Album Review: The Cast of Cheers - Chariot

The Cast of Cheers - Chariot

My good friend Michael is a huge fan of rock. Thus when I recommend an album to him, I always make sure that it's rocking. Definitely rocking. Last week, I recommended the debut album from Dublin rock band The Cast of Cheers. Named after Ted Danson, Woody Harrelson and co., googling this band of Irish barroom patrons will get you tonnes of links to "Where are they now pages", and if you're lucky, the link to download this album for free - legally too.

Chariot opens with 'Goose', and just five seconds in, you know you're on to a winner. It's territory which has been well trampled by Bloc Party, and this foursome easily could be Ireland's answer. They describe themselves as 'Robot Rock', which isn't too far off the mark, but the emphasis should really be on the rock. This album contains foot-stomping material from start to finish.

The strangely titled 'I am Lion' is more spectral than the opener, with moments of woozy melody which add an unsettling quality to the music. Unsettling in a good way though. Kind of like how Paranormal Activity is a great film. Unsettling, but great. 'Tip the Can' slides towards breathy mathrock, as it races along at a momentous pace. 'Auricorn' brings more Bloc Party comparisons, and has some great lyrics including the clever "I am not the deputy / And he was not the sheriff / We stole her identity".

There are plenty of great tunes on this album, including the gritty 'Derp', the angry outburst of 'Tigerfox', and the slow-building 'Strangers' injects a surprisingly good change of pace. All the songs are punchy, with only the closer 'Glitter' over four minutes, but this is why the album works so well. It's a fantastic one-two punch of an album which briefly sticks around, but makes enough of a mark to be memorable after the last note rings out. A fine debut from an emerging Irish rock behemoth.

Download:
Full Album