Baby by Tribes - Album Review

So, January continues on and the second potential album of the year has already been released – ‘Baby’ by new Camden heroes, Tribes.

Having only heard three singles before the album, (We Were Children, Sappho and when My Day Comes) I was very much looking forward to this album full of loud, brash guitar led anthems however the band that emerge from ‘Baby’ demonstrate roots that are reaching into far different genres from the last real Camden Heroes, The Libertines.  Sure the leather jackets, scruffy hair, skinny jeans suggests they could be just another landfill indie band who grew up upon early naughties music yet Tribes prove they’re a more than that. 2011 was the year of the Vaccines, and while the hype hasn’t quite reached that level yet, signs are looking good that Tribes will take the best new band crown for 2012.

Opening with strong contender, “Whenever”, a slow builder which slips into my favourite track on the album, “We Were Children” (The video filmed atop a shop in Camden as the police try get in) how’s that for rock and roll? Some songs you feel you know immediately and the loud choruses are catchy and easy, however at times you feel like some of these songs belong on a different album. There are sounds that lead from Warpaint to Gaslight anthem through nostalgic Brit-pop and the beginning of “Alone or with friends” is very reminiscent of Radiohead’s “Fake Plastic Tree’s”.

Stand out Tracks;

We Were Children

Loud, brash guitars, big sing-a-long chorus. What more do you want? Guaranteed to be an anthem of the year.

Walking in the Street

An instant favourite, the catchy riff is reminiscent of 90’s American rock music. A definite song that blows away the winter blues and has you wanting summer to hurry up.

All in all ‘Baby’ is a little disappointing. I was hoping for a band that could return with a frenetic guitar packed album, similar to ‘Up the Bracket’ or ‘Is this it’. While Tribes might not be that band, it doesn’t mean this is a bad album, in fact it’s very, very good. Just not quite what I was hoping/expecting.

Rating: 7/10