Album Review

Straight Lines – Say It For Your Sake

• 18th Oct 2010

Somehow, Straight Lines manage to inject a tender vulnerability into a sound that is ultimately invigorating. Like previous single ‘Loose Change’, their new single ‘Say It For Your Sake’ is an intense juxtaposition of emotional lyrics and simple verses, with multi-layered fast-paced rock choruses. By no means does this mean the band are a one-trick pony; the bonus song, an acoustic version of album track ‘Set Me On Fire And Feed Me To The Wolves’, sees their sound stripped bare and their lyrics take a more emboldened outlook on life.

The distinctive, youthful timbre of vocalist Tom’s warbled words is fantastically unique and sets them apart from other alternative bands, while the alternation between gentle beats and a heavier, more metal-edged music is a definite hook that also displays the band’s ability to keep their sound tight and polished, whatever they produce.

The verses of ‘Say It For Your Sake’ build tantalisingly to the impassioned chorus, and the breakdown prevents the song becoming too repetitive and inspires listeners to sing and shimmy along (if they aren’t already!). This also leads the song to a more complex conclusion than a simple revisitation of the chorus alone, all tied together with a clean riff – a firm ending rather than the lazy fade-outs often favoured in the pop industry, that gives the song yet more impact.

Unmistakable and inimitable, Straight Lines are proving to be one of the hottest acts of 2010 – we can only hope the material they’re working on will be equally memorable, impressive and above all, enjoyable!