There was a touch of apprehension about picking up and listening to the follow up album for the Mystery Jets. Making Dens was a brilliant album and had such a distinctive sound that made it stand out from all the other indie kids back in 2006 I thought it would be a tough ask to top it.
There is no doubt that when you think Mystery Jets it gets you thinking about the 80s with bands like The Cure, The Cars, Duran Duran or even Tears For Fears for that matter. Twenty One shows a band full of confidence in their own skin to be able to craft a great pop song. I’d even go as far to say that they are far more focused and tighter as a collective.
The album isn’t overly commercial as one thought it would be and for those who really dug Making Dens will get a real kick out of this one. The single that will divide fans from who likes Twenty One and who doesn’t is Two Doors Down – take or leave it is the motto essentially for this catchy pop hit complete with gratuitous sax solo.
Young Love for my money is the stand out moment and probably should have fared better as a single. The inclusion of Laura Marling as the female voice works wonders making this one as of those ‘boy meets girl’ tunes. The good times don’t end there either with Veiled In Grey and Half In Love With Elizabeth making the highlights reel.
My only gripe if you could call it that is that the last half of the album doesn’t quite have the same magic of the first half, dropping off slightly in terms of creative brilliance. Nonetheless, this is still a great album worthy of some attention.
