A sophomore record that does Catfish few favors in exposing its limited lyrical scope (mostly concerned with lost lovers) and tedious reliance on shoehorned guitar solos and uniform drum lines.
Although mercifully less in line with the Kooks/Courteeners hegemony than their first album, The Ride is stodgily dedicated to the Real Rock cause, even while it's shooting for Alex Turner's autobiographical cool. [Jul 2016, p.71]
This is music so afraid to be seen as clever or pretentious, so terrified of doing anything that might conceivably alienate the lowest common denominator, that it ends up crushingly prosaic.
Didnt they could outdo their first album, yet here I am giving this a 10.
If you like the band, youll love this.
If youre not a fan ofDidnt they could outdo their first album, yet here I am giving this a 10.
If you like the band, youll love this.
If youre not a fan of Catfish you wont find anything new here really.…Expand
A solid album that starts off great but fades on you as it makes its way to the end. It's definitely a step down from "The Balcony," but ifA solid album that starts off great but fades on you as it makes its way to the end. It's definitely a step down from "The Balcony," but if you enjoyed that album you'll like this one. Every Catfish fan needs it in their collection. I'll be honest...I was a tad bit disappointed when this album came out only because the band had hyped it up so much. We were promised "a bomb in the music industry," but even a big Catfish fan like myself can admit that was a massive overstatement now. "7 and Soundtrack" are easily the strongest tracks on the album, but don't come close to "Kathleen or Cocoon" on the previous album. Still good though!
But let me say...I'm honestly sick of the pretentious critics who have made this band their whipping boy. The Guardian's review was particularly scathing and uncalled for. The amount of hate Catfish have received is unprecedented. I find it hilarious how the same people who rip this album rave about wholly overrated musicians like Beyonce, Bruno Mars, etc. Now THOSE are artists that make music for the "lowest common denominator." Catfish are putting out tunes and building a fan base the old fashioned way through hard work, hectic touring, AND YESSSSSSS guitars...and these corporate mouthpieces just don't get it.…Expand
This album is in no way a bad album and sticks to the same Catfish and The Bottlemen sound heard on their debut, it just seems to lack theThis album is in no way a bad album and sticks to the same Catfish and The Bottlemen sound heard on their debut, it just seems to lack the catchy-ness and quality of songs like 'Kathleen' or 'Cocoon' and replaces them with more mediocre songs like 'Red'. The more 'acoustic' songs like 'Heathrow' and 'Glasgow' on the other hand are fresh and I am very impressed with how well produced and written they are. It is obvious this band are trying to progress their sound very subtly with songs like 'Oxygen' and 'Outside' but these are not well structured and seem unstable. There is no faulting the instruments on this album however, Vans vocals are quality and the guitar is very well done as usual. Bass and drums work well together and are spot on. Overall this album is very well produced and for the most part contains very sound, solid songs.…Expand
Basically it's a solid album. The melodies are catchy and uplifting, on the other hand lyrics are still very much so middle of the road. ButBasically it's a solid album. The melodies are catchy and uplifting, on the other hand lyrics are still very much so middle of the road. But to be honest I think that's the point behind a band like this to pull in a new generation of rock music fans. So the lyrics need to be written for teenagers in mind.
There's almost no deviation from the last record which isn't bad if it works for them, and it seems that it does.There aren't any weak links. All songs seem pretty solid.
As stand out tracks I would have to pick "Anything" and "Heathrow" because it seems like they are trying to create a new sound that might be more dominant on their new record when it comes out.…Expand
Catfish and the Bottlemen spurned their critics last time around on "The Balcony", and seemed poised to do the same here.
While this album,Catfish and the Bottlemen spurned their critics last time around on "The Balcony", and seemed poised to do the same here.
While this album, "The Ride", is not awful in any way, it does leave much to be desired, for both critics and their loyal fans. Singer Van McCann promised that this album would "set off a little bomb in the music industry", yet after listening to the album, we are all left scratching our heads with this quote. The album reminds the listener of all the bands influences (Oasis, The Strokes, etc.) without offering anything particularly memorable. McCann's vocal melodies are undeniably catchy, yet his lyrics are almost too casual for his own good.
It has its moments: 'Oxygen' and 'Outside' showcase a band that is maturing through pushing their boundaries, but these moments leave us wanting a bit more. In its worst moments, you can almost see the band sitting around a water cooler brainstorming ways try to make their songs different from one another, usually by adding more and more sections, over stuffing the songs with more and more parts.
The result is an album that lacks the flow and charm that "The Balcony" had. "The Ride" is not a bad entry to Catfish and the Bottlemen catalog, and will ultimately please crowds nonetheless; yet, the album that Catfish has promised has yet to be heard.…Expand
Possibly one of the worst albums I've heard in a long time. Gutted I wasted money on this. Expecting to see this in poundland in the next fewPossibly one of the worst albums I've heard in a long time. Gutted I wasted money on this. Expecting to see this in poundland in the next few months.
Unimaginative guitar, mundane drums (they seem to be muted compared to the rest of the music), lyrics are just painful (probably the worst aspect of all of this).
How does a band whom lack complete originality make it as far as they have? Can name 10 local bands within 10 miles of my house that would be more deserving of being in the charts.
If you've listened to soundcheck (which is probably the only decent song on here) then you don't need to buy the rest of the album, it's filled with meaningless junk.
