Album Review: Desperate Journalist - "Maximum Sorrow"

 

One of those bands where you do find yourself questioning why they're not a bit bigger than they are, Desperate Journalist have been mainstays on the indie scene for close to a decade now and their heady brew of post-punk, goth and shoegazing has led to three very good albums with the band improving release upon release. It's fair to say that we've been quite eagerly awaiting album number four since it was announced a few months ago and now it's here.

It starts with the haunting skeletal keyboard lament of Formaldehyde which actually reminds me of Sinead O'Connor (in a good way) before swirling Cocteau Twins-esque lead-off single Fault kicks things into gear in good style. Indeed, there's plenty of songs here which show Desperate Journalist are still as good at the whole moody epics that they've made a name for such as the sprawling six minute Armageddon, the sinister Utopia and the spiky Fine In The Family. However, this is clearly a band who are growing and throwing a few curveballs into the mix - Personality Girlfriend has a rolling glam style drumbeat powering it along (think the Fall's Glam Racket or Carter's Glam Rock Cops) while the edgy six minute Everything You Wanted actually reminds me of Simple Minds' early (ie pre-stadium rock) stuff and I mean that in a good way I promise! The spiteful Poison Pen even sees them dipping their toes into political waters with some well aimed invective against holier-than-thou hate-spreaders.

It's to Desperate Journalist's immense credit that four albums into their career they're still putting out albums which sound fresh and challenging rather than sinking into the rut of just phoning it in. Maximum Sorrow is a good effort which is more than deserving of your attention especially if you're still unaware of this rather exceptional band yet.

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