![Review: LostAlone - I’m A UFO In This City [Album]](http://hangout.altsounds.com/geek/gars/images/1/2/8/3/8/im_a_ufo_in_this_city_cover_artwork.jpg)
![Review: LostAlone - I’m A UFO In This City [Album]](http://hangout.altsounds.com/altthumb.php?src=http%3A%2F%2Fhangout.altsounds.com%2Fgeek%2Fgars%2Fimages%2F1%2F2%2F8%2F3%2F8%2Fim_a_ufo_in_this_city_cover_artwork.jpg&w=500&h=500&zc=1&q=70){kind=small}
Spread the Social Love:
I first heard of LostAlone in 2010 when they supported 30 Seconds To Mars at Wembley Arena, London. I then caught them again exactly a year later supporting another live tour-de-force, My Chemical Romance at the same venue. It’s not until recently however, that I discovered the humble trio from Derbyshire, UK had been specifically requested by both bands to tour with them, and have in fact stayed firm friends with them both since. This list of famous tour buddies now also includes Paramore and UK’s own Enter Shikari. So what is it that has made a group who look like Black Veil Brides got caught in a fight with Noel Fielding and Oasis so appealing? Well, seeing as I don’t have a great memory of those two brief performances, it’s a good thing that I have been given their latest album to help me figure it out.
I’m A UFO In This City is the second full-length release from the group who are made up of lead singer/rhythm guitarist - Steven Battelle, drummer/BV’s – Mark Gibson and bassist/BV’s – Alan Williamson. With the help of their new best friend, Gerard Way (My Chemical Romance’ lead vocalist for those who don’t know), they used his talent and experience to whittle a plethora of demo material down into something worth recording. And being the high-profile person that Mr Way is, he also helped to secure them producer, Greg Wells (My Chemical Romance, Deftones, OneRepublic) and Jacknife Lee (Snow Patrol, Weezer, U2), as well as taking on the role of executive producer himself. Seeing as this all happened in 2010, it’s good to know they have finally got their new material to see the light of day (legal and record label problems followed the recording process). And so 2012 is looking to be their best year yet.
LostAlone are a band that pull influences from all corners of the musical box and yet they manage to have a sound all of their own. Right from the theatrical opener, 'Obey The Rules You Lose', already there’s Muse-inspired falsetto notes, operatic group harmonies a la Queen with modern punk rock thrashing like My Chemical Romance themselves. And that’s only 1:39 into the album. This slides straight into the latest single 'Love Will Eat You Alive' which oozes light-hearted rock n roll fun but on top of gritty riffs and a sing-a-long chorus to rival the vocal techniques of The Beach Boys…Well if The Beach Boys went surfing with The Addams Family. Lead singer, Steven is every bit the charismatic frontman and has the pipes to back it up, flitting between raucous, raw emotion to subtle crooning easily. The latter seems to highlight his East Midlands dialect in all its confident, unabashed style.
Watch 'Love Will Eat You Alive':
Every track on I’m A UFO In This City makes a bold statement; the album title itself translates to the universal feeling of alienation or more importantly (and positively): individualism. The “be yourself” shtick has been used over and over to sell music, but in LostAlone’s case you get the sense that these three quirky guys may certainly have had a hard time fitting in as youngsters. Well, with ballsy, in your face rock n roll tunes like the fiery force of lead single 'Do You Get What You Pray For?' and 'UFOria (The Dark)', they could silence a crowd of non-believers with a flick of a plectrum. The latter may well be Gerard Way’s way of getting The Black Parade: The Sequel out into the world, but sound-a-like or not, it’s a mammoth-sized blend of ear-pummelling punk and sing-a-long arena rock that goes down a treat.
'Vesuvius' is a thrilling car chase of a song. It builds slowly with march-like drumming and distant cries through what could be a loudspeaker, before all hell breaks loose. There’s a machine-gun paced riff to blow your socks off while the tight vocal harmonies flow seamlessly on top of the chaos. The burning passion for what they do emanates from their music completely. It’s also tracks like 'Creatures' that highlights their desire to bring people together; something that may have rubbed off of My Chemical Romance’s successful “unite the outcasts” mantra. “This is what’s it like when you’re lost and alone and the creature you are, is the creature you own!” wails Steven through the song’s upbeat, and utterly infectious chorus line.
Watch 'Do You Get What You Pray For?':
There are quieter moments but they are just as affecting emotionally. For example 'Orchestra Of Breathing' is a ballad of sorts with a much more straightforward orchestration. Steven gets to show off his complete range here, hitting ridiculously high notes into the stratosphere with ease. The same goes for 'We Are The Archaeology Of The Futures Past'; a musical landscape full of hopeful words set in soaring harmonies and echoing power-ballad chords. It’s an obvious but extremely brilliant and honourable nod to Queen. The nostalgia is put aside for the closing number however with the modern and theatrical spunk of 'The Downside Of Heaven Is The Upside Of Hell'. There’s a choirboy, unified chanting, dramatic strings and dirty basslines all wrapped up in a great rock song.
