Today is a great day for me, as Bedford four-piece Don Broco release the follow up to their 2012 full-length album, Priorities. The deluxe version of Automatic is three quarters of an hours’ worth of explosive alternative lad rock. I imagine this record would be best appreciated while having pizza and a few beers with your mates, and I’ll certainly be adding some of the more upbeat tracks (such as What You Do To Me and title track Automatic) to my party playlist.
Don Broco’s frank and cheeky lyrics about their dealings with the opposite sex are just as fun to listen to as on their previous releases. Lead vocalist Rob Damiani’s voice remains as smooth and fluid as ever, and drummer Matt Donnelly’s backing vocals help to shake things up and add something new to the record. The song writing on Automatic is a little simplistic, so if you’re after complex political or philosophical lyrics you may be disappointed.
Overall I think Don Broco’s music has evolved significantly since Priorities. Stripped back verses make way for choruses which pack a mighty punch, and while the album flows well from track to track, each song stands out from the crowd in its own way. Examples include the riff-heavy introduction to I Get Sick, the stripped-back Keep On Pushing, and the crowd-pleasing chorus of You Wanna Know.
Automatic is a fantastic follow-up from their last record, and fans of Priorities will definitely be satisfied. It’s obvious how much hard graft the Bedford lads have put into this album, and I think it’s paid off. Here’s hoping that their UK live dates, kicking off tonight at the Hoxton Square Bar in London, go just as well.
Highlights: Superlove, Fire, Nerve, Money Power Fame
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