aaamusic | On 31, Aug 2010

What can I say about Man Alive, the debut of indie rock outfit Everything Everything? Only that it’s simply an incredibly original record and a great listen. Often when a new record pops up in this very over-populated genre, I listen to it once, think it’s pretty good, then forget about it almost immediately. Not the case with Man Alive – every track brings with it a different sound than the last, aided no doubt by singer ‘Jonathan Everything’s  incredibly ranged vocals and a refreshingly old-school reliance on actual instruments rather than studio effects; when electronics are used, you can be assured they aren’t too pervasive and out of place, an issue some recent indie acts seem to have problems with. Highlights include the delicate and vaguely Bloc Party-like Tin (The Manhole), Come Alive Diana, and the addictive opener My KZ Ur BF. Everything Everything is definitely a band to watch – if you don’t check out this debut you really will be missing out.

Author: Katharine Sparks