Razorlight - Slipway Fires (Album)

Mercury Records

'Where Did It All Go Wrong?' are the immortal words of Noel Gallagher. In his case it was too much powdered substances (baking flour, castor sugar, general cake ingredients). For Razorlight it's easy to see where it all went; I say easy, but it's hard to see up Johnny Borrell's arse when his head is firmly planted there!

I remember the days when I didn't mind a slice of Razorlight with my tea. I'm thinking back in 2004 when they made some decent tunes like 'Rock N' Roll Lies' and 'Golden Touch'. Since then, the ego has taken over and the band has faded into the background and with that the tunes have run away screaming. It's a shame really. I thought they held some promise but Borrell cocked it all up by wanting to emulate Pete Doherty (God forbid!) and grab some headlines whilst in the process turning himself into a grade-A monkey-nutsack, well Johnny you made it congrats.

I guess i should discuss this album 'Slipway Fires' instead of deriding the band? OK, here we go. What does album #3 hold in store for you? Well, the initial impression is that the album sounds very sparse. You'd fail to recognize that there are 4 people making this record as a lot of the time there is nothing to be heard but Borrell and a piano. Musically this record is mediocre at best. The playing has become mundane and bog-standard so maybe it's a blessing that there isn't too much of it on here?!?

Lead single 'Wire To Wire' begins proceedings. It is an all piano-driven power ballad that is vaguely intriguing but after a few listens just makes you lose interest. This could have been so much better but fails to get a pass mark, yet this was chosen to signal the return of the mighty Razorlight. Oh the shame.

There is way too much filler on this record and very little substance. For filler we get '60 Thompson' another Borrell meander, 'Stinger' to which i nearly nodded off until a little drumming appears as a distraction. 'Blood For Wild Blood' [what is it with piano ballads?], and 'The House' [damn piano ballads!!!].

As for the substance portion of the album, if you pick through the wreckage there are a few reasonably decent tunes to be found. I do stress the word reasonably. 'Hostage Of Love' eventually sounds OK after it's drip-drab beginning. 'Tabloid Lover' and 'North London Trash' are worth listening to if only to laugh at the ridiculous lyrics. 'Monster Boots' gets pass marks for me as it's the most frenetic thing here by a long stretch. What a shame it's second from last as by then the album is likely to have been turned off.

'Slipway Fires' is actually kind of what I expected from Razorlight though. It would have been good to have been proved wrong but it's obviously not meant to be. This is a huge disappointment and I think it shows a complete lack of ambition by the band who seem to be stuck in their comfort zone.

It's easy to blame Borrell for this but.... actually nah let's just blame him.