November 12, 2002

Hundred Reasons : Norwich University of East Anglia

...a workmanlike assemblage of early 21st century rock clichés...

Does one break a butterfly on a wheel? No? What about a moth then? There are lots of good reasons to like Hundred Reasons. Well, three reasons actually. They've got a stout guitarist for a start. He's not that fat by average bloke standards. But in the ultra-skinny world of metal axe-whacking, the bloke's a fucking whale. Which is dead cool. They've got a singer - Colin - who's a dead spit for Joe Camel. Which is also dead cool. But most of all they've got brio. And vim, vigour and a bit of gusto, which means that MOR soft-metal anthems like 'I'll Find You', 'If I Could' and 'Drowning' are received by a rapturous crowd of townies and students as if they're, like, really great songs. Songs which, like, scar the soul. Or, indeed, are in any way remarkable. Colin says a lot - without ever actually saying anything. "You people at the front look after each other…This is a new song so I hope you like it… Thanks for coming… Let me see those lighters!" And the crowd go mental.

But Hundred Reasons are a workmanlike assemblage of early 21st century rock clichés, mostly nicked from obscure American groups. Nothing more, nothing less. And every music journalist and A&R hack who has "fallen under their spell" should feel thoroughly ashamed. And be immediately sacked. But let's ease up on the spite. Hundred Reasons are "just" a band. But that's the problem - since when has that been enough?

Steven Wells

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