Get In!

First Impressions of the new album

Get In was released into a climate of some trepidation on the 31st of August, 1998. Ever since February we had been aware that the new album was to be a radical departure from At The Club but until may, when I Would Fix You was released, another three tracks from the album were showcased on the Radio 1 evening session and finally the summer 98 tour started, we had very little idea what to expect. In it's first week Get In reached 32 in the album charts, hopefully it will prove to be a slow burner and remain there for several months.

The entire track listing was revealed to us by Pete X in a message to the KFC guestbbok in february, and the album as it finally appeared has been reshuffled somewhat, but features only one major alteration. That is the substitution of "Disco Christmas on the Dole" for I Would Fix You. DCotD, was to be Emmy-Kates first proper album track, but now may crop up as a b side or just disappear completely - who knows? Not I.

Arguments rage as to whether Get In is as good as At The Club. My own opinion is that they are like Chalk and Cheese, so comparison is pointless, but Get In is equally enjoyable, with fewer duff songs and a better overall degree of polish but possibly lacking a small degree of At The Clubs sheer verve.

The Track listing is as follows. Lyrics will be added shortly.

1) Stay In The Sun: (Laverne, X)

A slice of pure summer pop. Stay in The Sun is pretty good but sounds slightly derivative as it strays into the Spice Girls/Billie/B*witched zone. It's miles better than anything they've done however - which is why they all get instant number ones and Stay In The Sun failed to chart.

2) Lunch At Lassiters: (Laverne, X)

This track has formed a regular part of the 'Nicks live set this summer, however here it's tempo has been slowed slightly. Otherwise the song remains unaltered with it's sometimes cryptic verses, strangely hummable chorus and bridges that still make me think of the backing to Here We Go by Arab Strap.

3) I Would Fix You: (Laverne, X, Du Santiago)

The first single off the album, I Would Fix You undoubtedly deserved better than what it got in the charts, especially as this is definately one of the best tracks on the album - even though familiarity has slightly blunted it's impact. This is the full length version and I really don't know why it ever had to be cut for a radio edit in the first place.

4) 60's Bitch: (Laverne, X)

This is another of the songs showcased off the album on the Evening Session and also appreared in the live set this summer. In both cases it was performed only with voice and guitar, however this definitive version is mainly bass and keyboard orientated. As a result the song sounds a little more upbeat, and I prefer it in this form.

5) Run Me Over: (Laverne, X)

Oh my God this song is brilliant!

6) And That's Why: (Laverne)

Lauren's sole solo somgwriting credit on the album is a very downbeat affair with deftly handled orchestration and an effortlessly melancholy vocal.

7) Magnatron: (Du Santiago, X)

D. I. S. C. O. We aren't really talking Rose Royce here, but we are talking about an absolute cracker of a tune which is more early eighties disco-pop pastiche in style. The fact that that it is light years better than most of the material it draws inspiration from only serves to highlight how well Marie and Pete have got to grips with the song.

8) Weeknights: (Laverne, X)

9) Psychic Defence: (Laverne, X)

There are probably more "do's" in this song than there are "yeah's" in In Your Car (if anyone out there wants to count them, then you are very sad indeed). This is my tip for the third - and probably last - single off Get In. It will be a good choice if it is. I think it better captures the sound of the album than Stay In The Sun or I Would Fix You. One strange thing about this song is that it sounds like it ought to be at the end of the album and not three tracks away.

10) 5am: (Du Santiago)

A slowish heavyily beat driven song that really does capture the feeling of waiting for a taxi at five in the morning in the pissing rain when you aren't quite sober but you're far from drunk and the only place you want to be is back home in bed but where you actually are you haven't really got a clue.

11) 411 (la la la): (Laverne, X)

I'm thinking that this song might be about a friend of the band at university. The mention of how everyone is overdrawn sounds about right for students.

12) Something's Got to Give: (Du Santiago)

As a finale, Marie takes a stab at being a big band singer. While she's sounds more Shirley Bassy than Shelly Manson and the song is a bit of a genre cliche, this is still an amusingly good effort.

13) Say Harry Sent You:

The hidden track on the album. Sounds really strange as the stereo shifts from one speaker to the other and the volume goes up and down. Meanwhile, in the back ground, someone sound like they're having an asthma attack. Dreadfull stuff.

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