The Hoosiers - The Illusion of Safety

3.0

0.0 (0)

Following up 2007's indie pop-rock gem The Trick To Life, The Hoosiers are back, still quirky, still heavily pop-influenced, and chasing a lot more 'grown up pop' sound this time around. Decide if that's a good thing yourself.

I first saw this album in the alternative section at Virgin. Huge, I thought. The Hoosiers branching out and getting a little more alternative.  Let's just say everyone was wrong in that scenario. This is unadulterated electro-pop.

But what could really be expected when the band is managed by former Jamiroquai keyboardist and song-writer Toby Smith?

Kicking off with the catchy lead single, 'Choices', the track sets the scene early, happy, boppy and jumpy-aroundy tunes that could be well placed in a NME or Q sampler package as much as Now! #420, or wherever they're up to. The album channels pedestrian modern-day Weezer to scary extents in Unlikely Hero, which is the stand-out track off the album, while Who Said Anything (About Falling In Love) could be straight from the album from our other review this week, Hurts. Lovers In My Head bursts out with the line "I need a second opinion", and this isn't far from the truth.

The middle of the album does provide some respite from the near-to mediocrity.  Perhaps, fittingly, Devil's In The Detail, provides the most confusing, unexpected and greatest moment on the album, at once theatric and restrained, providing an insight into the abilities of this outfit.

In my typical flip-flopping review style, this is actually a decent album. Well constructed, good melodies and indie-pop melts together, Live By The Ocean couldn't be a better example. Album book-ends Sarajevo and Giddy Up provide some very fine moments and if the album had started this way, perhaps there'd be a different rating below.

Problem with the whole thing is that it feels like new sparkelpop, with an indie sheen for cred. Let loose live this would be a great collection - buy it and use it as one of those albums you get in and out of the car to when picking up stuff from the grocery store for a week.

THE HOOSIERS - 'UNLIKELY HERO (I LIKE EVERYBODY)' TRAILER

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