The Long Blondes
'Couples'
(Rough Trade)
Much of the hype surrounding the Long Blondes is from the fact they seem to care as much about their image as their music. The glam punk style of frontwoman Kate Jackson placed her in NME's top 10 cool list and The Guardian newspaper's fashion pages and, perhaps if you saw them live, it might be a good thing if their looks detracted from their music. That's because 'Couples', the second album from the English five-piece, is a disappointing offering.
Opener and single Century is the strongest track of the album and one of two songs written by Jackson. It replaces the band's trademark indie jangly guitar sound with 80s synth pop laid onto an addictive tune.
And it makes best use of Jackson's vocals, which have been criticised for being weak.