polaroids of androids

It's impossible to deny that the sound of British India is catchy. They remind me a lot of Sydney's The Cops in the way they create very nicely packaged pop-rock music. Choruses and even individual lines from songs stick in the head for days, often causing people to yell random words out during intimate moments that are not reflective of their current partner, and thus causing all sorts of break-ups and mishappenings. But you can't blame these guys for masterfully crafting beautiful unashamed sing-a-longs - they just want their time in the sun to frolic. Wait, yes, I can blame these guys and the other nameless bands that sound very similar, as this is another album by a young Australian band - chockful of talent and potential - that sounds forced and completely contrived.

The songs on British India's debut record are designed for people to sing along to at shows and become instantly memorable and familar. The first couple of times through this album leaves the listener feeling that although the end product is a little bit repetitive, it is still - nice. And that's all. There is no substance here. This album is highly repetitive in it's ideas, completely disposable and almost instantly forgettable. It makes the listener feel uneasy as it sounds like a band that is full of youthful energy and ability is trying so very hard to become a top ten international success story. A lot of it even sounds like they have purposely written songs that would fit nicely over the closing moments of a US television drama and thus shoot them to the riches of fame and fortune.

There are a few notable highlights however. Automatic Pulse contains some believable attitude over an almost Dallas Crane style riff. The inclusion of the previously released brilliant jolt of punk music Outside 109 is also a welcome surprise to close off an album which for the most part is merely a collection of recycled components that have been successfully executed countless times before. As the final song finishes the listener is left feeling that although the last 35 minutes got them tapping their foot a little bit, it just didn't evoke any emotion or leave any lasting impression whatsoever.