The Hours
Back When You Were Good

7/ 10 [Edit this Release]

Type: Single Release date: 22/01/2007

Artists:
The Hours »

Label:
A&M Records »

by Dom Gourlay [Edit this content] ▾ 11 comments 10:33 January 19th, 2007

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If points were scored for ironically titled songs, The Hours would probably be on minus 10 by now. Co-pilot Antony Genn's previous track record of playing with Pulp and Elastica (all good so far) reads like an encyclopaedia of the best bits of Britpop, until you realise that his spells with the former were at both the outset (i.e. before they became good) and demise (i.e. when they'd lost the plot) of Jarvis Cocker's most celebrated collective. Likewise with Elastica, where Genn was part of their line-up in what has historically come to be known as Justine and co's crack and smack years.

But why drag up the past, when it's now that matters? Fortunately, Genn has gone onto produce some interesting records since then. Now, alongside ex-Black Grapeist Martin Slattery, he's back as part of The Hours, and 'Back When You Were Good' sounds like a million and one things you may have heard before - mostly good, nonetheless - all rolled into something that could be labelled half-ballad, half-autobiographical, but ultimately never dull.

Emanating from the same good times reminiscence of The Farm's 'Altogether Now' mixed with a smattering of Wayne Coyne-style eerie ruefulness, 'Back When You Were Good' is delightfully radiant and a welcome change from the automated production line of [INSERT POPULAR BAND OF CHOICE] sound-alikes and wannabees.

The Hours 7 / 10

The Drowned-Up: Recent releases that slipped under the radar 18 May 10:34
Dates: 'Hours' doesn't rhyme with 'tour' 22 Jun 14:48
Summercase: new additions, cheap tickets 'til May 20! 26 Apr 11:02
Counting the days away: DiS meets The Hours 27 Mar 14:31
Chart round-up: Mika in double-penetration shocker! 12 Feb 15:50
The Hours - Narcissus Road 06 Feb 14:18
The Hours - Narcissus Road 06 Feb 14:18
The Hours - Back When You Were Good 19 Jan 10:33

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"When they lost the plot"

... are you a deaf buffoon? "We Love Life" is a staggering record of poise and beauty; one of the finest released so far this Millennium.

Almost as good as "His 'n' Hers".

ColdGlassEye | 19 Jan '07, 10:40 | X | Reply

We Love Life?

You Love Shite more like.

Not in the same league as His n Hers.
Not in the same league as Different Class (pun unintended).
Not in the same league as This Is Hardcore.
Not in the same league as Intro.

End of.

domgourlay @ColdGlassEye | 19 Jan '07, 10:57 | X | Reply

ha, textbook

Dom wins arguement owing to the subject line/first line punderful one-two there.

snow_brigade @domgourlay | 19 Jan '07, 11:13 | X | Reply

Saw this band at the Waterrats the other month

In all fairness they were having some tech issues so its hard to judge but the songs I did get a good listen to were pretty meh.

Then again a band called big linda came on after and blew them out the water !! Kaapooow!

jammin @snow_brigade | 19 Jan '07, 11:18 | X | Reply

that's a terrible cover

it's like an eye-straining version of Knightmare.

guntrip | 19 Jan '07, 11:41 | X | Reply

Bah!

A half-decent pun cannot disguise the sheer wrongheadedness of your point.

It's a cracking record.

Better than "Different Class", which let down by the vapid "Disco 2000" and "Something Changed", and the not-very-good "FEELING CALLED LOVE". Why didn't they put "P.T.A." on the album? WHY?

And better than "This is Hardcore", because the songs are better.

ColdGlassEye @jammin | 19 Jan '07, 12:56 | X | Reply

Yeah but

'Intro' is an ace album. 'Babies', 'Sheffield Sex City', 'Razzamatazz' and the awesome 'O.U.', plus 'Styloroc'.

Hmm...I dunno, never really got 'We Love Life', but yeah 'Different Class' probably is a little overrated and not as good as the other 3.

domgourlay @ColdGlassEye | 19 Jan '07, 13:01 | X | Reply

Intro ...

... is wicked, don't get me wrong.

I think "Different Class" suffers from the status it has. It makes it harder to love. Whereas "We Love Life" is a much deeper, denser record. It's still bitter and dark and angry, but stuffed with images of natural decay and an awareness that the passage of time renders everything, ultimately, futile. And this is tempered by an awareness that, since we're all cosmically fucked, somehow this makes life easier.

Plus "Wickerman" and "Sunrise" are simply staggering songs.

"His 'n' Hers" is still the best, though. "Happy Endings" will be my wedding song.

ColdGlassEye @domgourlay | 19 Jan '07, 14:06 | X | Reply