Album Review

The Xcerts – In The Cold Wind We Smile

• 13th Apr 2009

Xcerts start off well on new album ‘In The Cold Wind We Smile.’ Anthemic song after anthemic song cascade into the eardrums; thoughtful emotive lyrics capture the imagination. Alas halfway through they start to drift. It begins to get difficult to discern the differences between songs. The limitations of Murray Macleod’s voice become more apparent and what was previously anthemic along the lines of Biffy Clyro begins to sound appallingly emo.

The album as a whole may not be fantastic but there are some memorable tunes to enjoy even if you spend most of the album using the skip button. ‘Home Versus Home’ is by far and away the most potent song on here; its soaring chorus is reminiscent of Fall Out Boy. ‘Night School’ comes in at a close second but fails to ignite. A symptom the whole album suffers from.

The band has a great live reputation and it’s not hard to see why but on record most of the songs don’t deliver and half barely register. Oh and if you despise the ‘vocals’ peddled by bands like Fall Out Boy or My Chemical Romance this band are going to drive you insane.