Favourite Albums of 2018: Year Zero - The Spitfires (July)

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Year Zero - The Spitfires
Hatch Records
Released 27th July 2018

Watch some Promo Videos and listen to the album Year Zero here:

 

Tracklist
A1 Remains The Same    
A2 Front Line    
A3 Over And Over Again    
A4 Something Worth Fighting For    
A5 By My Side    
B1 Move On    
B2 Sick Of Hanging Around    
B3 The New Age    
B4 Year Zero    
B5 Dreamland

The Spitfires are:
Billy Sullivan - Lead Vocals, Guitar
Sam Long - Bass
Matt Johnson - Drums
Chris Chanell - Keyboards 

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The tagline "the difficult third album" proved to be irrelevant when it came to the boys from Watford because they just seem to progress with every release.

I find it very refreshing that as I get older that there are still up and coming bands that thrill me when I listen to them. The Spitfires, from the first time I heard them, made a mark on me and as an old guy I'm more than happy to sing their praises.

I have a feeling that they might not like it too much if I suggest that there are signs here and there in their music that remind me of bands like The Jam and The Purple Hearts but for me they do. Whereas Old Paul Weller has opted this year to release an album of quiet, acoustic and very pastoral songs, The Spitfires have a fire in their belly dealing with social issues and an ever changing politcal landscape. They have added a few Ska/Reggae touches here and there that add good weight to the songs as well which I found most appealing. Billy Sullivan is currently one of a good crop of British Songwriters I think and his band deserve all the good things that are coming to them.

I've seen a number of really positive reviews of the album, even on a couple of Punk websites, and hope that they continue to grow as a band and carve out a niche that is all their own.

My Favourite Songs of 2018: The New Age - The Spitfires

The New Age - The Spitfires
Hatch Records
13th July 2018

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Watford based band The Spitfires just seem to be getting better with each new release. 'The New Age' was released on 7" vinyl two weeks prior to the release of their third studio album 'Year Zero'*.

There were a few tracks from the album that could have made the list for My Favourites Songs of 2018 but I'll nail my colours to the mast for this one.

*This album will be featured on the next post: My Favourite Albums of 2018.

A Thousand Times - The Spitfires (26th August 2016)

A Thousand Times - The Spitfires

Catch 22 Records

Released 26th August 2016

So Long

On My Mind

Tracklist:
1.A Thousand Times
2.Last Goodbye
3.Day To Day
4.Open My Eyes
5.On My Mind
6.So Long
7.I Don't Even Know Myself
8.The Suburbs (We Can't Complain)
9.Return To Me
10.On My Mind (Reprise)
11.A Better Life

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Last year I named The Spitfires Debut Album Response as The S4L Debut Album of the Year 2015. A fully justified decision as well I reckon.

At the end of this month the boys from Watford are releasing their second album, A Thousand Times. By the quality of the two singles released thus far (see videos above) it's going to be another wee gem of an album.

The S4L Debut Album of the Year 2015: Response - The Spitfires

Here's a  Mod band called The Spitfires that my mate Coxy has been going on about a lot and at every chance possible encouraging us to have a listen. Having taken the advice of my buddy from up in the North East, who knows a thing or two about music, I dived in and discovered a fantastic sound from a bunch of youngsters hailing from Watford.

It seems I wasn't the only one impressed with them as BBC pundit and former Chelsea player, the niffty footed Pat Nevin was also quite taken with the album (read his full review here):
 "As far as debut albums go, Response has the depth and the innovation to get people listening and that’s the most important thing. Yet it goes beyond that in so many ways because the listener has something special in his hands that may just prove to be a catalyst not just for the band, but for an entire generation of young people who haven’t had a spokesman to air their frustrations until now. There’s a massive hole in the industry at the moment because nobody is talking about the problems these youngsters are facing. The Spitfires are more than aware of what they’re going through and, more importantly, they’re not afraid to scream about it so that others just have to listen."

I read quite a number of reviews across many websites from Bloggers to Magazines and to a man everyone of them was really positive about the band and the album.

The band's influences shine through (The Jam, The Clash) but do not overpower and through the 13 tracks it is clear that Billy Sullivan is a very gifted songwriter and musician.

Move On Up Blog has done a great breakdown of each track and you can check that out as you listen to the album here.

Hope you enjoy the music. Click on the links for further investigation and listening pleasure.

I'm more than happy to toss my hat in the ring and declare that The S4L Debut Album of the Year 2015 is Response - The Spitfires.

Response - The Spitfires

Catch 22 Records

Released August 2015 

The Spitfires are:

Billy Sullivan - Vocals and Guitar

Sam Long - Bass

Matt Johnson - Drums

Chris Chanell - Keyboards

Tracklist

 Disciples.
Tell Me.
Escape Me.
Spoke Too Soon.
Relapse.

 Stand Down

Seranade Part 1.
I'm Holdin' On.

 

Spark To Start.
Words To Say.
When I Call Out Your Name.
Seranade Part 2.
4am.

On iTunes you can get the album with a Bonus Track From Cradle to Grave (the link is for a live version of the song and not the studio version that features on the album)

The S4L Debut Album 

of the Year 2015