I can honestly say that I now understand why this trio are so alluring. I’m A UFO In This City expresses LostAlone’s love for the theatrics of classic rock n roll without losing touch with today’s current “sound”. Yes, they’ve been lucky to have some help from a few of the industry’s elite, but these guys still have a uniqueness that only they could have brought to the table. I haven’t heard collectively stunning vocal talent from a group in a while and their passion and enthusiasm is as big and bold as their choruses. Expect bigger and better things in the future for sure.
I'm A UFO In This City is out now.
Worth Listening To:
I’m A UFO In This City is the second full-length release from the group who are made up of lead singer/rhythm guitarist - Steven Battelle, drummer/BV’s – Mark Gibson and bassist/BV’s – Alan Williamson. With the help of their new best friend, Gerard Way (My Chemical Romance’ lead vocalist for those who don’t know), they used his talent and experience to whittle a plethora of demo material down into something worth recording. And being the high-profile person that Mr Way is, he also helped to secure them producer, Greg Wells (My Chemical Romance, Deftones, OneRepublic) and Jacknife Lee (Snow Patrol, Weezer, U2), as well as taking on the role of executive producer himself. Seeing as this all happened in 2010, it’s good to know they have finally got their new material to see the light of day (legal and record label problems followed the recording process). And so 2012 is looking to be their best year yet.
LostAlone are a band that pull influences from all corners of the musical box and yet they manage to have a sound all of their own. Right from the theatrical opener, 'Obey The Rules You Lose', already there’s Muse-inspired falsetto notes, operatic group harmonies a la Queen with modern punk rock thrashing like My Chemical Romance themselves. And that’s only 1:39 into the album. This slides straight into the latest single 'Love Will Eat You Alive' which oozes light-hearted rock n roll fun but on top of gritty riffs and a sing-a-long chorus to rival the vocal techniques of The Beach Boys…Well if The Beach Boys went surfing with The Addams Family. Lead singer, Steven is every bit the charismatic frontman and has the pipes to back it up, flitting between raucous, raw emotion to subtle crooning easily. The latter seems to highlight his East Midlands dialect in all its confident, unabashed style.
Watch 'Love Will Eat You Alive':
Every track on I’m A UFO In This City makes a bold statement; the album title itself translates to the universal feeling of alienation or more importantly (and positively): individualism. The “be yourself” shtick has been used over and over to sell music, but in LostAlone’s case you get the sense that these three quirky guys may certainly have had a hard time fitting in as youngsters. Well, with ballsy, in your face rock n roll tunes like the fiery force of lead single 'Do You Get What You Pray For?' and 'UFOria (The Dark)', they could silence a crowd of non-believers with a flick of a plectrum. The latter may well be Gerard Way’s way of getting The Black Parade: The Sequel out into the world, but sound-a-like or not, it’s a mammoth-sized blend of ear-pummelling punk and sing-a-long arena rock that goes down a treat.
'Vesuvius' is a thrilling car chase of a song. It builds slowly with march-like drumming and distant cries through what could be a loudspeaker, before all hell breaks loose. There’s a machine-gun paced riff to blow your socks off while the tight vocal harmonies flow seamlessly on top of the chaos. The burning passion for what they do emanates from their music completely. It’s also tracks like 'Creatures' that highlights their desire to bring people together; something that may have rubbed off of My Chemical Romance’s successful “unite the outcasts” mantra. “This is what’s it like when you’re lost and alone and the creature you are, is the creature you own!” wails Steven through the song’s upbeat, and utterly infectious chorus line.
Watch 'Do You Get What You Pray For?':
There are quieter moments but they are just as affecting emotionally. For example 'Orchestra Of Breathing' is a ballad of sorts with a much more straightforward orchestration. Steven gets to show off his complete range here, hitting ridiculously high notes into the stratosphere with ease. The same goes for 'We Are The Archaeology Of The Futures Past'; a musical landscape full of hopeful words set in soaring harmonies and echoing power-ballad chords. It’s an obvious but extremely brilliant and honourable nod to Queen. The nostalgia is put aside for the closing number however with the modern and theatrical spunk of 'The Downside Of Heaven Is The Upside Of Hell'. There’s a choirboy, unified chanting, dramatic strings and dirty basslines all wrapped up in a great rock song.
I can honestly say that I now understand why this trio are so alluring. I’m A UFO In This City expresses LostAlone’s love for the theatrics of classic rock n roll without losing touch with today’s current “sound”. Yes, they’ve been lucky to have some help from a few of the industry’s elite, but these guys still have a uniqueness that only they could have brought to the table. I haven’t heard collectively stunning vocal talent from a group in a while and their passion and enthusiasm is as big and bold as their choruses. Expect bigger and better things in the future for sure.
I'm A UFO In This City is out now.
Worth Listening To:
- Love Will Eat You Alive
- Do You Get What You Pray For?
- UFOria (The Dark)
- Orchestra Of Breathing
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