

‘Curse Our Love’ celebrates the highs and lows that – for better or worse – make us who we are, from the defiant two-fingered salute of ‘Walk On’ to the bittersweet ‘Red Bricks’. On opening track and forthcoming single ‘Lion’s Mouth’ – to be released May 22nd – Chipchase’s forlorn lyrics are offset by rolling guitars and its rallying chorus: “So I jumped into the Lion’s Mouth / Just to see what life was really all about it” makes for a powerful impact....full text