You know, I used to like the Stereophonics. I know when it was as well. It was sometime after I had bought and listened to this, their debut album, 1997’s Word Gets Around. I can’t quite pinpoint when it all went sour though. I don’t think it was after I heard their patchy sophomore effort Performance And Cocktails (1999). Sure, the album had a few, more “radio friendly” songs, but what band doesn’t seek a bit of attention eventually? The album may have been packed with a bit of filler, but it was still fairly good listening. I’m really thinking that the knock-out blow came when 2001’s abomination, Just Enough Education To Perform, hit me square between the eyes. The band seemed to have totally forgotten who they were, resorting to releasing an album with one or two catchier numbers geared for single success, and filling the rest of the CD with tedious, boring garbage. The singles from the previous album had brought them moderate mainstream recognition, but that was no excuse to pander to the media (yes, I believe that JEEP was evidence of this).

Let’s just say I hated JEEP so much that I totally ignored the band’s latest outing, You Gotta Go There To Come Back (2003). Quite apart from the fact that I abhorred the stomping, glitzy first single Madame Helga, I wasn’t quite ready to take the plunge on another ’Phonics album. Nowadays, lead singer Kelly Jones has grown his hair long and has taken to dressing up like some sort of “pretty boy”. Drummer Stuart Cable has his own small TV show (dubbed Cable TV – how inventive). In fact, I’m not even sure whether that is still running – let’s hope not. He’s probably better stuck behind a drum kit. Oh, and did I mention the crowning glory? Kelly Jones seen out on a drinking binge with – of all people – Noel Gallagher! The Stereophonics have lost it…completely.

Anyway, enough of my ranting, Word Gets Around was an inspiring debut album for this once-promising band. About as un-pretentious as you can get, it is a delightful collection of simple rock songs, easy on the ears and each one telling it’s own separate little story. Charming. There’s a certain something about this record that splits it apart from the rest of the Phonics’ work, and that is why it is my favourite CD from the band. And no, there is really no competition here.

Stereophonics is Kelly Jones (vocals, guitar), Richard Jones (bass) and Stuart Cable (drums).

Track Listing

1. A Thousand Trees
2. Looks Like Chaplin
3. More Life In A Tramp’s Vest
4. Local Boy In The Photograph
5. Traffic
6. Not Up To You
7. Check My Eyelids For Holes
8. Same Size Feet
9. Last Of The Big Time Drinkers
10.Goldfish Bowl
11.Too Many Sandwiches
12.Billy Davey's Daughter

Everyone that I’ve ever spoken to describes A Thousand Trees as the highlight of the album. But I don’t agree. Basically, you take the riff from Green Day’s When I Come Around, speed it up a tad, and add Jones’ grating, gravelly vocals. The song does run along nicely though, and describes the way that rumours and gossip spread like wildfire in small places. Looks Like Chaplin features some stuttering guitar chords and high-pitched, straining vocals. The choruses are driven by a bouncy riff with a nice playful hook. It is a bit noisier than the opener. A more punk attitude enters on the insanely-titled More Life In A Tramp’s Vest, an absolute romp of a tune. The guitars scratch and punch away metallically, and the drums and bass pound along robotically before everything comes together smoothly in the chorus. Yep, it is definitely a punk song. Local Boy In The Photograph was the band’s first single, and not really an obvious choice to me to tell the truth. It tells the story of a young boy killed on a railway line. The guitars take on a more squealing tone, and the bass drones along in the background. Jones’ vocals really add flavour to the music, he sounds great here. The choruses are actually more restrained than the flowing verses, quiet with thudding drums and gently picked guitar.

And all the friends lay down the flowers
Sit on the banks and drink for hours
Talk of the way they saw him last
Local boy in the photograph

Traffic takes a turn for the more introspective, as Jones describes what it is like to sit in a tedious traffic jam, of all things. The sound turns more gentle and acoustic, and the song builds up slowly throughout, the most prominent line being: ”Is anyone going anywhere?”. ‘Tis quite beautiful. Not Up To You goes back to the more upbeat feel, it is a very bouncy tune complete with punctuating handclaps and the like. Check My Eyelids For Holes storms in with some ripping, raw guitar chords, and never lets up on its energy levels throughout its short time on the record. I have a feeling I have mentioned the next track, Same Size Feet, before (perhaps in an Oasis review?). This is my favourite ’Phonics song ever, and it is also the little number that Oasis mangled when they stole the riff for their “hit” single The Hindu Times. Listen to both songs, and if you didn’t hate Oasis before, then you will afterwards. I guarantee it. I wonder if this subject came up on the Gallagher – Jones night on the town? Anyway, you don’t get any better than this. Brilliant song. Too bad it was massacred in the end.

Oh no, why hasn’t he phoned
She has to wait till he’s on his own
Lying and denying so nobody knows
I’ll tell her this week is what he tells her to keep her on loan

Last Of The Big Time Drinkers continues in the jumpy, raw, energetic fashion. Big beefy chords and more stuttering guitars, backed by thundering drums and solid bass. This song is about – getting absolutely smashed at the weekends after a long hard week at work. Who would do a thing like that? Goldfish Bowl is yet another chirpy number, which starts off restrained until the drums kick in and spur this almost-acoustic track forward. The choruses are a series of sputtered sentence fragments that just beg to be sung along to. Too Many Sandwiches is possibly the most “mainstream” sounding thing on here. It is very anthemic and has an extremely addictive chorus, but it still mixes in those chunky, ripping guitar chords. The build-up to the choruses are particularly good, an attack of jarring guitar chords and punching drums. Billy Davey’s Daughter ends the album on a reflective note. The quietest thing on the CD, best saved till last. Completely acoustic, gentle and serene. The style of the song helps get across the sombre subject, another death. This time, a girl (Billy Davey’s daughter funnily enough) who threw herself off of a bridge. Caps off the album almost perfectly.

I never knew her name
I only knew her fame
She lived near my town
Another goldfish to drown

Word Gets Around is an essential, universal, and timeless album. I can go back and listen to this time and time again, and it never gets boring or standard. It’s too bad that the Stereophonics have slid downhill since this, but at least this CD is still out there for all discerning music listeners to pick up and enjoy.

Excellent: Same Size Feet
Good: A Thousand Trees, Looks Like Chaplin, More Life In A Tramp’s Vest, Local Boy In The Photograph, Traffic, Not Up To You, Check My Eyelids For Holes, Last Of The Big Time Drinkers, Goldfish Bowl, Too Many Sandwiches, Bill Davey’s Daughter
Average: NONE
Weak: NONE

Final Rating: 17/20


Recommended: Yes