Review | The Cribs – Selling A Vibe

Label: PIAS

By Toby Furlong

The Cribs as a band are many things, but they existed (and continue to exist) as one of the most beloved groups to emerge from the much feted indie-rock/ would-be-indie-sleaze revolution of the early 2000’s.

The Wakefield trio have always defiantly traversed their own path. Whilst the 2000’s gave us the New York street sound of The Strokes and the ragged glory of The Libertines, The Cribs represented a mystical third option, for those that saw magic in a pop melody, and had a knack for emotional honesty that flew under the radar in a musical era known for bravado and hysteria.

Now here they are, more than 20 years on from their self-titled debut ‘The Cribs‘ where the group are enjoying a career revival steeped in love and an endless bond between brothers.

Produced by an all-star cast of MGMT and Caroline Polachek collaborator Patrick Wimberly, the group’s five year hiatus between albums may explain why the project sounds so emotionally charged; every track the evocative sound of brothers embracing recording an album together again.

‘Dark Luck’ and title track ‘Selling A Vibe’ quickly shake away any potential cobwebs, offering an opening salvo that sounds alert and alive. It’s the classic Cribs‘ fuzz overdrive sound coupled with that ever-present lyrical relatability.

Indie rock has grown and evolved since the early days of The Cribs and, increasingly in recent years, it feels like there has been a real departure from a good guitar-driven jangle. Throughout ‘Selling A Vibe‘ the trio have the charisma and the endeavour to make you fall in love with a pop melody all over again.

However, hiding beneath all the bright harmonies is a project unafraid to show its confessional side. ‘A Point Too Hard To Make’ takes a tour through “high-rise risk apartments” in a cautionary tale of getting too much of what you want, when you want. “You fell on your sword”, the track appears to exercise a lot of past demons and is appropriate for the refreshed relationship between the brothers.

‘Looking For The Wrong Guy‘ stands tall as an album highlight, and what should eventually be recognised as a Cribs‘ career classic. The sudden absence of breezy guitarwork allows you to consume the brave lyricism of vocalist Ryan Jarman. “I’m just wasting away watching the time go by,” the guitarist sings over chords written in a dream-like state at four in the morning.

Within a project that contains memorable lyricism, is also one that has its fair share of diverse instrumentation. ‘Self-respect‘ sets the controls to planet funk, grooving with an irresistible rhythm to its bassline.

Concluding this affair is the appropriately named track ‘Brothers Won’t Break‘. I adore the way this song ends the album on a “we survived indie-rock mania, here’s to being brothers and to the next 20 years of being The Cribs“. It ends the LP with all the confirmation needed that the bond between the three is one of unbreakable trust.