Tourist History
Two Door Cinema Club
In 2007 a group of clean cut young men from County Down, Northern Ireland re-arranged their previous band, ‘LifeWithoutRory’ into the more formidable three piece set up of ‘Two Door Cinema Club’. In 2010, the band comprising of; Alex Trimble (vocals, rhythm guitar, beats and synths), Sam Halliday (lead guitar and backing vocals) and Kevin Baird (Bass and backing vocals) released their debut album ‘Tourist History’. Having featured in the BBC’s ‘Sound of 2010’ poll and with a couple of single releases the band were unsuccessful in their attempt to climb the charts. However, with their recent release of the single, ‘What you know’ and the subsequent re-release of their debut album they are back in the charts. With the likes of a main stage appearance at Reading & Leeds and the Orange Evolution Festival on their calendar this summer, they’ve become a ‘must see’ band and now look certain to be a group to light up the alternative music scene this year.
Listening to this album on a dreary May morning you could be forgiven for thinking that my opinion may be numbed by the oppressive weather outside. However, this catalogue of songs, from the very first note, is the perfect antidote to the UK blues. The band spread an innate, infectious and irresistible cheer from the first chord to the last. Introducing the almost shrill bleat of the guitar in the opener, ‘Cigarettes in the Theatre’, with the smooth and to the point lyrics serves to depict a band who sound like they enjoy every moment they play. It is this effervescent feeling that is so tangible in every track they produce.
The combination of peaceful, softly spoken verses that cleverly break into quicker, anxiously squeaking guitar sections for a majority of the tracks, notably, ‘Do You Want It All?’ and ‘This Is The Life’, keep you simultaneously entertained and guessing as to when the next merry break out will be. With their more well known material, ‘Something Good Can Work’ and ‘I Can Talk’ planted in as tracks 5 and 6 the album is able to keep its constant upbeat feel. Whilst it remains impossible not to try and sing along and leg tap to the instant catchiness of, ‘Something Good Can Work’, ‘I Can Talk’ remains for me the pièce de résistance of Two Door Cinema Club’s work to date. This song enters so gracefully with some cheeky A Cappella and then enlists a buzzing guitar to really crank up the tempo. The beautifully repetitive and almost chant-like chorus with occasional relaxes in the vocal pace really make this song an all round alternative classic. The close of the album comes with the same rapidity but with the addition of intermittent nods towards a more electronic vibe. Ending in the wake of a sweet wailing guitar and Alex’s evocative lyrics, ‘Tourist History’ finishes in the same relaxed manner it started in and always maintained.
Two Door Cinema Club have churned out a truly great album with seemingly little effort, a skill one would recognize in far more established artists, this in itself is a testament to such a relatively small band. With potential competition in the likes of ‘The Wombats’ and ‘Friendly Fires’ Two Door Cinema Club having nothing to fear as ‘Tourist History’ is more than capable of standing up for itself. Having heard this album you really cannot help but smile.
Reviewed by Michael Martin
There is not a song that I don't like from this album [2]
There is not a song that I don't like from this album
no. it's post-pigcore
This is not pop.
the catchiest and happiest pop record I've heard in a long time. [2]
almost perfect album. every song means pleasure.
so good :)
Cigarettes In Theatre <3
Flawless. [3]
what you know <3
Flawless. [2]
Muito bom! !
Eat this up, its good for you.
Ao mesmo tempo que me deixa feliz, me deixa meio depressiva
Viciante bagarai.
Flawless.
Incrível.
This album is sooooooooooooooo amazing :D haha i love this band sooo much! I CAN NOT WAIT TILL THEIR NEXT ALBUM COMES OUT
wow.just wow.
Fantastic album.
Great album :)
the catchiest and happiest pop record I've heard in a long time.
I love this album so much, never gets old and always makes me feel really happy [3]
Such a great album
Why is every single song on here so fucking good? [2]
I love this album so much, never gets old and always makes me feel really happy [2]
Hooked up from first play. [3] <(o.O)>
10/10
greeeeeeaaaat!!!!
greeat
Positive.
This album is TOTALLY AWESOME! I love it.
THIS ALBUM IS PERFECT!!!
freakin love this album
Catchy as fuck. [2] :))
Hooked up from first play. [2] awesome album!
♥
Coolest album! I love their songs! mood lifts quickly
Hooked up from first play.
"perfect" album.
Why is every single song on here so fucking good?
♥
it's a good album! [: makes me happy! :D
I love this album so much never gets old and always makes me feel really happy
Two Door Cinema Club in Portugal :) http://musicartpt.blogspot.com/2011/05/two-door-cinema-club-em-portugal.html
everything sounds the same, but im not really complaining
Catchy as fuck.
♥
Vendo 2 abonos para el Festival SOS 4.8 por 45 eurs cada uno, (los vendo tambien por separado) es el 6 y 7 de mayo en Murcia (España), vivo en Madrid. Van VETUSTA MORLA, MGMT, EDITORS, THE KOOKS, TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB, SUEDE, LORI MEYERS, YANN TIERSEN, WHITE LIES, PATTI SMITH entre otros muchos.
awesome!!