Cute Is What We Aim For - 'Newport Living' (Fueled By Ramen) Released 05/02/07

A pretentious name, arrogant lyrics and a swagger beyond their tender age, yep it’s another scene-setting US band who are already being devoured by this country’s emo kids. A sold out UK headlining tour confirms Cute is What We Aim For are the must-see band for the ‘myspace generation’. Despite the conceited name they grudgingly have the songs to justify this hype. The latest from the relentless production line of Fueled By Ramen (boasting Fall Out Boy, Panic! At The Disco and The Academy Is..) they’re armed with the sharpest hooks and callous lyrics that take a modern twist on pop. ‘Newport Living’ gets straight to the point as lead singer Shaant Hacikyan laments “In every circle of friends there’s a whore, the one who flirts and dies a little more” and the chorus doesn’t hold back either, spouting “You are a sell-out but you couldn’t even do that right, so your price tag has been slashed and now you’re chilling on a half price clearance rack”. CIWWAF will soon conquer the ‘scene’ and maybe even the mainstream will embrace them like the 2006 success of their label mates. Gigwise can only wonder if  Cute Is What We Aim For have spent some time crashing at Goldie Looking Chain and the Dirty Sanchez lads’ Welsh hometown, but obviously American T.V drama ‘The O.C.’ is the more likely influence.