It's getting pretty difficult to find positive things to say about AMPLIFIER that haven't already been said in a series of glowing reviews all over the place. One thing I will say is that good tho the album is it pales in comparison to the band's live show. The power, volume and sheer intensity of the music comes across so much better in the live arena (and arenas are where this band is headed!) that it just pins you back. Quite awesome stuff.

Rumoured to have been nominated for the Mercury music prize, get into this band before they break big time and see the live show for yourself at....

9/6 London Barfly
10/6 Cardiff Barfly
11/6 -
12/6 Oxford Zodiac
13/6 -
14/6 Leeds Cockpit
15/6 Wrexham Central
16/6 Sheff Corporation
17/6 Exeter Cavern
18/6 -
19/6 Northampton Soundhaus
20/6 -
21/6 Manc R'house
22/6 Liverpool Barfly
23/6 Stockton Georgian Theatre

I think it's an excellent album; the comparisons with Oceansize are unfair as Amplifier are a three piece whilst Oceansize have three guitarists to play with. The only criticisms I would regard some of his lyrics (not that they're bad, so to speak, I'm just unsure) and the fact that their influences are a tad obvious. You can tell they listen to Tool, Oceansize, Cave In, Zeppelin; the more I listen to the album, the more I think of Tool, actually. I think each song is really cleverly constructed and the album flows as a whole. I was attracted to them for the same reason as MartinADL (i.e. a love of stupid amounts of FX) but I'd say that overall they're more of a "song-based" band than the influences I listed above, which is a slight disappointment (but then again I get disappointed if an album is less than an hour long). I wouldn't say it's essential but it's one of the best releases of this (admittedly poor) year.

I BOUGHT THIS ALBUM NOT LONG AGO CUZ I THOUGHT THEY WERE AMAZING LIVE (COULD HAVE HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THAT THEY WERE PLAYING WITH WINNEBAGO DEAL) BUT I BOUGHT IT THINKING WOW 5/5 FLY 5/5 KERRANG 8/10 NME AND I WAS QUITE DISSAPOINTED BUT ON/OFF CONSULTANCY AND NEON ARE PRETTY SHINING

Like I said before, the album is comparitively flat compared to the way the band come across live. That said, I've played it enough times for it to grow on me considerably, but from the get go I thought the running order was flawed. There are no dynamics to it. So, try listening to it in this order..........

AMPLIFIER -'Re-Amplified'..........

1) Motorhead
2) The Consultancy
3) Airborne
4) Panzer
5) Post Acid Youth
6) Old Movies
7) Glory Electricity (B side of The Consultancy CD single)
8) On/Off
9) Neon (album version but from The Consultancy single)
10)Drawing number 2
11)One Great Summer
12) UFO's

Personal opinion of course, but I reckon that improves the dynamics of the album a hell of a lot!

Just got my copy of this album, bought on the strength of Neon, The Consultancy and One Great Summer.

I have to admit to being very very disappointed. As Surfpunk said, it's extremely flat.

A real shame as I expected great things.

I'm hoping it'll be a grower but I think I'm at the stage now where I know how much I'll end up liking an album from the initial listen. I can't see this ever elevating itself above the disappointing tag.

Arse

i dont understand you... amplifier is fantastic!! i really love them. their album is awesome. i've seen them live and it was just incredibly. one of my very very favourite bands.