Album Review

The Enemy – Had Enough

• 25th Jul 2007

The Coventry trio, The Enemy have created a lot of buzz in a short period of time within the British music scene. This single, Had Enough reached number four on the UK single charts and with the recent big release of their debut album, We’ll Live and Die in these Towns coming in at number one on the album charts, things couldn’t be looking much brighter for this Midlands rock act. The question is, are they any good?

Well since being named as the breakthrough act for 2007 in NME, the success has come both in the charts and also on tour where they have supported some massive British bands including the Manic Street Preachers and Kasabian. The acclaim just doesn’t seem to be waning and this single should be concreting their place at the forefront of the exciting British music scene. Yet regrettably on the evidence of this single, The Enemy emerge as unoriginal, unexciting and most notably overrated. Had Enough is desperately lifeless and frankly, quite disappointing.

The lyrics are dreary, the voice is mediocre and too familiar, the lo-fi guitar sounds don’t stand out being twisted through uninteresting riffs, and the drumming feels all too uninspiring for a fresh rock band. The production is tidy and well polished, but for a band with clear aggression and a swagger it feels as though this has been wringed into a chart-friendly pop number. Thankfully The Enemy aren’t too concerned about style or what they look like, claiming to be making good, proper music. The problem lies in that it just doesn’t help when it’s so monotonous. Unfortunately despite the triumphant start to this young band’s career, which sets to continue, I’ve already had enough.
The Coventry trio, The Enemy have created a lot of buzz in a short period of time within the British music scene. This single, Had Enough reached number four on the UK single charts and with the recent big release of their debut album, We’ll Live and Die in these Towns coming in at number one on the album charts, things couldn’t be looking much brighter for this Midlands rock act. The question is, are they any good?

Well since being named as the breakthrough act for 2007 in NME, the success has come both in the charts and also on tour where they have supported some massive British bands including the Manic Street Preachers and Kasabian. The acclaim just doesn’t seem to be waning and this single should be concreting their place at the forefront of the exciting British music scene. Yet regrettably on the evidence of this single, The Enemy emerge as unoriginal, unexciting and most notably overrated. Had Enough is desperately lifeless and frankly, quite disappointing.

The lyrics are dreary, the voice is mediocre and too familiar, the lo-fi guitar sounds don’t stand out being twisted through uninteresting riffs, and the drumming feels all too uninspiring for a fresh rock band. The production is tidy and well polished, but for a band with clear aggression and a swagger it feels as though this has been wringed into a chart-friendly pop number. Thankfully The Enemy aren’t too concerned about style or what they look like, claiming to be making good, proper music. The problem lies in that it just doesn’t help when it’s so monotonous. Unfortunately despite the triumphant start to this young band’s career, which sets to continue, I’ve already had enough.
The Coventry trio, The Enemy have created a lot of buzz in a short period of time within the British music scene. This single, Had Enough reached number four on the UK single charts and with the recent big release of their debut album, We’ll Live and Die in these Towns coming in at number one on the album charts, things couldn’t be looking much brighter for this Midlands rock act. The question is, are they any good?

Well since being named as the breakthrough act for 2007 in NME, the success has come both in the charts and also on tour where they have supported some massive British bands including the Manic Street Preachers and Kasabian. The acclaim just doesn’t seem to be waning and this single should be concreting their place at the forefront of the exciting British music scene. Yet regrettably on the evidence of this single, The Enemy emerge as unoriginal, unexciting and most notably overrated. Had Enough is desperately lifeless and frankly, quite disappointing.

The lyrics are dreary, the voice is mediocre and too familiar, the lo-fi guitar sounds don’t stand out being twisted through uninteresting riffs, and the drumming feels all too uninspiring for a fresh rock band. The production is tidy and well polished, but for a band with clear aggression and a swagger it feels as though this has been wringed into a chart-friendly pop number. Thankfully The Enemy aren’t too concerned about style or what they look like, claiming to be making good, proper music. The problem lies in that it just doesn’t help when it’s so monotonous. Unfortunately despite the triumphant start to this young band’s career, which sets to continue, I’ve already had enough.