THE CRIBS
Men’s Needs, Women’s Needs, Whatever
Warner
· The Cribs keep it in the family. The three-piece from Wakefield, England consists of twins Gary and Ryan Jarman and their younger brother Ross.
"Hey Scenesters," the calling-card track from The Cribs’s 2005 album The New Fellas, is a cheeky bit of pop posturing that could have been a dangerous self-diagnosis if it wasn’t so catchy. Even if the rest of that record wasn’t a powerhouse volley in the dance-rock campaign, this song alone would make a followup difficult. Luckily, The Cribs ably rise to the challenge.
Recorded by Franz Ferdinand’s Alex Kapranos, Men’s Needs, Women’s Needs, Whatever, sounds much like you might expect, and that’s not a slight. While the new disc doesn’t have the three-part harmonies of The Futureheads or the homo-sexy swagger of Franz Ferdinand, it has more resonance than either band’s recent efforts. Loaded heavy with pogo-inducing new wave rockers, the album features guitar licks that swagger, bass lines that strut and melodies that push the limits of the Jarman’s vocal capabilities. There’s even a surprise in the form of a sizzling spoken-word anthem that blends vintage Sonic Youth with unbridled Pavement slack. There’s no stand-out hit on this album, just a collection of summer rockers that will keep car stereos and dance floors pumping.
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