- Release Info -------------------------------------------------------------- -
Artist: The Holloways
Album: So This Is Great Britain?
Label: Tee Vee Toons
Playtime: 52:59 min
Genre: Indie
URL: http://www.the-holloways.com/
Rip date: 2007-09-14
Street date: 2007-09-04
Size: 80.26 MB
Type: Retail
Quality: 202 kbps / 4410kHz / Joint Stereo
- Release Notes ------------------------------------------------------------- -
Alfie, Rob, Bryn and Dave met by chance at the legendary Nambucca pub (596
Holloway Road, London). They bonded over a shared love of booze, mischief,
parties and rock and roll. This shared love found them coming back to
Nambucca over and over again until they decided they could do a lot better
than a lot of the bands they had seen play there. Bored with the same
formulaic indie bands, they wanted to embrace the rock-a-billy music Alfie
had heard his Dad (a well known rock and roll DJ) play, and the calypso and
Gypsy punk that Rob brought with him.
The band hadn t been playing long before they were offered a tour supporting
Babyshambles both in the UK and around Europe, before they even had a record
deal. They quickly recorded and released their the anthemic "Generator" on
their own label Sensible Records just so they had something to sell on tour.
It was quickly picked up on by Radio 1 s Zane Lowe and eventually won the
Fresh Meat section of his show.
As word about the band s live show and their unpredictable musical mash up
spread a record deal with TVT followed shortly afterwards in Spring 2006. The
first UK single on TVT "Two Left Feet" stormed into the charts as the week's
highest new entry (# 33) in August. Over the course of the summer, the gang
went out on tour to play some quite legendary sold-out shows. Lots of younger
fans weren t allowed in to the Sheffield gig, so once the band had played in
the venue they came out and did a second acoustic set from the roof of their
van to a packed car park full of very happy kids.
Produced by Langer & Winstanley (Elvis Costello, Dexy's Midnight Runners and
Madness) the band's debut LP, So This Is Great Britain displays a plethora of
wide ranging influences. Elements of rock, pop, calypso and folk, can all be
heard, yet the albums manages to sound entirely like just one band, The
Holloways. In addition to the band's exceptional ear for melody, So This Is
Great Britain showcases Alfie's wry observation on Great Britain today.
Though the band are rightly perceived from their live shows as being
unashamedly upbeat, much of the album s lyrical content casts a fine, cynical
eye over the celebratory culture that reigns in this country today. As NME
pointed out in their review the most informed, ecstatic and god-darned best
guitar-pop record of 2006.
The band finished 2006 touring with Babyshambles in the UK and spreading the
word about their band around Europe with CSS. 2007 started with a bang with
the release of "Dancefloor" and the band's amazing performances at the SXSW
Festival in Austin, TX.
With the UK re-release of "Generator" all the hard work looks like it just
might pay off for The Holloways-- the single is on the B-list at Radio 1, the
daytime list at XFM and the video on high rotation at MTV in England. They've
recently played their largest headline London show to date at the Electric
Ballroom and continue their inventive touring with their seaside town only
"Summer Holloways" to promote eco-friendly UK tourism. They have an amazing
slot at Glastonbury lined up as well as festival appearances at V2007 and T
In The Park. America is next....
- Track List ---------------------------------------------------------------- -
01. Great Britain ( 3:01)
02. Generator ( 2:57)
03. Dancefloor ( 3:57)
04. Fit For a Fortnight ( 3:38)
05. Two Left Feet ( 3:01)
06. Reinvent Myself? ( 3:27)
07. Most Lonely Face ( 5:05)
08. Malcontented One ( 2:35)
09. Happiness & Penniless ( 2:50)
10. What's the Difference? ( 2:29)
11. Diamonds & Pearls ( 3:34)
12. Nothing For The Kids ( 3:13)
13. Fuck Ups ( 3:09)
14. Your Fragrance Was Worn By an Ex Of Mine ( 3:14)
15. Kings Cross Cutie ( 3:08)
16. London Town ( 3:41)
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