ARTIST: IV Thieves
TITLE: If We Can't Escape My Pretty
LABEL: New West Records
GENRE: Indie
BITRATE: 213kbps avg
PLAYTIME: 0h 39min total
RELEASE DATE: 2006-09-19
RIP DATE: 2006-07-30
Track List
----------
01. You Can't Love What You Can't 3:03
Understand
02. Catastrophe 3:36
03. Take This Heart 3:05
04. The Sound And The Fury 3:20
05. The Day Is A Downer 3:11
06. Higher 3:10
07. Mother's Dilemma 2:57
08. All The Time 3:02
09. Die In Love 3:24
10. Have Pity 2:39
11. Lay Me Back Down 2:35
12. Chase Me Off/Out 5:32
Release Notes:
"They'll be one of the biggest bands in Britain. They're pretty special,
man..." - Noel Gallagher, Oasis
If We Can't Escape My Pretty is the startling debut by the gang that was
originally spearheaded by vocalist extraordinaire, Nic Armstrong (then
billed as Nic Armstrong & The Thieves). The young band hit the road where
they developed quickly into a democracy of four unusually talented
songwriters and singers, hence the name change to IV THIEVES. Whereas the
first album conjured the halcyon days of British blues and pop in the 60s,
this new platter zooms toward the future in an explosion of rabble-rousing
performances, outrageously versatile vocalizing and bulletproof
songwriting. Nic, Shane Lawlor and Glynn Wedgewood all take turns at the
lead vocal mic with poetic tales of crazy dreams, confusion, love, growing
up and taking control. The first single, "You Can't Love What You Don't
Understand" is exhilarating, 'girl-be-damned,' rockin' power-pop. "Take
This Heart" is a mighty plea for resolution. "The Sound And The Fury" is
expert, three-part harmony on a song perhaps about the nightmare that life
can sometimes be. If We Can't Escape My Pretty is an album that screams to
be heard.
The back story of IV THIEVES is not your usual run-of-the-mill tale.
Hailing from Nottingham, England's capital of crime, these four working
class lads emerged to take on the world with formidable recordings and
combustible live shows.
Thief 1: Nic Armstrong
This Geordie lad was holed up in a room in Nottingham writing songs, and
smoking too many cigarettes. He could not be arsed to go to the shop to get
some new cassettes, so he drops his demos onto an old tape of his
girlfriend's. Said girlfriend discovers the tunes, and, unbeknownst to Nic,
sends them off to Dazed & Confused. A couple of weeks later the tape falls
out of an envelope and Nic falls into a record deal. With the obligation to
record an album, he sets about recruiting a band.
Thief 2: Jonny Aitken
Whilst Nic was enjoying his advance at a local bar, he stumbles upon a
drummer who seemed possessed by the spirit of Keith Moon, the attitude of
Ringo Starr and the power of John Bonham. In a drunken stupor, Nic asks
Jonny to record an album with him. He says yes, as it sure beats working in
a factory.
Thief 3: Shane Lawlor
The album is nearly finished when Jonny recruits Thief III, old pal Shane
Lawlor. Over the years, he and Jonny had played together in various bands
and developed as a rhythm section with an almost psychic rapport. Jonny
introduced Shane to Nic and they hit it off straight away. Nic asked Shane
to join the band without hearing him play and Shane said yes without
hearing Nic's stuff. Shane's vocals, bass playing, and scissor-kicking
stage presence meant the machine now had an engine. With the album finished,
The Greatest White Liar was released to critical acclaim, it's time to play
some shows (and enlist Thief IV).
Thief 4: Glynn Wedgewood
Long of fringe and fast of finger, Glynn is thrown into the back of a black
van in the depths of a bleak, English mid-winter. A bemused Glynn is dragged
around from town to town and, before long, is accepted as the missing member
of this chaotic family of miscreants and infidels.
Traveling under the banner of Nic Armstrong & The Thieves they set about
kicking the shit out of the music scene. We're not sure how much damage was
inflicted but some kind of impression must have been made as they played
throughout the UK, Europe and the United Roads of America at the invitation
of Oasis, Jet, Razorlight, the Raveonettes, the Bravery and Paul Weller,
amongst others.
The songs Nic had written for The Greatest White Liar were reshaped,
reworked and sometimes rewritten as four individuals merged into one group
of IV THIEVES. Discoveries were made; all four could sing, allowing for some
great close harmony work. And all four could write; first Shane, then Glynn,
and finally Jonny were singing their own songs.
And from behind the cool, laconic, jacket shrouded Nic, a group of
performers emerged. Jonny doesn't sit still on his stool, he frequently
stands up, driving the band on; Shane kicks and thrashes his way into the
hearts of the girls in the front rows; while Glynn hunches down over his
mic, smiling to himself at the antics and banter of the others.
After many gigs, thousands of miles, mountains of cans, bottles, cigarettes
and joints they wind up in Austin, TX, their new home, where the locals have
taken this itinerant bunch to their hearts. They get to work writing the
remainder of what would be the first IV THIEVES album. Time seems to move
twice as slowly during the day in Texas, as it takes twice as long to do
anything when you're sweating more than you can drink. But withstanding the
blistering heat of Texas, they wrote nearly 30 songs for the album and, by
the end of the year, were ready to go into the studio. The only other thing
in the calendar was a December date at The Millennium Stadium in Cardiff,
Wales where they were once again the guests of those hospitable Gallagher
brothers.
Christmas had been replaced by pre-production, so by January they were ready
to go. Afraid of what another bleak English winter would do to their minds
and souls they decided to record in Austin Texas with producer Chris
"Frenchie" Smith, who had been enamored with IVTHIEVES ever since he saw
them tear up a venue in Austin. After what felt like a lifetime in the
studio, they finally emerged with a group of songs that would become the
album If We Can’t Escape My Pretty.
Whilst the debate raged about who should mix the record, the IV THIEVES
joined The Pretenders on the road in the U.S. and aired a large chunk of
what had only just been recorded. The result? One of the most exciting,
well-received tours to date! During this time, Chris Sheldon (The Pixies,
Foo Fighters. etc.), entered the frame as the mixer to finish the record.
Which brings us to now. So, what have we got? We've got an album that is
effectively four different snapshots, from four different people of highly
intense, personalised takes on the sound and the fury that is the 21st
Century. Nightmares, stories, dreams and visions evoked by the four
songwriters/singers, through striking voices, killer harmonies, and
breathtaking song writing, from the in-your-fucking-face intense to the
melancholic and serene.