The Laundry Shop - Grandstanding

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Plenty to enjoy

It says much for the charms of The Laundry Shop that not even the never-ending exposure to one of their songs on a TV ad can lessen the enjoyment of their debut album - and you'll find better than 'Highs and Lows' on 'Grandstanding'.

While the trio's profile thus far has been built on that talent for mixing a big riff and chorus - there's plenty of it here - they are a far more interesting band when they slow things down.

On the ballads 'Terrified' and 'Taking Directions', frontman Steve Robinson shows greater depth as a songwriter, and with every listen to both the feeling grows that a more adventurous approach would bring out The Laundry Shop's best and give them some distance from the spirit of Rivers Cuomo, which hangs around a few parts of this record.

They're worth more than a pun involving 'The Sweater Song'.

Harry Guerin

Tracklisting: Stranger in the Headlights - There is a Time - Say Goodnight Wave Goodbye - Terrified - Highs and Lows - Grandstanding - Taking Directions - The Daily Special - The Fairy Lake - Brighten the Ways - Kiss and Tell