The Films: Oh, Scorpio

I hasten to judge too quickly, but first-listen impressions scream that this is no Don’t Dance Rattlesnake. The retro-pop boys’ sophomore contribution lacks almost all of the intense sexual tension, frenzy and passion that crackled to such an electrifying degree on debut album tracks such as ‘Call It Off’ and ‘Strange Hands’. ‘Holiday’ on their latest record comes closest to reigniting the faintly glowing embers of excitement yet still falls short of the mark whilst ‘Pour It Out’ is a boring, monotonous track with only about three chord changes. The Films have yet to master slower songs as lead singer Michael Trent’s voice begins to severely grate after all of thirty seconds. That said, I raved about the crazed tales of jealousy and betrayal that they unleashed upon my seventeen year old self back in 2007 and, therefore, suspect that my harsh criticism stems primarily from disappointment. I confess to having hoped that The Films would succeed in refuelling some of the thrill I had felt upon listening to them as a teenager. I refuse to blame myself for this; I'm twenteen not twenty after all.