If you think the way I worded a Gomez album title into the title of this post is slick (let’s pretend you do), then you should point the digital crosshairs of your itunes/ipod combo towards Gomez’s music!
I’ll steal a phrase from one of my favourite movies, Office Space, change it slightly, and use it to make a point here - “I celebrate [their] entire collection”. Just remove the Michael Bolton reference and replace it with Gomez and I kid you not, it’s worth it. All eight (or so) albums worth!
So where do I begin? Probably 2005 or so.
Yeah, I know, if you’re reading this and are in the UK you are probably thinking that I am completely out-to-lunch as I caught this train about 5 or so years after it left the station. But let’s be honest, I’m in Canada. And although we here in Vancouver are fairly progressive when it comes to the music scene…we still are, in my humble opinion, behind. That’s OK, I like doing the work!
Enough of that nonsense, why am I talking about a band with a funny name? Because they’re GREAT! I’ve told you about a few bands to watch out for/keep an eye on their progress (like I have been for the past few years) - BRMC, MuteMath, and Hard-Fi, to name a few. Mark my words, Gomez, if you haven’t yet, is worth your shuffle’s attention (or touch, or nano, or whatever).
I liken Gomez’s sound to a Gallagher-based lyrical pattern (re: Oasis reference, subtle, yet there) as Ian Ball’s (above) voice will have you thinking about a Liam-inspired delivery crossed with a powerful hook/guitar-based rhythm (much like Soundtrack of Our Lives or even Stereophonics, for that matter). Ben Ottewell (who is not shown on the right, that’s Tom Gray) is the other ‘lead’ singer for Gomez who’s got a sound that’s ‘all his own’ (really cool…need to check it yourself).
Tracks to wear out your repeat button on: Nothing is Wrong (my all time favorite), Hamoa Beach (second favorite), Revolutionary Kind, Cry on Demand, Get Myself Arrested, and Girl Shaped Love Drug.
darren
ps - photos taken from the last Gomez concert here in Vancouver at the Commodore
Ha good timing. Last night I put on some Gomez, hadn’t listened to them in a while. If you want to hear a Canadian musician (from Calgary) who does a fantastic cover of Get Miles check out Wil. Oh and by the way he is a fantastic live act, and also breaks strings! (http://www.ibreakstrings.com).