You don’t always need something important to say, you know. You could attack Scottish four-piece Astrid for being without an agenda. For lyrics about twee, everyday things.
But you’d be missing the point. After all, too many bands substitute a solid agenda for a lack of any discernible tunes (see [a]Gay Dad[/a]), an ability to produce soundbites far outweighing the need to sound at all listenable on record. At least two-year-old Astrid have their musical priorities in order. Quite simply, they do pop and, as this Edwyn Collins-produced debut album shows, they do it well.
So you won’t be quoting their lyrics on your school folder, but their breezily addictive choruses make up for it. This is a feel-good album of the highest order. It’s Teenage Fanclub if they lived in California and surfed every day (‘Plastic Skull’), The Lemonheads without the neurosis (the gorgeous ‘Redground’) and REM at their happiest (‘High In The Morning’).
Forget style statements and earth-shattering quotes for a moment. Sometimes, it’s OK just to enjoy listening.