You Am I - The Lives Of Others

 

Having previously broached the subject of fans unfavourably comparing new artists with the old. The same problem concerns using the artists to their back catalogue or heyday. No matter how great a front man and personality Tim Rogers is, You Am I have to evolve and this may lose some people along the way, but how many of our friends of 30 years ago, do we still bother with now?

The Lives Of Others is the band's 11th album. With that and over 40,000 Facebook followers, it may seem strange for them to be covered by I Don't Hear A Single. But we are long term admirers of Davey Lane, who is still seen as the new kid of the four as if 22 years in a band is new. But this review is more a reaction to the negative reviews over the past 10 - 15 years. 

You am I are still "Big In Australia". Although it is obviously relative to album sales now, the album hit Number 2 in the Australian Album Chart. True, their first three albums were all Australian Number 1 Albums when it took big Sales to get there. The simple truth is that after such a start, it was always going to be difficult to repeat those sales numbers. 

There's also a damned if you do, damned if you don't scenario after such a fantastic first album. You either repeat the format to diminishing returns or you move into different areas and get constant grief, not for what it is, but what it isn't. You Am I are a different band now. They are far nearer the Pop side of Pop Rock, but they haven't taken the easy route of Nostalgia and that's to be lauded. 

The Lives Of Others doesn't pretend to be anything other than Pop Rock and it is a great album. Lane is taking a bit more of the vocals and you can tell which are his songs if you follow his solo career. But as always, the band is the sum of its parts. That Rhythm Section sounds as great as it did in 1995. I've played The Third Level weekly since the album's release and that may not be the best song on it.

Rogers's writing in particular seems as splendid as ever. Melodic Guitar is the keyword (particularly on Manliness). Readers Comments is very Daltrey-ish, the title track is all wonderful 60's Psych Pop and Rubbish Day is very very White Album. I'm My Own World Tonight, one of Lane's two songs, is very Jingle Jangle.

The Lives Of Others should be listened to with no preconceptions. Although, very 60's on some occasions and Brit Pop on others, it is the sound of a band reinvigorated. I listen to a lot, perhaps too much, Pop Rock and the majority of the bands I hear would do well to listen to this. Melodic Rock with a lyrical excellence that should be appreciated worldwide, not just in Australia. More than well into their third decade, You Am I sound as keen and fresh as ever.

You can listen to the album here. You can buy the album everywhere. You can find out more about You Am I here.

.............................