Choosing Words Carefully

While NME and the rest of the British press have been crowing about the second coming taking the form of the Arctic Monkeys, the Monkeys may in fact turn out to be the Anti-Christ (if it hasn’t already been revealed that Pete Doherty is). Don’t get me wrong, the Arctic Monkeys are fine (hell, I wish I could go from getting a guitar one Christmas to having the #1 record in the UK the next), it’s just that the British press can be a bit fickle and in my humble opinion the Guillemots may have the staying power.

A diverse group with considerable musical chops, this London-based quartet is led by British vocalist Fyfe Dangerfield (née Hutchins), and includes a Brazilian, MC Lord Magrão (guitar), a Canadian, Aristazabal Hawkes (double bass), and a Scotsman, Rican Caol (née Greig Stewart on drums). Last month’s mini-album From the Cliffs is essentially their I Saw Such Things in My Sleep EP plus four songs and, despite some minor disparities, it holds together so well that I can’t help but have great expectations for their debut full-length (no word on when that is). Chances are that if you like Franz Ferdinand, the Futureheads, or even the Arctic Monkeys, you’ll like the Guillemots.

They have quite a few tracks for download on their website, and more to listen to on their MySpace page, but the second track off of From the Cliffs, Trains to Brazil has me more than ready for the weekend, so here goes…

• Listen to Trains to Brazil.
• Listen to Who Left the Lights Off, Baby?

Buy From the Cliffs from Insound.