Apologies, I Have None

Apologies, I Have None: LondonLondon (2012)
Household Name Records

Reviewer Rating: 4.5

User Rating:

Contributed by: crackpotdemagoguecrackpotdemagogue
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Published on March 20th 2012Sounding like Against Me!'s awkward English cousin, Apologies, I Have None began in 2007 as a two-piece guitar-drum duo that quickly earned a reputation as one of the U.K.'s finest and hardest working acts. After releasing a series of EPs, now a fully grown and distinctive four-piece group, Apologie.

Sounding like Against Me!'s awkward English cousin, Apologies, I Have None began in 2007 as a two-piece guitar-drum duo that quickly earned a reputation as one of the U.K.'s finest and hardest working acts. After releasing a series of EPs, now a fully grown and distinctive four-piece group, Apologies have finally unleashed their eagerly awaited debut album, London. It has been a long time coming--but well worth the wait.

The 10-song, 37-minute album is outstanding. From energetic opener "60 Miles" to thundering finale "Long Gone," it showcases artful and powerful songwriting that surpasses anything to have come out of the British punk-rock scene in several years. It is crammed with honesty, integrity, anthemic choruses, well-honed musicianship and painstakingly intricate arrangements.

Unlike Apologies' early releases, London was not home recorded. The album was professionally produced by Peter Miles (The King Blues, Crazy Arm) and the benefits of this change are glaringly obvious. Songs like "Clapton Pond," "Concrete Feet" and "Sat in Vicky Park" sound huge--each punctuated with soaring group vocals and epic crescendos that have become staple elements of Apologies' characteristic style.

The band has come so far that, in contrast to its early days, it is difficult to pinpoint obvious influences. Aside from Against Me!, they cite Canadian hardcore act Grade (whose song "The Tension Between Stillness And Motion" provided them with their name), Alkaline Trio and BoySetsFire as inspiration. Ultimately, though, London is out there on its own.

The album is about "life, death, love and lessons learnt," says the band, "a personal and intense account of our experiences over the last few years." Full of layered instruments and occasional mood swings, it is a rollercoaster of a record that takes you along for the ride.

On surprising, sombre piano ballad "Foundations," Dan Bond reflects on the struggles of young adulthood ("I should be old enough by now to stop pulling at my hair and tearing at my skin," he laments). While on guitar-driven, emotionally charged "The 26", Josh McKenzie howls with brutal honesty about suppressing violent thoughts during a relationship gone wrong.

London is one of those rare LPs that provides something for everyone both musically and lyrically. It also starkly highlights that Apologies have far outgrown the insular underground that is the DIY scene. Having self-financed their own releases for a number of years and miraculously remained unsigned, if there is a shred of sense and decency in the cruel and hollow music industry, this album will project them onto a larger stage.

In short: London is an important record that will be one of the best of the year, perhaps even the next five years. Buy it now and let it enhance your life.

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

joemccorriston (February 6, 2013)

Still have this record on regular rotation. My record of 2012. Unreal.

clcsqueejy04 (June 23, 2012)

Only halfway through the year, but I'm convinced best record of the year is between this and On The Impossible Past. I'd have to say this one wins though. Perfect record, through and through.

SwissCheese (April 24, 2012)

Such a solid album from start to finish! Sat in Vicky Park is such an awesome song!

kylewagoner (April 16, 2012)

Fuck, one of my bands basically wrote the same riff as in "Gone," too...so we're even bigger ripoff-ers now. And we hadn't even heard that song before.

Banger (April 14, 2012)

"Somehow reminds of the Bouncing Souls. I like it!!!"

The last song, "Long Gone," has the same guitar riff as the Souls' "Gone." It even closes the album just like "Gone" closed How I Spent My Summer Vacation.

That being said, I am liking this album as well.

angryderek (April 12, 2012)

i can't even check this band out with a band name that bad...in fact, ANY name with a comma in it i shan't listen to...drink pee pee

levidolphin (April 9, 2012)

Somehow reminds of the Bouncing Souls. I like it!!!

andron17 (March 31, 2012)

Best album I've listened to in a long time. UK bands are smashing it at the minute.

brandnewsheep (March 22, 2012)

I love this album so much.

exitenglish1208 (March 21, 2012)

holy tits this is good

wentz_equals_death (March 20, 2012)

allergies, i have so many

damo (March 20, 2012)

i'm disappointed with this. still gonna keep listening it to it incase it's a grower as i love everything else theyve done

filthyhabits (March 20, 2012)

just like everyone else... holy fuck. this is incredible. if you haven't seen it, check the video for 'clapton pond' below. if you appreciate film you will quickly understand why this is also one of the best 'music videos' released this year... goddamn i'm impressed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGY1m-pnHtM&feature= player_embedded

teaessare (March 20, 2012)

2012 has been an amazing year for music so far. Menzingers, Sidekicks, Joyce Manor, this, plus a whole lot more to look forward to.

Nate_desolate (March 20, 2012)

Record is awesome. This will be an Org overall top 3-4 for sure. I can't believe these guys are unsigned, but they seem to be doing fine. Their music and this record definitely deserves to be heard by a wider audience.

kidgotham (March 20, 2012)

This record is so damn good.

wentz_equals_death (March 20, 2012)

http://wallpapers.free-review.net/wallpapers/72/Apolo_Ohno.jpg

BrainTrust (March 20, 2012)

like it!

spoon_of_grimbo (March 20, 2012)

This is a truly amazing album, this review has it spot on!

Also, it's worth pointing out the the packaging and artwork is beautiful, some of the best I've seen in ages. I assume the vinyl is similarly well-presented. Don't get the download alone and miss out.

insinceredave (March 20, 2012)

Good review, nice to seem them getting some love.

Mystereohasmono (March 20, 2012)

Great fucking record. Blowing up.

mitch91 (March 20, 2012)

Album is amazing, its gonna take a lot of brilliant records to bump this out of my top 5 for the year.

FireInTheSole (March 20, 2012)

Album rocks. It would've been a serious album of the year candidate if Streetlight and Mixtapes weren't getting ready to release as well.

Will end up in my best of lists nonetheless.

ashtraymonument (March 20, 2012)

this might be album of the year. its fucking awesome, I've been blaring it in my stereo since I got it.

Its like if Against Me! jumped from Crime straight to White Crosses. ridiculous.

RisingSun (March 20, 2012)

Great review! Exactly the way I felt. This is the good stuff.

MDJoyce (March 20, 2012)

Holy fucking Christ...

oldgospelchoir (March 20, 2012)

this is fucking good.