06/09/10:

This week sees the arrival of Irish crooners The Script’s second studio album, ‘Science and Faith’. Renowned for often showing their soft side and not adverse to a soppy ballad or two, I take a listen to see whether their latest offering is as different as lead singer Danny O’Donoghue has hyped it up to be. Also earlier this week, skinny jean and vest wearing Kings of Leon premiered their new tune ‘Radioactive’ online, to be released from their fifth album to date; ‘Come Around Sundown’ – due to reach our eardrums in October.

As always, without further ado...

The Script – Science and Faith:

Although not necessarily a band that grace the ‘most played’ section of my iTunes, I have a certain amount of respect for The Script, a band who came as a pleasant surprise during the Isle of Wight Festival one year. Despite producing a set crammed with endless tales of unrequited love and yearning for ‘The One’, their undoubted passion, (and not to mention good looks), filled the stage more than adequately; leaving me wondering how three Irish songsters could make such noise.

The first two tracks on the album, ‘You Won’t Feel a Thing’ and latest single ‘For the First Time’ are no different from their previous self entitled debut - strident, painstakingly honest ballads. O’Donoghue does something I feel most bands and artists don’t do, which is telling a story. And there’s most definitely a story to tell throughout both tracks. Reflecting the current climate that most are experiencing, in both the boy’s hometown and the UK alike, there’s talk of ‘... these times are hard, they’re making us crazy’. However, in the style of a true Dublin man, love seems to conquer all, insisting ‘...everything is going to be OK.’

With such a positive and somewhat inspirational start, (to those of us with doe eyes and big hearts), it then comes as a shock that the rest of the album should be so melancholy. The gloom begins on track three, ‘Nothing’, recalling a drunken apology which ends in tears. Then comes title track ‘Science & Faith’, formed from an interesting concept, (does love spawn through nature or nurture?!), but unfortunately lacking in much else.

O’Donahugue then dips his toe into the tricky pool that is rap – an honorary attempt maybe, but not quite Eminem. In fact, it’s quite uncomfortable to listen to. The theme continues throughout the rest of the album, coming to a stop only before last track ‘Exit Wounds’. Charming us with an acoustic start - although it’s slightly disappointing when the band’s trademark heavy instrumentals kick in; it’s more than fitting as a close to the album.

Overall it’s a fairly average album, with only a few tracks grabbing my attention. However, I have to hand it to them; they can still make that noise and ooze with the passion that made me sit up and listen in the first place. Let’s just hope their next album is a rather more cheerful one, eh?

Here is single, ‘For the First Time’:

Kings of Leon - Radioactive:

The majority of Kings of Leon fans, (including myself), often talk of their preference for the Followill's older works. 'Aha Shake Heartbreak' and 'Because of the Times' therefore firmly remain at the forefront of my CD collection. Despite these preferences, third album 'Only by the Night' wasn't unbearable - in fact, it gave birth to a new legion of fans, fans that never grew tiresome of howling 2008's hit 'Sex on Fire'. It was then a debate was formed - did Kings of Leon 'sell out'? With new track 'Radioactive' acting as catalyst to reignite the said debate, I was eager to see what I'd make of it.

At first listen, it's definately closer to their old works than it is their new, which is no surprise seeing as it's a track that has been knocking around since 2004. Rather than an anthem of sorts, like 'Use Somebody' or the aforementioned 'Sex on Fire', it's respective of the band's childhood roots. It's when you listen to the lyrics; '... just drink the water, where you came from', that you appreciate the gospel and spiritual influences that its teeming with, allowing you to realise just how much the track means to the brothers, (and cousin). It's with this squeaky clean image the boys admit that when their Grandma first heard the track, she insisted they'd not go to hell - or at least not as fast.

Overall, it's most definately a grower, and although I'd love the band to revert back to their Dixie-style rock'n'roll days, it looks as though I'll have to make do. With their next album due out on October 18th, perhaps I'll be able to make a more informed decision as to whether 'Come Around Sundown' will put a stop to the rumours of 'selling out' and instead remind me why I fell in love with Kings of Leon in the first place.

And here it is, 'Radioactive':