When this writer first heard the name Little Man Tate he stretched his mind back a few years, thinking they were a bunch of 15-minuters from Britpop’s half-hearted death. The name... Och, it's awful. It's the name of a Jodie Foster movie. It's horribly, painfully, achingly 1998.
Accordingly, Little Man Tate's signature single 'House Party At Boothy’s' wouldn’t sound amiss on a Shine compilation. It's not an awful song, but that's in the same way that 'I Predict A Riot'' isn't an awful song. It's obviously designed with an eye on the beered-up 16-year-old market (see 'Dagger, Chelsea' and Fratellis, The). And as for the line, “Talked to some kid, he couldn't be much gayer”'. Well, you make your own mind up.
Opener 'Man I Hate Your Band' is either very stupid or so tongue in cheek that it could be mistaken for elephantitis of the face. It's a song about an average band, yeah? Who go and sign a deal and then fail not long after. 'Man I Hate Your Band'. Do you see? Do you SEE?
There are a few moments where singer Jon Windle's Yorkshire drawl comes into its own, though. 'Court Report'' is the story of a skinhead cross-dresser's battles with the law. It's a silly concept and seeps lyrical filler (the word 'honey' should have some kind of musical tax each time it's used as punctuation – an index finger 'praps?) but a mediocre verse somehow turns into a chorus that could've been taken straight from 'Sound Affects'. But it's one of few highlights.
'This Must Be Love'' is the album's token ballad. It plods on accordingly with lines like “You were the best, you let me touch your chest and saved me twos on your cigarette.” Good grief. There's a sixth-form in Yorkshire missing its poet.
Obviously this being a band of young males from Sheffield who play guitars and Sing In An Accent it's been hard to get this far in the review without mentioning the band whose sound they mirror. (Writer consults Big Book O'21st Century Rock Clichés). Yes. Little Man Tate sound an awful lot like Arctic Monkeys.
This isn't lazy journalism. Well maybe it is, but if record companies are determined to stay 12 months behind the nation's youth and continue to sign bands that sound half like something Alex Turner spat out at breakfast and half like Cannon and Ball's Big Night Out, then what else can you say? It sounds like Kraftwerk covering Metal Machine Music'?
Imagine a whole album full of 'Digsy's Dinners''. One is fine, yes, but About What You Know has nothing to say. It has its moments of fun, certainly. But so does eating McDonald's. You still end up feeling dirty and greasy afterwards.
Maybe you need to be there. I was 16 and lived in a dull Northern town once. If dumb rock and roll is the closest thing to escape then fair play to Little Man Tate, as they've probably made a few lads in Bolton happy. But for now, the world doesn't need their modern toss.
As Jon from the band said the other day @ Dublin Castle
"stop being so bitter and twisted".
It doesn't matter where they got their influence from. Its a little bit Arctic Monkeys, a little bit Futureheads, a lot of Sheffield, and in many eyes it sounds good and it certainly works as pop music. They aren't going to play stadiums, or appeal to the older generation of music listener, but put almost any of their tracks on at an indie disco and the place will go nuts.
I have to agree
it does seem a lot like slagging off for the sake of it. So they are a bit generic, it's not actually a bad album.
I can't remember the last time I read a DiS album review and was actually suprised. Bloc Party could fart to the tune of Mary had a little lamb and it would probably get 9/10. A band like this can put out an album that gets the old boots a stompin and they get trashed.
I'm off to do some washing.
..
Good honest review.
Does it matter that they're not terribly original?
The do fantastic pop songs. They do the whole 'real life lyrics' better than most (I'm looking at you, Alex Turner).
They're a good fun band, full of cracking tunes.
it matters that they're bollocks though surely?
good review, in that I'm impressed you managed to get a few paragraphs out of such a generic non-event.
Har...
This lot are a little cheesy... and to be honest, a little shit... But it's fun to listen to so who gives a toss :-)
A few notes
- I used to like this band a lot, but they got quite boring.
- It seems the only real fans they have are the ones who 'discovered' them on the Arctic Monkeys forum. + a few extra ones picked up as per normal. i.e. This is not a normal band (one which writes songs then gets gigs then gets fans then releases single then gets some press then gets more fans etc) its a contrived search by a bunch of resourceful kids who are frustrated that their previous find got massive and looking for the next buzz - finding the next big thing. This isn't it.
That said, "Sexy In Latin" and "Hello Miss Lovely" still retain some charm.
Genius.
This Must Be Love'' is the album's token ballad. It plods on accordingly with lines like “You were the best, you let me touch your chest and saved me twos on your cigarette.” Good grief. There's a sixth-form in Yorkshire missing its poet.
LMAO.
i don't like them
but mainly because the singer has a speech impediment
or at least he sounds like he does
shouldn't be a singer with a speech impediment
Jonathan Ross knew it
Beardsley knew it
Little Man Tate dude didn't know it
Erm..
