The Speedways Triple Platinum

In some ways we’re not sure we should need to review this album. If you’ve read our reviews of The Speedways previous albums (just another regularsummer, radio sounds,talk of the town) then you should already own many of the songs on this release. It is however a brilliant snapshot of the fantastic songs the band have released over their first three albums.

To be fair to the band, they are perfectly entitled to be taking this opportunity to remind people that they haven’t received the recognition they deserve. You will be very hard pressed to find any band who over the last few years has delivered power pop gems to match the likes of “Seen Better Days” and “Shoulda Known”. They are absolutely top notch power pop songs. The Speedways manage to brilliantly deliver pop tunes with hooks galore and with a punk crunch. “In A World Without Love” starts off like The Knack, before moving on to being a glammy pop classic. Songs like “ A Drop In The Ocean” and “Number Seven”  are up there with those released by past masters such as Cheap Trick, Sloan, Enuff Z’ Nuff and Redd Kross. That’s mighty fine company and the fact that, for once, this is a British band makes it a bit more special.

Whilst firmly in the power pop genre they don’t fall in to the trap of being formulaic or one dimensional. You get a song like “Kisses Are History” which is just an aural delight of pure pop. It’s the sort of track that in a fair world would make The Speedways global chart stars. The band have also developed over the years and the title track from their last album “Talk Of The Town” adds a bit of disco funk in the mix. We really admire the way the band have stuck with their identity rather than jumping on a bandwagon. They could easily have taken the scuzzier opening of “Secrets Secrets” and turned it in to a Strokes aping track but instead they allow the pop sound to shine.

Is it too early for the band to be releasing a compilation album? Maybe, but blame the general music buying public for not making The Speedways a household name already. Anyhow, what’s the harm when actually it ends up with the chance to own a stonking album full of pop rock songs that make your life a little better. So yes you should definitely buy this album, but you should also buy all the individual albums as well. You really need to show your support for one of the best bands in the UK at the moment.