Earlier in the year, when Dananananaykroyd released E-Numbers as a free download, you’d have been forgiven for thinking that There Is A Way, the second album from Scotland’s hyper, frenetic six piece, would be more of the same relentless guitar strumming, drum thumping and general ear-piercing. In fact the album, this time on the band’s own label Pizza College, feels a little more considered and constructed than the break-neck debut Hey Everyone!
From the immediacy of the album opener Reboot to the unfamiliarity of a carefully constructed intro’ on the closing Make a Fist, this feels entirely progressive without losing any of the band’s endearing ethos of injecting energy and fun into every track.
There are equal doses of toe-tapping tracks like Reboot and About Us Authors as well as trademark chaos in the form of E-Numbers and Seven Days Late. Fans of the more melodic offerings on Hey Everyone! will revel in the fact that Dananananaykroyd seem to have matured just enough to reign in their infectious riff-writing talent and arguably balance out their thrash/pop styles.
Time Capsule and Good Time are solid examples of how they’ve learnt to belt it out but switch it up to something more intricate inside of four minutes. The first single proper, Muscle Memory, feels quite weak amongst the likes of Reboot and About Us Authors but nevertheless provides a certain sing-a-long track at the mid point. As with the debut there are still moments where a certain disjointedness is apparent between styles, where indie and pop clash uncomfortably with heavier metal and rock styles.
What is infinitely more impressive however, and probably most important for the fans, is that all of the new material is perfect for the band’s heralded live performances. There’s no let-up in the energy whatsoever and There Is A Way is likely to have fans rushing for their nearest venue or box office with immediate effect.
What’s more is that there are enough single-worthy tracks peppered throughout this than the last as well as one stand-out chart-destined track in Reboot. You’ll be humming the chorus for days.
[Rating:4]
Release: 13th June 2011
