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Bombay Bicycle Club I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose Review

Album. Released 6 July 2009. Discography information comes from MusicBrainz. You can add or edit information about I Had the Blues but I Shook Them Loose at musicbrainz.org.

BBC Review

Like a less quivery Maccabees

Ian Wade 2009-06-29

Crouch End indie sensations Bombay Bicycle Club have been wandering the indie hinterlands for a couple of years now since first forming in 2006. It was a a year wherein they won The Road To V as mere nippers (well, average age 16), and have since been picking up a host of admirers such as Jo Whiley and Zane Lowe along the way. Neither from India, renowned cyclists or much of a club, the Bombays have finally got round to a full length audio experience.

The foursome, lead chiefly by Jack Steadman and Jamie MacColl (his dad Neil is the late Kirsty's brother and son of folk legend Ewan) have been compared as a cross between McFly and The Strokes which, all things considered, is no bad thing. If someone was to claim it was the work of some obscure middle-aged Texans, it would be deemed possibly the greatest thing ever.

Produced by Jim Abbiss, who has twiddled the knobs on the likes of Arctic Monkeys, Adele and Kasabian's debuts, the marvellously titled Emergency Contraception Blues opens proceedings with a cinematic blend of My Bloody Valentineness and paves the way for album highlight, Lamplight. This, along with recent single Always Like This and the possible festival-stealing Cancel On Me, is the tune that will grab any passing punters. Like a less quivery Maccabees, there's a wisdom in their delivery that's some years ahead of their time, and suggests that by the time they get to the third album, they should be one of the finest groups in the land.

I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose is the sound of a band with a immense future ahead. The Bombays display a passion and songwriting skill way ahead of their fellow contemporaries. Join their club.

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    • 1. At 9:49pm on 10 Jul 2009, PatrickHann wrote:

      I bought the album today, having gone to their live gig at relentless garage on wednesday. I think that this album is equal to both Silent Alarm and Antidotes. It was just truly brilliant and faultless and there are many themes which continue throughout the record. I highly recommend it, i loved it instantly.

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    • 2. At 10:14pm on 10 Jul 2009, rickbert wrote:

      Totally agree with you PatrickHann. It's a remarkable record.

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    • 3. At 1:36pm on 13 Aug 2009, JGBleakside wrote:

      Although I love this album, the sound is rather repetitive and unless you're keeping track with the names of each song, it's easy to think you're still on the same song. But I guess at least it means they have continuity.

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