The Cinematics Are the Stuff Stars Are Made Of
If there is one new British band you check this month, let it be The Cinematics. I only found out about their very existance last month, but I nearly choked myself when I found out they’d be playing The Annex tonight.
I had a hunch that they would be pretty good live after having watched their video for “Break”, which is on their Web site. And boy, was I glad that I dragged myself away from a night of “Top Model” and “Top Chef” to go check them out–after all, those shows are going to be rerunning all weekend, but how often do you get to see a very promising young band in a tiny venue before they hit it big?
I cannot express to you how much I think this band has the talent to be a successful and famous group. Seriously, if The Editors can be the next big thing, than The Cinematics can be the next next big thing you haven’t heard of yet.
Lead singer Scott Rinning has an alarmingly pure sounding voice–the clarity and beauty of his vocal quality really draws you into the songs and gives their 80s angular rock sound a distinctive sound. It’s so refreshing to hear someone with a truly pretty voice–something that can be lacking in the day and age of fashionably “ugly-sounding” singers like Alec Ounsworth of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah.
Although you will definintely be saying “wasn’t this off the last Interpol album?” during some of the songs, I think the music is solid, and thankfully manages to break-free of instant associations to predecessors somewhere through each of their songs. I really credit their ability to sidestep run-of-the-mill Joy Division comparisons to Rinning’s aforementioned beautiful voice…because lord knows if he sang songs with a droning voice The Cinematics would lose a melodic, and upbeat quality to their tunes. They’d probably end up sounding closer to something awful, unimaginative, and depressing like She Wants Revenge.
I don’t want to insult The Cinematics by saying they even remotely sound like She Wants Revenge–because they don’t. I’m just saying that so many bands are using a lot of 80s synth/ pop influences and making horrible uninspired music. But The Cinematics are an example of a band that can sound sorta “retro” but have the sense to do something that is also completely modern and ambitious. Songs like the epic-sounding “Brave” or the dancey “Keep Forgetting” are particular standouts. Also on the plus side, they look absolutely adorable with perfect haircuts and put-together outfits.
Their live show is tight–even though Rinning seemed to have trouble remembering the names of his songs this particular evening, often stating one song name and then immediately correcting himself by saying something like “Dah! I mean ‘Human’!”, but it was kinda cute.
Are they totally re-inventing rock and roll? No. But I think they are a solid band who have fine tunes that are definintely worth you checking out. With the right amount of publicity and buzz this band could really be headed toward stardom. I think they have the goods to go very far.
1. windwaker | 10:09 pm on March 22nd, 2006
Ahaha, nice ducktape. I’ve ducktaped my guitar on a few key occassions, does the trick very well.
2. Anonymous | 1:30 am on March 23rd, 2006
My balls are made of stars.
3. frank | 4:59 am on March 23rd, 2006
I told you that there were no question marks about this band.I agree they arent ground breaking, but god!!! do they write stonking songs!!! and I tell you you aint heard nothing yet!!!! I am glad that you got to see them before they go cosmic!!!!
4. frank | 5:01 am on March 23rd, 2006
Oh! Bye the way ” Anonymous” I smell gree cheese!!
5. Fo | 5:23 am on March 23rd, 2006
hows top chef??
6. pennylane | 7:28 am on March 23rd, 2006
i’ve seen them a few times in glasgow and i;m still not blown away by them, therea re other bands who can do what they are trying to do and do it better…………
7. laura | 7:57 am on March 23rd, 2006
i kinda like Top Chef, but then again I’m the one person that actually watched Miss Seventeen. I’ll seriously watch any type of reality show contest. It’s kinda sick.
as for pennylane’s comment, can you name some bands who ARE doing it better? would love to hear about them…but I don’t think there’s anything wrong w/ encouraging people to listen to new bands…maybe they’re not going to be the biggest band in the world, but there’s no harm in supporting emerging artists.
8. Kevin | 12:15 pm on March 24th, 2006
Spread the word!
I saw The Cinematics supporting VHS Or Beta at 93 Feet East in London last year, and thought they were amazing - hopefully big things beckon.
Also on the bill were iForward Russia! (getting lots of praise in the UK right now), it turned out to be one of the best bills I’ve ever seen.
Excellent photos too! Even if the singer is wearing the same top from the night I saw him - let’s just hope it’s been washed.
9. The Modern Age » Things I’m Loving Right Now | 9:26 pm on March 29th, 2006
[...] Yes, I still cannot get enough of The Cinematics, a band I think that have the strong potential to be the next hot British band. When I’m not listening to “Why Won’t You Give Me Your Love?” I’m listening to their song “Chase”. You can download the song off of Water Cooler Gossip or check out their MySpace profile for a handful of other fantastic songs. [...]
10. m | 2:54 pm on March 31st, 2006
Is that the guy from We Are Scientists who brings them the gift box in that video?
11. laura | 3:15 pm on March 31st, 2006
yup
12. The Modern Age » The Cinematics and Dirty Pretty Things Play MyFestival | 9:13 pm on May 22nd, 2006
[...] Some of the most awesome acts playing are my favorite newish Scottish band, The Cinematics, in Glasgow, and Dirty Pretty Things take the stage in Sheffield. The DPT show is already sold out, but you can still buy tickets to The Cinematics for 6 GBP. [...]
13. The Modern Age » Sooooooo Nice: The Men About Town See the Cinematics | 8:55 pm on November 16th, 2006
[...] Last night I headed over to Rebel, which is *gasp* midtown east, making it my second night in a row in that neighborhood–which is kinda like a nightmare of mine. But I sucked it up in order to see the great Scottish band, The Cinematics, who I have gushed about 10x over on this site. [...]
14. Brendan Falkowski | 10:06 pm on April 18th, 2007
Cinematics are awesome, I’m definitely going to keep an eye open for their next effort and a live show near me.
15. Anonymous | 2:55 pm on December 5th, 2007
fuck it