NEWS AND TRIBUTES - THE FUTUREHEADS
U.K. post-punks the Futureheads ditch their signature breakneck pace to explore more midtempo sounds on the follow-up to their acclaimed 2004 debut. The Sunderland, England-based quartet still has a penchant for tightly coiled structures that spring with pop bursts (”Return of the Beserker,” “Face”). And the use of trade-off lyrics and crashing harmonies by vocalist/guitarists Barry Hyde and Ross Millard remain a winning calling card (”Yes/No,” “Cope”). But the album’s best moments come on XTC-flavored new wave tracks like “Skip to the End” and “Favors for Favors,” where they ease up on the accelerator and let the songs breathe.Billboard
