Album Review: 180 by The Palma Violets

I recently bought the album "180" by the Palma Violets.
I read about the band in several music magazines, so I started listening to their songs on YouTube. And I immediately fell in love with this astonishing new band!
And that's basically why I'm going to write a new review about the album!

Track one, Best of Friends, has a very warm and cosy beginning, in my opinion.
I love the contrasts in the song; there's the soft drum, the sharp guitar, simple bass, and the singer's rough punk-voice.
I think the song's very original, although it's got only four chords in the entire song, haha!
The guitar solo is quite simple, too, but that doesn't really matter to me.

I think the second track, Step Up For the Cool Cats, has a very nice beginning. I just love that Hammond-organ sound!
The song is very bright and happy, and can definitely cheer you up when you're feeling down!
I really like the fact that the music doesn't sound 'perfect', but that you can hear little inequalities and odds in the songs. I think that's what makes a record more personal.

Track three is called All the Garden Birds, and is a bit more quiet. The beginning sounds a bit sad.
I don't really like the beginning, but the second half of the song (around 2:00 minutes) is a lot better in my opinion. I really missed the roughness in the beginning of the song. I also really like the backing vocals in the second part.

The fourth track is called Rattlesnake Highway.
Well, if this doesn't remind you of The Clash..! I just love the vocals on this one. Again, the Hammond-organ makes the song a bit more original.
I really love this one!

The fifth one is called Chicken Dippers (quite a weird name, don't you think?). The song's got quite an experimental beginning. I like the ritenuto in the bridge, the choruses, and the guitar parts.
But, it's a shame the song's so sad.. I really expected the song to be happy, according to the strange title, haha :)

Track six, Last of the Summer Wine, is a very slow and quiet song. It really makes you think about those rainy days in summer!
I love the guitars in the beginning of the song.
This the kind of song that gets stuck in your head for days; such a catchy melody! The song's quite melancholic, but in a positive way.

Tom the Drum, track seven, is my favourite track. The song's so simple, but very original, actually. The song never gets boring!
I love it when it gets quiet and then, suddenly, the music "explodes" again.
And of course (it's starting to get a bit chliché) I love the heavy guitars in the song ;)

Track eight is called Johnny Bagga' Donuts (also a very strange and funny title, if you ask me. I love that!)
The song's got quite a noisy beginning. I like the microphone (effect?) they used for the lead vocals, which makes the song sound like it's quite old.
The song's not one of my favourites, to be honest.

We Found Love, track nine, is quite a cosy and warm song. I think it's not just a common love song. It's got more energy than most of the other love songs.
But I really like the slow and quiet guitars after the choruses.
How can you not fall in love with a song like this? ;)

The tenth track is called Three Stars, and sounds very lovely.
I think the title of the song's well chosen, because immediately it seems as though you're looking at a bright sky full of stars.
I love this one!

The last track is called 14. (But what exactly does it refer to?  Does anybody know?)
This one also starts very lovely, and is almost seems like this is the sequel to Three Stars.
There's quite a long pause between the first and the second part of the song.
But it almost seems like the second part is a hidden track..!
Does anybody know if this is true?

I hope you liked the review!
I really recommend the album, and, as Q magazine already said, perhaps this is THE band of 2013...


Rating: 8/10