The Hoosiers - The Trick To Life Album Review

The Trick To Life by The Hoosiers, Album Review

‘The Trick To Life’ is the debut album from indie-pop trio The Hoosiers. A collection of indie belters that will pleasefans of Mika and ELO, this is a debut album that will definitely put a smile on your face. Includes the singles ‘Worried About Ray’ and ‘Goodbye Mr. A’.

The album was released with four alternate colours to the front cover, allowing fans to choose which cover they wanted. A special version of the album including two bonus tracks was released on the iTunes Store with a purple cover. The album is currently #1 on the UK Charts.

The Hoosiers - The Trick To Life Album Track Listing

1. Worried About Ray
2. Worst Case Scenario
3. Run Rabbit Run
4. Goodbye Mr A
5. A Sadness Runs Through Him
6. Clinging On For Life
7. Cops and Robbers
8. Everything Goes Dark
9. Killer
10. The Trick To Life
11. Money To Be Made
12. The Feeling You Get When (hidden track)
13. Rules (Bonus track on iTunes Store)
14. Worried about Ray (Napster live 06.03.07 - Bonus track on iTunes Store)
15. Macho Man (bonus B side on the limited edition vinyl)

The Hoosiers - The Trick To Life Album Review from bbc.co.uk

Why is it that when a band of mediocre credentials rocks up, the record label blurb has to invent a whole new genre? As if the label of ‘oddpop’ is going to polish this same old rock dropping… Why not just label it ‘bargain basement’? Oh yeah, that’s right you wouldn’t be able to sell any records.

As it is, The Hoosiers are doing alright on that front, with first upbeat stomper single, ”Worried About Ray”, being catchy enough to linger, like a stinking cod behind the radiator, in the Top 10 for eight consecutive weeks. ”…Ray” and ”Goodbye Mr A” both contain the trademark Hoosier sound of choral harmonies, upbeat drums and resounding organ, which in some ways harks back to ELO and their ilk. And the swatchbook of references don’t end there. ”Worst Case Scenario” is reminiscent of The Cure with vocalist Irwin Sparkes’ Robert Smith-like vocals. This is not a bad record, but it’s all so very safe, fairly non-offensive stuff (think Keane and The Feeling), but it’s funny how that, in itself, can wear thin three tracks in. With ”Run Rabbit Run” unfortunately the band overstep the mark and try their hand at taking off Radiohead - not a chance lads, sorry.

Frontman Sparkes just loves to exercise his impressive falsetto at any opportunity and the one trick pony really begins to grate. The record keeps up its assault of semi-nauseating dad-pop just taking a breath long enough to change the pace for the love-struck ”Clinging On For Life” but by then it’s too late. There’s even a hidden track on the album to finish you off if you haven’t had enough already. In a word; ordinary.

And a very nicely written review by Richard from amazon.com

It is the truly wonderful and uplifting ‘Goodbye Mr A’ - their second and most recent single (at the time of writing) that made up my mind about taking a chance on this cd. I say chance, because these types of albums are very hit and miss. This comes in four different coloured artwork covers. I got the yellow one.

On first play, I was very pleasantly surprised. It was instant enjoyment - it hit home straight away. Their sound is like a cross between the Feeling and the Kooks or ELO and 10cc (depending on the decade) and has a lot of bouncy keyboard and bass playing on it, with plenty of hooks and melodies to enjoy. There are also more quirky influences on this, such as: The Cure and Sparks. So far, apart from the two singles (including ‘Worried About Ray’), I’m really enjoying ‘Worst Case Scenario’, ‘Run Rabbit Run’ and ‘Cops And Robbers’, but no doubt over time I’ll have more favourites.

So to sum up, this is utterly charming stuff, that does exactly what it says on the tin, and judging by this album’s healthy dose of infectious pop, there’s definitely no need to worry about Ray anymore.

More find out more about their music here : Hoosiers

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(8 votes, average: 4.88 out of 5)

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