Stereophonics' New Album: The Gigwise Verdict

Stereophonics hosted an exclusive listening party for their new album ‘Pull the Pin’ last night at the swanky surroundings of The Rex Bar in West London – and Gigwise was there to hear it in full.

All band members were present for the bash, with an inebriated Kelly Jones providing a humorous introduction to the record.

The album sees the Welsh/Argentinean outfit abandon the electronic-tinged elements of their last long-player ‘Language. Sex. Violence. Other?’ and return to the big rock sound of previous efforts.

Nearly three months ahead of its release on October 1, here’s our track-by-track verdict on the album:

1. Soldiers
A direct start to the album. Hard-hitting and urgent, it harks back to big rock bands of the past. Clearly, the sound of a band with something to prove.

2. Pass The Buck
Slightly poppier than the lead track, buoyed by confident guitars and an archetypal Stereophonics power chorus.

3. It Means Nothing
Lead single from the album (free downloads aside) and the first respite. A slow-building anthemic song custom built to fill stadiums and festival fields over the next year. The extended Kelly Jones groans will no doubt fuel the critics.

4. Bank Holiday Monday
The track available for Download this May and again pretty much trademark Phonics from Performance and Cocktails era. Spiralling guitars and huge sounding, Jones’ drawl is almost Gallagher-esque at moments.

5. Daisy Lane
A plaintive riff makes way for deep bass and vast guitars. Another ‘lighters-in-the-air’ indie anthem. Honest lyrics and even room for the odd xylophone plonk at the end.

6. Stone
Continues the melodic vein, with the pertinent lyrics taking centre stage: “I pick you up from the ground… and now I have to find you once again / You’re in my soul, you’re in my mind and I don’t know where you are now.” The tune though is a tad one-dimensional though.

7. My Friends
Javier’s powerful rhythms take centre stage on what is one of the strongest tracks yet. The type of hazy rock track that would be best listened to in a marijuana-fuelled daze.

8. Lose Ya
A crunching start makes way for a track brim full of attitude. Big guitars and big vocals are now becoming a familiar trait of the record. Bar the odd synth line, electronica is most definitely out on ‘Pull The Pin.’

9. Bright Red Star
The foot is taken off the pedal for an acoustic-led, pensive indie ballad. And that’s about it really.

10. Lady Luck
Kelly’s inimitable voice is the focal point for a powerful track of ominous bass lines and crashing guitars.

11. Crush
A groove driven track that’s a return to the pop formula, with catchy-as-**** guitars, false starts and distorted Kelly Jones vocals that sound as though they’ve been put through a blender.

12. Drowning
The opening mirrors T Rex’s ‘Get It On’, but dramatically slowed down. Jones is in growling mode as he delivers plenty of “na na na naa na naa’s” in an elongated outro. Possibly a bit of a grower.