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MagnetMar 20, 2012Guitars meander before slicing, the rhythm section is taut, and Gedge hits all of his favorite topics-love, lust and spite-often in the same three or four minutes. Gedge may never get this relationship stuff figured out, but at least the rest of us benefit. [No.85, p.60]
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Mar 20, 2012It's business as usual for the Wedding Present, but in the best possible way.
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Mar 20, 2012With Valentina, [Gedge] has created another fine love album, full of clever, relatable, fine love songs.
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Mar 19, 2012Yet for the faithful, and even anyone who's heard the name but never the music, this is the same old wonderful stuff from one of our finest songwriters.
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Mar 15, 2012Older, wiser, maybe a little less caustic in the execution - but as still sharp as a knife.
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Mar 15, 2012If you've been a fan since their early days, you won't be disappointed, and if you're just discovering them, Valentina is a good introduction to the influential band.
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Apr 2, 2012Throughout Valentina, and especially on 'End Credits', the Wedding Present's new streamlined and sinewy delivery certainly has something of The Fall to it.
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Mar 22, 2012Almost every note, lyric, and sound could have appeared on any Weddoes record of the past 20 years or so without any problem.
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Under The RadarMar 21, 2012Vital as ever. [March 2012, p.80]
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Mar 21, 2012While you could say the Weddoes' m.o. is fairly predictable at this point, it nonetheless feels vibrant and engaging enough because of the conviction the band puts into its music, be it the bite of the buzzsaw riffs or the snap of the heavy beats or Gedge's snarling vocals, which can still sneer with the best of 'em after all these years.
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Mar 19, 2012Valentina is essentially Gedge and his current sidemen doing a very solid impression of the Wedding Present as they were circa 1990.
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Apr 18, 2012While this isn't going to make you toss your copy of George Best, it shows the guy still has some gas left in his tank and is far from embarrassing himself.
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MojoMar 23, 2012Three or four candidates for an updated greatest hits package is not a bad hit rate. [Apr 2012, p.94]
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UncutMar 16, 2012That Gedge remains, at 51, stranded lyrically at a romantically disappointing post A-Level party is less cause for celebration. [Apr 2012, p.88]
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Mar 20, 2012Valentina spends much of the time spinning in circles instead of plodding onward.
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Jun 5, 2012But like a fine pastiche, the presented elements are enjoyable, but there's a detached lack of soul and ardor.
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May 4, 2012Gedge's wryly stilted voice and clever turns of hook are still on display, but without the frantic guitar of Pete Solowka from the group's early lineup, the songs are a bit too slow and heavy.
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Mar 15, 2012There's plenty of sizzle, but nothing really sears.