3.

Bombay Bicycle Club
Flaws

Speaking of which. This is Bombay Bicycle Club’s second 3rd place finish in as many years. Number 3 is obviously their level: nearly but not quite. Yet while Two Door Cinema Club were producing 2010’s equivalent to 2009’s I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose, Bombay Bicycle Club themselves held onto 3rd spot by doing something very different. When I heard they were making an ‘acoustic’ record I was dubious – rock bands that make acoustic albums are often grasping at straws and the results are usually mixed at best. And even when it works (Nirvana), it rarely comes with the second record of a band’s career. Bombay Bicycle Club have pulled this off effortlessly, though. Flaws is totally different from I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose (with the exception of the perfect closing track of their debut – ‘The Giantess’ – which I now see was a sign of what was coming). Yet both of the band’s first two records are exceptional.

The most significant change between the two albums is the pace. Where their debut was frenetic, Flaws is measured and unhurried. Equally, while all the songs are broadly ‘acoustic’, there is actually quite a variety of styles apparent on Flaws. The tracks range from paired down acoustic rock (‘Rinse Me Down’) to introspective balladry (‘Word By Word’). The best of all is the beautiful ‘Leaving Blues’, which highlights the strength of Jack Steadman’s amazing voice and his songwriting ability. The only weakness on the whole record is ‘Dust On The Ground’ – a reworking of a track on I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose – which isn’t fully convincing as an acoustic tune. Everything else is perfect, though. Flaws is a record that confirms that Bombay Bicycle Club are one of the best bands around right now. Their third album could be a return to the indie rock of the debut, or it could be more of this beautiful acoustic style. Then again, it could be something entirely different. Whatever: I’m buying it.