Music > Album Reviews

Reuben - Racecar Is Very Fast

11/12/20

Reuben were an alternative rock band that burst on to the scene in 2004 and entered an indefinite hiatus in 2008. This deluxe double vinyl set compromises their two albums Racecar Is Racecar Backwards and Very Fast Very Dangerous.

Jamie Lenman, Jon Pearce and Guy Davis took the 90s grunge template and give it a sheen of pop-punk power-pop catchiness. There is more to it than that. At times, the sound takes in mathrock time changes, metal riffing, string sections, hardcore hollering, emo screaming and even a bit of Britpop. At their best – Oh The Shame, Stuck In My Throat, Moving To Blackwater, Tonight My Wife Is Your Wife, Blamethrower - it is fast, frenetic, melodic and anthemic.

On first listen, it seemed a touch dated. Repeated listening showed that to be wholly wrong. With the popularity of the likes of Idles, Fontaines DC, Murder Capital and more, Reuben are perhaps more relevant now than they were fifteen years ago. This is a vital set for anyone with a penchant for heavy but tuneful music. If I have a criticism it is that brilliant single Christmas Is Awesome isn’t included but that is a very minor complaint.

9/10