I must admit, I kinda missed the CSS bandwagon when it first rolled through town. Of course I was au fait with the obvious singles, and my library is peppered with any number of variable quality remixes of ‘Let’s Make Love…”, but I was never entirely convinced that there was much flesh to their albums proper. They just seemed to grate me slightly, all unconfined energy and unresolved ideas. Still, my caginess didn’t seem to have a huge impact upon the otherwise rapturous reception they received from the world at large, so I just reclined in my armchair with a half-muffled ‘Bah, humbug!’ and cast about for another group to make half-cocked judgments about.

But, as bands have a way of doing, CSS are releasing a new album. Like, really soon. Like 21st of July soon. And it’s called Donkey. And I’ve had a listen. And it’s really quite good. Possibly not genre-defining ultra mega good, but nonetheless a far more cohesive, polished release than their previous efforts. With ‘Donkey’ CSS have swung their style markedly towards the rock end of the spectrum, seemingly shedding most of their low-fi electro quirks at the Sub Pop door. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, although on first impressions I can’t see an obvious successor to ‘Let’s Make Love…’, or ‘Music is My Hot, Hot Sex’. Still, in their place we have a remarkably solid, consistent album that occasionally surges forth and demands your attention. Vocalist Lovefoxxx has had her more abrasive edges honed back, and as a result she’s more enticing than ever. She really is every cute, fun, interesting indie girl you’ve never slept with. Sigh. But that’s true of every part of the album… without the sleeping around thing. Far more than their previous releases, ‘Donkey’ brings you in and makes you feel at home with the CSS party, rather than challenging your right to be there. It’s an eminently fun and listenable album, and thoroughly worth the investment when it drops. On July 21. Put it in your diaries or something.

‘Left Behind’ is the first single off ‘Donkey’, due out on the 14th of July, and it’s a lovely slab of anthemic pop-rock, done up like a slightly grittier, and cooler version of the Mystery Jets.

CSS - Left Behind

‘Beautiful Song’ follows directly after and it’s far jauntier, setting brilliant male/female vocal runs against an almost 4-to-the-floor beat and emotive, new wave guitars. I could see this song becoming a mainstay at any self-respecting indie night, but hell, that’s true of most of the album. It really is quite good.

CSS - Beautiful Song

Anyway, exciting as it all is, I’ll leave the post at two songs so that I don’t entirely spoil the surprise. And so that we can hopefully avoid the wrath of the Sub Pop marketing team… It always worries me when there’s not as many posts as there should be kicking around on Hype Machine. I swear, we’re on their side…

-luke