STEREOPHONICS
Live From Dakota
V2
· Live album from the best band the Brits don’t want to share with you.
Until the end of time, the relentless British media will continue to shove a litany of listless "it" bands down the throats of North American hipsters. The coolest of the cool will name-check Babyshambles until the day their CD is released and then turn on them as soon as they see their video on MuchMusic.
One unfortunate band, however, has never had the pleasure of being anointed the next big thing. For the past decade, Stereophonics have been ripping up the U.K. as one of the country’s best live acts (and watched each of their last four albums hit the top of the charts), while the only wave they ever made on this side of the pond was for their 2001 single "Have a Nice Day." Tellingly, that song was left off their new concert album, Live from Dakota.
From the first note, Stereophonics are electric – literally. With unabashedly crunchy guitars, they captivate their audience with the energy and exuberance that Britain’s hype bands are supposed to have. Vocalist Kelly Jones has a presence (and a Welsh accent) that Arctic Monkeys would kill for, and the rhythm section of bassist Richard Jones and drummer Javier Weyler keep the band plugging along at a frenetic pace. There is one new song, "Jayne," included in the set, but the veteran band make it fit right in alongside hit singles like "A Thousand Trees" and "Hurry Up and Wait."
The only thing that may leave fans unsatisfied is the lack of banter from Jones and the band between songs, but the strength of the music speaks for itself.
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