Angela Young reviewed THE WORD 2 years ago
I’m going to be honest here, I only picked this band to review because I’ve never heard of the ‘tea rock genre’ and I wanted to know more. I’m still none the wiser (Google hasn’t been my friend on this either) but I do know that having once been a true Britpop teen I have a new favourite band in The Word. Top of the Pops and the Blur v Oasis feud and Jarvis’ arse were my life. The Word have taken me right back there. These guys are writing perfect sunny breezy harmonious tunes brought together by some really tight musicianship, catchy lyrics and surprisingly good production. Bjorn and Benny of Abba famously said a song needed at least five ‘hooks’ to be successful and I lost count of them in these tracks. I wanted to sing along just halfway through my first listen of Heartshot, a few listens later and I’m already nearly there (and I’m not even ashamed). I want to play these tracks on a cassette in a car stereo with the roof down and my friends in the back on the way to the beach. Oh yeah, and I want to be 17 again too… This music takes me there. These are pure feelgood tracks, joyful and playful and life-full.
As for the tea rock thing I think this band can just embrace the Britpop label and wear it as the badge of honour it should be, there’s not many who could take that mantle and run with it in 2018. Music has rarely been so much fun.