The Cribs – For All My Sisters
The Cribs mark a welcome return with the announcement of their new album, For All My Sisters, released on 23 March 2015. The band’s sixth studio album, it follows 2013’s career spanning Payola collection and 2012’s Top 10 album In The Belly Of The Brazen Bull and is their first for new label Sonic Blew / Sony Red.
These days the concept of a music album is a peculiar one. Music is so accessible across the whole spectrum of available media that only a handful of tunes get into peoples’ ears; because that’s the way that most of us “consume” music in 2015. The vinyl revolution may be trying to change that but by and large folks hear the headline items, such as those that are in the promos or on Youtube.
So here is a challenge. Buy this album from The Cribs and ignore the trailed tracks and the single, Burning For No One, for the time being, and go straight to the last track – Pink Snow. This one track is in itself an education in all things about The Cribs. It is already my second-favourite tune by the brothers after City of Bugs and it has a lot of similarities.
It is a long track; for them at any rate. Allegedly it is Gary Jarman’s favourite track from the album. It has a distinctive and effects-laden, if understated riff, a bitter-sweet theme about relationships, mournful but edgy vocals, and a driving chorus; all the signature ingredients of a top Cribs tune. Not that they are formulaic in their approach, or that they are standing still, as rest of this album demonstrates. The feel of the whole album is much more melodic and measured compared to its predecessors.
To me it has brought a lot of threads in their career together. There are the punkier leanings represented by Mr Wrong, the more melodic rockist tracks like City Storms, more reminiscent of Belly Of The Brazen Bull, and those that hark back to the Johnny Marr days of Ignore The Ignorant, like Summer Of Chance or indeed Pink Snow.
The Cribs are a very important part of our musical landscape in my opinion, but they remain under the radar for a lot of people. Go out and buy this album and experience all that it has to offer, and not just the headlines from social media like this one:
The full album track listing is:
1 Finally Free
2 Different Angle
3 Burning For No One
4 Mr Wrong
5 An Ivory Hand
6 Simple Story
7 City Storms
8 Pacific Time
9 Summer Of Chances
10 Diamond Girl
11 Spring On Broadway
12 Pink Snow
For All My Sisters will be available on double 12” vinyl, CD, deluxe CD/DVD ([featuring live footage from the band’s two Christmas 2013 shows at Leeds Town & Country Club) and digitally through Sonic Blew / Sony Red. The first single, Burning For No One, released simultaneously on 23 March, will be available on limited 7” and digitally through all discerning musical outlets.
The Cribs are supporting the release with and in-store tour: