All Or Nothing

About

England’s The Subways are mysteriously unknown in the U.S., though they play huge festivals and have charted overseas; they’ve even landed songs on American television (<i>The O.C.</i>) and in movies like <i>RocknRolla</i> and <i>Charlie Bartlett</i>). This is the power trio’s second full-length record, following the impressive debut <i>Young for Eternity</i>. Whether it’s the major label behind <i>All or Nothing</i> or Butch Vig’s Big Grunge production, the album delivers a surprisingly commercial sound. (Maybe Vig had his Jimmy Eat World hat on for this project.) But fans of the band’s blissfully punchy debut will be rewarded if they give <i>All or Nothing</i> a chance. There are swooping, grimy guitars chasing rubbery, defiant bass lines (“Kalifornia,” “Turnaround,” “Obsession”), fist-in-the-air punk-pop exuberance (“Shake! Shake!”), and even acoustic-flavored tunes for breathing space (“Move to Newlyn,” “Lost Boy”). The first project following the romantic breakup of guitarist/vocalist Billy Lunn and bassist Charlotte Cooper, it may be that <i>All or Nothing</i> is the sound of a band finding new footing. We doubt they’ll lose their way.

via Apple Music