Well it’s set to be released internationally tomorrow, but The Rascals’ Rascalize was leaked about a month ago and it’s been oozing all over the place ever since. Not that that’s such a terrible thing (ok, maybe for Deltasonic Records it is), because I really do enjoy it, although I’m not so sure I should be saying that out loud seeing as Rascalize appears to be receiving more than its fair share of underwhelming reviews from a bunch of underwhelmed critics still hung up on an Alex Turner ideal. Admittedly it is a little spooky just how uncannily vocalist, Miles Kane, can sound like Turner, and the case against comparing the two isn’t helped by the recent release of their combined effort, The Last Shadow Puppets’ The Age Of The Understatement, so you have to kind of wonder how we would be reacting to The Rascals had The Arctic Monkeys never existed.
There is no question that The Rascals have a great deal of musical talent and sense of concept, but what seems to be lacking in Rascalize is that Turner sensibility which can take a few ordinary musings about the seedy milieu of the dirty and the beautiful British youth and somehow render them a thing of near-poetry. Then there’s the inevitable truth that for all the comparisons between the two, The Rascals will (and evidently have) pick up some of that Arctic Monkeys fatigue that’s been floating around ever since the release of Favourite Worst Nightmare. What a ridiculously unfair disadvantage for The Rascals to be faced with.
That said, the situation isn’t completely dire for Rascalize, it’s a sharp debut, which combines a pop-friendly accessibility and the charming appeal of the 1960’s Liverpool music scene with a kind of dark edge which will hopefully earn it a second or third glance from those who can manage to see past the Turner haze.
The Rascals - Stockings To Suit
- bec
ah ok so this is totally not andy murphy’s electro-house Rascals…
Negative. That’s how important that ‘The’ is. And to think everyone thought it was just a phase…