Elliot Minor – Elliot Minor

• 22nd Apr 2008

I’m not gonna lie, I took an instant disliking to this record; not another bunch of whiney middle class white British kids raised on a diet of ‘Jimmy Eat World’ and ‘New Found Glory’ who think it’s their god given right to tell me and the rest of the poor sods that have the misfortune to listen to this record about their petty miseries, I was wrong.

Admittedly (and as much as it pains me to say ) it is rather good, within the confines of its genre I hasten to add. It becomes increasingly hard to resist it’s astute charms. It’s a grower alright, to the point where eventually you may feel the urge to draw the curtains so the neighbours can’t see and start dancing around like a demented Jack Black with an air guitar. I think what no doubt sets Elliot Minor apart from their contemporaries is their ability to actually play and their sense of purpose. There’s a strong theatrical element here which at times can be a little over-bearing, but when used to good effect is incredibly savvy making it feel like some kind of rock opera.

‘Parallel Worlds’ will transport you back to the days of ‘Bill and Ted’, and could easily have been the films theme tune- (just listen to the solo). It’s that good, or bad- take from that what you will. While ‘The White One is Evil’ sees the group divulge into Sum 41 territory. There’ll probably be thousands of kids prancing round on a skateboard with this blasting out their headphones, what they might miss though amidst all the frenzy of power chords is the unusual classical esque arrangement that graces the background. ‘The Liar is You’ is their, ‘raise- your- cigarette- lighter- proudly- in- the- air’ anthem, which is sure to be gracing the bigger venues of the UK before too long. It’s the kind of song you’d expect to hear at the end of some American drama a la ‘Dawson’s Creek’ or ‘The O.C’ as the credits begin to roll and guy kisses girl, you know the drill here minor chord arrangement, strained heartfelt vocals build up and up towards the epic combustion and lyrical gems such as ‘she meant so much to me’. The point is though they do it very well, it’s not new or original but the slick and intelligent way the song is put together as with the rest of the record is sure to reap them success.

It’s somewhat fitting that after the last song ‘Last Call To New York City’ the sound of fireworks slowly draw the record to its closure, the melodramatic aspect of the finale sums this album up. Not my cup of tea normally, but it’s plain to see a lot of thought has gone into the album and I’m sure the kids will love it.

Alright, the quintet are from York and do posses a set of Americanised vowels Forrest Gump would be proud of, but I think you have to take Elliot minor lightly, and with one very big pinch of salt. Either that or I’ve just completely missed the point and have succumbed to the world of pop punk and must forever hang my head in shame.