Stereophonics - Language. Sex. Violence. Other

Language.Sex.Violence.Other. is the fourth studio album from Welsh rockers Stereophonics, a band who have always been respected in the UK but have yet to really achieve fame in the US. This is unfortunate, and I for one can’t figure out why. They have always put out solid records with at least two good singles. Unfortunately, despite this latest release being a damn good one, I still don’t have faith that it’s gonna happen. The first time I heard “Dakota (You Make Me Feel Like the One),” the first single, I was blown away. It’s one of their strongest songs to date, and that’s really saying something. It feels like a driving song with flowing tempo changes and an urgent chorus. Equally impressive is “Superman,” which finds singer Kelly Jones actually trying out a falsetto of sorts. Wasn’t expecting that from him, but it fits right in and is pulled off nicely. There’s something slightly hair band about “Doorman,” but it totally works. It’s dirty sexy with the chorus of “All I wanna do is get closer to you / Cause all I wanna do is make a mess out of you.” “Brother” sounds a bit like another Alice in Chains wannabe clone band we’ve seen so much lately, but that being said, it’s still original enough to keep it from being average. One thing Stereophonics seem to have mastered on this record is hard-driving rock that isn’t boring. And while it does initially appear to be like a lot of the stuff flooding the American rock scene, they infuse their music with quirky tempo changes and unique intonations that make it strong enough to defy being written off as predictable. Also, this is the first release by them that I think defies requiring you to love Kelly Jones’ raspy vocals. The music is stronger on this album than on previous records, and I think that his voice works more with the new, harder edge the band has achieved this time out. It is more a combination that compliments rather than one that tends to wrestle with finding a balance. Overall, I think this is probably the most solid, accessible and engaging album the band has ever released. They have grown musically. Kelly is showing real versatility. And if enough people get off their butts and check it out over here, they might just hit America with the same force they’ve been hitting in the UK for nearly 10 years. [www.stereophonics.com]