I recently heard The Cinematics live. They were opening for Mute Math (check them out, but not right now) in Minneapolis, and when they walked on the stage I'll bet most of the audience was thinking, "Please just get this over with so we can see Mute Math...." But then they started their set, and I present to you the progression of our collective thoughts:

-"Heh, his accent is funny."

-"Wait, they're playing now. This isn't so bad."

-"Hey, this song is cool."

-"Huh, I'm straight, but the lead singer is umm...good looking AND funny."

-"Wow, this song is awesome!"

-"Yeah!! You guys rock!"

-"Play another one!!"

-"We love you, you awesome Scottish people!"

-"No, don't go!!!"

The crowd was a bit subdued at first, but after the first couple songs, everyone realized these guys were for real, in fact, why were they even here in this little club? I suppose everyone has to start somewhere.

The lead singer has a spectacular voice, their songs are very well written, and they're a lot of fun to listen to. I'm buying their album right after writing this review (the sample clips sounded just as good as their live performance), and you should buy it too. Yes, they're that good.

Now go look up Mute Math :)

Passionate with a spirit of punk and goth, almost like pre-Joshua Tree U2 at times and solo Peter Murphy at others, this is one of the best debuts to come out in ages. After an initial listen, I was ready to dismiss these guys as another in a long line of Interpol clones, but after a second attempt I was HOOKED. The closer - Asleep at the Wheel - is simply amazing; it begs to be heard loud. Can't wait to hear them live.

If you're into generic British indie bands, you might want to check out the Cinematics. I'm not necessarily saying that generic is bad, but at first listen these Scottish rockers sound just like all the other popular British bands. But after you give it a couple more spins, you will notice subtle differences, such as the somewhat dark melodies in songs like "Human" and "Break." On the other hand, songs like "Alright" and "Keep Forgetting" level the it out so that it's not just a dark, depressing album. One of my biggest concerns is that after track five, the songs all start to get less distinguishable and kind of dry. However, their cover of Beck's "Sunday Sun" and the closing track "Asleep at the Wheel" make the second half worth my time. I'm sure any one of the songs on this album could be used at some point in any movie or video game soundtrack ("Chase" actually appeared in the 2005 action movie Transporter 2).

This album gets better with each listen. It's VERY catchy, it's incredibly emotional, the lyrics really make you feel and think, and you can play it through start to finish without skipping a single song. Not bad for a debut!

Every song is brimming with passionate lyrics, incredible vocals, insanely catchy melodies and beats, and generally all around addictive qualities. I find new things to love all the time, and I can't even pick a favorite - I'm constantly thinking "oh this is the best one" "no, this one is" "no wait... this one is!" as the album plays. There really is no weak track.

I have quite literally been unable to listen to anything else since I bought it a few weeks ago - I'll switch to something different, thinking I'll get tired of it and regret it if I overplay it, and inevitably about 3 songs later I have to switch back to the Cinematics. It's just that good.

In addition to the brilliance of the album, they put on a shockingly great live show that is dripping with passion and talent. These guys are The Real Deal. They don't disappoint in the studio, and they don't disappoint on the stage. Don't miss out - check out this disc and see them live, too, if you can. You won't regret it and might just find your new favorite band!

PS - there is also a great Beck cover (Sunday Sun) as well. I find a lot of covers are generic and boring, but this one completely stands on it's own (as does every track). Check them out!

This is a relatively unknown band that has the polish of a really great band. They combine great melodies and soulful vocals with a rock/punk vibe that comes out sounding fresh and compelling. This album can be listened to from first to last song without having to skip any. That is the mark of a great album. It flows very well and keeps you wanting more. GREAT ALBUM. Some that like this album might also look into Stars, Yeasayers, Scott Weiland, TV On The Radio's new album.