There's no mistaking that Welcome To The North is the follow-up to the Leeds quartet's well-received self-titled debut, with the possible exception of the chorus on the lead single "Freedom Fighters" where it is boldly asked if "rock's out of the question" (ooh, a Def Leppard reference... cheeky). Their special brand of stadium rock returns somewhat more political and minus the electronics that really helped make the sound of their 2002 debut unique, more than likely the work of mainstream knob twiddler Brendan O'Brien (Pearl Jam, Soundgarden). The much more stale, glossy, and unimaginative production allows the maturity of guitarist Adam Nutter to rise out clearly from the haze of distorted Led, but the rest of the band seems less important now. While Robert Harvey's voice has improved, his lyrics have not (check his Justin Timberlake beat boxing on "Bleed From Within"), but these guys were only 18 when their first album dropped so they've still got plenty of growing to do. Welcome doesn't really come into its own for me until the 3/4-timed "Fight The Feeling," a power ballad that slows the early pace down and makes the album more reflective. I really miss the electronics, though, and I think their sound was painfully reshaped to take advantage of the rising dance punk fad so, while it may be more thoughtful, it's simply less engaging. O'Brien has done some amazing things over the years but this isn't one of them. This is the sound of a band in transition. We won't know where they're going with it till their next album, one would hope anyway. Although this is a listenable album, never under any legal circumstances should you buy it. Why? Because EMI has gone too far... again. Not only is there a copy control sticker on the front, a logo and explanation on the back, and more copy control logos on the back of the liner notes and on the CD itself, right in the middle of the six page foldout liner in a big white box covering up an artsy picture, the only words on the whole page, is an essay on the ways you steal music. If the four logos and a write-up weren't enough, they decided to fuck up the art they're selling to chew out their loyal customers. Nice to see they trust the buying public. Fuck these assholes! For this reason alone, this is download only.
1. Welcome To The North
2. Freedom Fighters
3. Bleed From Within
4. Breakin'
5. Cessation
6. Fight The Feeling
7. Guide
8. Into The Night
9. I Need Love
10. One Way In, No Way Out
11. Open Your Mind
More about: The Music
