Album Review: The Xcerts - Slackerpop EP

In the last few years, The Xcerts have proved a healthy new addition to the bright UK rock scene and while their identity was still in limbo with 'In The Cold Wind We Smile' (the claim to their musical similarity to Biffy Clyro's earlier work was an oft debated issue in that case), their follow-up 'Scatterbrain' was much stronger in its definition and embodied their growth as a rock outfit. Their evolution saw the spawning of more consistently unified vision throughout the songs that often felt more direct and powerful, gritty and soft, yet never confused in their nature.

On Halloween, they released the 'Slackerpop' EP which contains 'Slackerpop' from their latest album as well as alternative versions for 'Gum', 'I See Things Differently', 'He Sinks, She Sleeps' and 'Young Belane'. 'Slackerpop' is one of the finest examples of the newly discovered bombast the band have added to their palette and is, essentially, a swift monster of a rock track. With this EP, however, the attractive part lies in the alternative takes on some of their other songs. Effectively, the tracks are all stripped down from their original counterparts and therefore come off as more intimate as heavy distortion is traded for clean-ish guitars and soft drumming.

To some extent, it could be argued that 'Gum', 'He Sinks, She Sleeps' and 'Young Belane' use their recent songwriting and arrangements filtered through the style of sound more particular to 'In The Cold Wind We Smile.' 'Young Belane''s sweetness is amplified by the modest use of a string section to complement its acoustic arrangements. All in all, the "remakes" of previous songs on 'Slackerpop' avoid the trap of being irrelevant acoustic versions and are altered enough to provide something different to the experienced Xcerts listener, sometimes with a very different effect as outcome. Any fan of the band's work should jump on the occasion and feast for this is a banquet of goodness.

4/5

'Slackerpop' EP is out now.

James Barclaz-Lewis