Viola Beach - Album Review

HELLO INTERNET!

If you haven't heard of Viola Beach by now... You're a mad one! Viola Beach formed in Warrington, Cheshire, United Kingdom (if you didnt know where exactly it is). This Indie Rock band formed in May of last year from Kris Leonard (guitar and vocals), River Reeves (guitar), Tomas Lowe (bass guitar), and Jack Dakin (drums). Now unfortunatley, Viola Beach and their manager, Craig Tarry: tragically died on the 13th of Feburary this year. This tragic event happened on the E4 motorway bridge at Södertälje, southwest of Stockholm, Sweden. The boys had been playing a gig that same night.

On the 26th June of this, Coldplay, led by Chris Martin, paid tribute to Viola Beach at Glastonbury Festival during their set by covering the band's song, "Boys That Sing'. Here is the song if you'd like to play it whilst you read...

The famlies of the band members and manager released a self entitled album which was relased on the 29th of July. It is a 9 track album of songs which the lads had made before their deaths. Here is the tracklist below. Included is 'Swings And Waterslides'. Their single which attained a number 11 space on the UK charts after their deaths:

1. Swings And Waterslides

2. Like A Fool

3. Go Outside

4. Cherry Vimto

5. Drunk

6. Really Wanna Call

7. Call You Up

8. Get To Dancing (Live BBC Session)

9. Boys That Sing

Personally, on the album, my favourite songs are 'Go Outside' , 'Really Wanna Call' and 'Boys That Sing'. This is because all three of these songs give an electric feel. What I mean by this, is that just by listening to their music, I can almost feel what a gig of theirs could have been... From the guitar rifs to the base line, honestly, this album gives me a energetic kick for life! But underneath all that, I ghastly rememeber the harsh reality that this will be their only album. And I know thats bad to think, but it's the truth. Having this album on reapeat, I instananiously get a feel that I want more music! Honestly speaking, it is not everyday that I find a band which I have such a thirst for!

On BBC Breakfast, River's brother, Fin Reeves, said the songs on the album were "about living life to the full". Listening to the album, I believe this statment to be true from Fin. All the songs are very upbeat and about 'typical' social issues like drinking, girls and parties. Which most songs are about, however, the boys present it in a way which makes it different from your usual songs about the topics I stated earlier.

Fin then continued to say: "I think they'd be thrilled - I think they are out there somewhere jumping up and down and just going 'Yeah, go on guys, get people to listen to our music''.

If I do say myself, I would have loved to of seen the lads live! Or maybe even have interviewed them myself! However, in life- we cannot dwell on what could have been, but then again life is so unpredictable, that whatever good comes about- we should cherish.

I really hope they release 'Viola Beach' onto vinyl, because I will definatley buy it! Maybe if your reading this Fin (or anyone in any of the guys' family) could you please see if you could make this possible?! BECAUSE I WILL DEFINATLEY BUY IT!

R.I.P. Lads, where ever you are, I hope all of you are having a kick of a time up there x x x

xoxo

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Viola Beach's Social Media:

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFWXIH7u1GPIPPpfZmyBCaw/videos

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/violabeachwarrington/

SoundCloud:

https://soundcloud.com/viola-beach

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/viola_beach?lang=en

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/violabeach/