It was less than a year ago that Clear And Refreshing first encountered Razorlight as the opening act at Summer Sonic 2003. We thought they were a promising but overly calculated and derivative post-Strokes type band and resolved to keep an eye on them.

So the album comes round and "calculated" and "derivative" now have to share space with "dated" in the list of Razorlight's failings. Despite the relatively short time that has elapsed since their first appearance in Japan, something's changed in music and no-one told Johnny Borrell. The biggest criticism of this album is that it just sounds so... so 2003. To put it another way, Razorlight are (or would be if Mando Diao hadn't already bagged the honours) the Menswe@r of New Rock; late on the scene and bringing nothing new to the table.

Of course, some of us thought that Menswe@r were a little unfairly vilified given that they actually had some rather fine songs, and anyone who's been following their singles over the last year would know the same is true of Razorlight. "Rock'n'Roll Lies" is an intense, wired love song to the superficiality and excess of the London music scene and "Stumble And Fall" is a sharp, stuttering orgasm of textbook rock and roll shapes. "Dalston" and recent single "Golden Touch" add a welcome dash of blue and purple to proceedings as well but too much of the material, for example the Television pastiche of "Vice" and the Clash rip-off of "Get It And Go", is strictly second division for them to mount a serious challenge to the big boys. While this is a perfectly decent album, there's nothing in here that hasn't been done better by other bands within the last couple of years. -Ian Martin, Jun.20.04

Up All Night