Did anyone think this album might have got a bad review because its shit? I used to like quite a few of their songs but they have done something seriously wrong here. The production is really bad and the newer songs are horrible. Little Big Man is possibly one of the worst songs i have ever heard. Theyre a poppier hybrid between the Kaiser Chiefs and Arctic Monkeys. Not good
another predicatable DiS review
Indeed. It does seem any band that could be possibly be linked to the Arctic Monkeys immediately gets knocked down for not being as good as them and not being original etc etc.
However based on the actual songs alone and not constantly comparing them to Alex Turner they are mostly fun good pop songs.
I know loads of people find the guys voice annoying but it doesnt bother me really. Saw them last year and were good.
So DiS give Kaiser Chiefs' Employment 8/10 yet this gets 3/10?
I hav got bored of them admittingly over the course of the year but they deserve at least a 5 because they're not below average
^^ Shut up you fucking moron!
Just because you disagree (and only fucking marginally if you go off your 5/10 score) with a review, you come out with the comment "another predicatable DiS review"!!
FUCK RIGHT OFF.
HAHA
temper temper
3/10 and 5/10 is a huge dif! :)
you haveee to admit it was a predictable review though surely. I would just like to see something new..not just oh this ain't the monkeys don't bother. DiS do it way too much.
anyway think of something to say about the reviewe or album rather than just swearing pointlessly because you disagree with me.
LMT are a bit shit tho. But no shitter than a lot of bands that get higher scores on here.
Really can't believe
a band like this manage to have an album when so many very good bands struggle to even release a single...
Their singles
are so completely and utterly awful alone that's it hard to imagine they've even stretched it out to a full-length. There seems to be a marketplace for guys just out of their teens to talk about what happened to them at school (or rather make up/rip off the most outlandish things that may have happened to others around them), set it to music, and they get signed up. It's no wonder the likes of FR and Futureheads get pissed off when they either can't get signed or get dropped for complete and utter tripe like Little Man Tate.
WTF w/V2 lately?
They really seem to be taking a nosedive. Margot, Alkalines, Mooneys, now this. Did some dictive come down from on high to the effect of "sign every shit band you can get your hands on, integrity/relevance be damned..."?
It's Ranconteurization. It is not working.
Trap 2
That's what these used to be called and they were shit then too.
Thats
not true... Trap 2 are now called Little ze
The used to
be called the moon and were a lot worse. Sounded a lot like Oasis back then. Hmm..a pattern?
.
it is annoying the amount of times DiS likes to compare bands to arctic monkeys but to be fair it's hard not to with these guys, they just sound like a total rip off. one or two of the lines have a small comical value but the songs just aren't good enough to keep the interest there.
If anyone can get hold of...
Nicky Wire's review of their first single from 6music's roundtable, then you're in for a treat.
The old dog still has the odd little gem of criticism in his stinky rotten gut.
Why does everything...
.. have to say something in this day and age?
And the Arctic Monkeys?
Dull. Dull. Dull.
A load of pretentious bull shit.
But thats what most music is these days right?
LMT are alright.
I just see a lot of people jumping...
Bandwagon anyone?
Hey scenesters
LMT make extemely unoffensive, dancable, totally unpretentious catchy tunes that all pop music should sound like. All of you 'I'm considerably cooler than yow' tossers who feel the need to slate it should get a life and sit at home on your own and listen to your Morrissey vinyl as you're far too cool for us scenesters.
truer words hath ne'er been spoken
Apart from the scenesters bit, you're spot on with that. The album isn't brilliant by any means, but it has its moments (mainly the singles). Heard them first on XFM, thought the lyrics were pretty good and humourous. Not everyone has to be political.
not everyone has to be shite either
which is basically what he's saying
little man tate are shite, however, and that's the problem
A Few Pointers For the Joke Reviewer
1.It is important as a reviewer to at least get your facts right then be subjective.Court Report is a true story and not a concept.
2.You seem to take issue with Sheffield accent is that because your from Bolton.A bit pot calling kettle that mind you you've probably lost it and acquired a Bloc Party sounding number as youve probably lost touch with your northern roots being out of a 'dull northern town so long.
3.They sound nothing like Arctic Monkeys musically maybe the accent are you thinking of Milburn.
4.The lyrics you so criticise are just narrative no deep profound offerings here and only offensive if your PC.Easy dont listen if you are.
5.'This isn't lazy journalism.Well maybe it is.' It is.
6.The target audience you imply of being 'beered up 16 year olds' is off the mark as i am in my 40's you got the beered up bit right tho.
I'll finish by saying if you can't do the job without resorting to petty jibes that maybe you think readers will find interesting don't do it at all as if your writing style 'couldnt get much gayer'
I thank you.
...
LMT have got more talent in their shit than alex turner has in an album, everyone needs to get of the alex turner fucking band wagon and realise what an absolute goon he really is!