Album Review
Apollo – This Is My TownApollo – This Is My Town

The album starts off with a song of the same name, and I'm intrigued from the word go. This, at the moment, sounds like exactly what I want to be hearing from up and coming bands. An alternative, melodic guitar riff drowned in effects calls out and when the rest of the band kick in, I'm thinking Air Traffic. There's just something about the way the music is written and the songs put together, that make these two bands very similar, although Apollo would definitely be an older, more sophisticated version. Where would this record go? Thankfully track two, “21g” was at hand to help. Nothing noticable, scrap that, let's bypass to “Peaks & Troughs,” I do like a song with a simple acoustic beginning.

I'm sad to announce that the initial excitement and brilliance that glimmered and showed such promise in the opening track, has all but faded. There are occasional nice little chord progressions or rhythmic choices, but all in all it's your average alternative band. Melodic and well-tuned and all, but lacking the va-va-voom which is so important in new bands. Also, the tracks are getting slower and slower, I'm wondering if the final track will be in reverse.

Every music reviewer's nightmare, and I'm sure everyone would feel bad doing it, but labelling a band as “a bit too U2 for my liking,” or even “this will be the Feeling in a year or two,” sometimes just has to be done. And this is one of those times. It's not bad or offensive, it's just a bit boring. If you went to the pub and these guys happened to be playing, you'd leave thinking it was a really good gig, but you wouldn't put the CD on in the car.

3/5

Review by Thom
 Band Members
Apollo - Band
Lee Picton (Lead Vocals)
Neil Picton (Guitars, Vocals)
Andy Liscombe (Guitars)
Matt Sizer (Bass)
Jack Wilkinson (Drums)
 Track Listing
1. This Is My Town
2. 21g
3. Peaks And Troughts
4. Forget It
5. Deus Ex Machina
6. Carry Me Now
7. Lay Dormant
8. (You Are Going) Down With Me
9. Last Time
10. The Real Thing
11. Goldstream
 Band Related Links
Apollo Myspace
 Review Score Code
- Top Cheese
- Brilliant
- Pretty damn good
- Ok I guess
- What Was That?