Originally written by Dom Gourlay · 12 September 2005
Casual Saints
Bones In The Sun
Label: Fat Northerner Release Date: 12/09/2005
Mancunians Casual Saints might strut the walk and talk the talk, but anyone expecting sub-Roses/Gallagher cloning room dummies will be bitterly disappointed - or more to the point, pleasantly surprised.
If title track 'Bones In The Sun' sounds like XTC's Andy Partridge shacking up with Hard-Fi's rhythm section - no bad thing for starters - then the real winner here is the second track, 'Garden Lane', which has the pop hooks of a latter day Las and the lyrical sarcasm ("She has a face for the radio...") of a Wythenshawe Lydon or even a Gorton Cocker.
Final song 'We'll Be Alright' tips its baseball cap slightly to the lolloping guitar sound of late 80s Manchester, but all in all, this is a fine debut that suggests Casual Saints won't be hanging around their local back alleys for much longer.
• 7 Dom Gourlay's Score