Grand National - A Drink & A Quick Decision Format: Album Release Date: 18th Feb 2008 Label: Sunday Best Rating: Grand National’s “A Drink & A Quick Decision” is the latest release from fantastic Uk based label ‘Sunday Best Recordings’. On offer here is 13 tracks of synthy, new romantic fun, served up with a distinctly 21st century edge. Each track has a unique identity of its own, brought together with spacious guitar sounds and glorious vocals that are part Postal Service and part Tony Hadley. The variety between the rambunctious lead-off track “Reason To Hide In” and the more chilled second song “Weird Ideas At Work” gives a good idea of the range of songs on the album, but also gives us the chance to wonder at the fantastic song names chosen. Let’s list them: “Reason To Hide In”, “Weird Ideas At Work”, “Animal Sounds”, “New Soace To Throw”, “Cut By The Brakes”, “Tongue”, “Going To Switch The Lights On”, “By The Time I Get Home There Won’t Be Much Of A Place For Me”, “Joker & Clown”, “Close Approximation”, “Pieces Pieces”, “Pack All The Things You Need” and “Part Of A Croner”. You will see that not one of them is a cliché. Now go look at your record collection and try to find an album without at least one clichéd song title… Pretty difficult? “Animal Sounds” has this dirty heavy synth that reminds of Smashing Pumpkins hit and miss electronica infused album Adora, immediately followed by the almost calypso “New Space To Throw”. “By The Time I Get Home…” is the real stand out track on the album though with the biggest kick drum resounding through the song, so big that if you don’t groove along, check your pulse. Its big, it’s like Battles fighting with Madness at the most kitsch disco in town, with a cool pair of aviators staying resolutely perched on the bridge of its perfect little nose. Coming out in mid-february, this is the album to strut down the street with like you’re Ruseell Brand with Stephen Fry’s intelligence. When this albums on you will be having a better time than anyone, anywhere. Fact.

Written by: David