Great Cynics - Like I Belong - LP (2013)

Labels: Bomber Music
Review by: MH

Great Cynics are back with their second album of punk/indie rock. In fact, they’ve been back for a couple of months now – it really took me far too long to put this review together so apologies to the label for that. If you liked their first album “Don’t Need Much” you won’t be disappointed as there is more of the same here. There are a few infectious, poppy tunes with singalong vibes on offer like “In My Head” and recent single “Back To Hackney” but I will pick out the spikier “Find The Humour” which has a slightly grittier feel to it vocally and also “Waster” in which they change things up a bit and bass player Iona takes on lead vocal duties for the first time – a real standout. “Song For Sophie” towards the end of the album has a Weakerthans-feel to it and that is fine by me. Lyrically, this record is feel-good and youthful with references to their age and it is full of talk of places in London too. They are a band that always remind me of being back home at sweaty punk gigs in pub backrooms given the amount of times I saw them play in such places with all sorts of bands over the past few years and having moved to the opposite end of the world and Australia it’s a good feeling listening to them. Strangely enough, I actually heard a Great Cynics song played on the radio over here the other day – highly unexpected.