Gomez

"How We Operate"
Gomez
ATO
2006

Fans of the show "Grey's Anatomy" may recognize the title track from "How We Operate" by Gomez from a recent episode but the band deserves to be recognized much more by the mainstream. Gomez is a well known band in the British Isles and the winners of the prestigious Mercury Prize in British music in 1998, but they have yet to really make it big in the US. I personally cannot understand why not. They have well written and well produced pop songs with universal appeal but with a talent that well surpasses most of the mainstream pop schlock that gets constant radio play in the States these days.
"How We Operate" starts off with a lamenting brit-pop ballad called "Notice" and then turns to a more upbeat song in "See the World". Then comes the title track, which really is the shining moment on the album. It begins with a little bit of picking on either a ukulele or a mandolin which is shortly joined by a banjo, followed by the throaty rasp of singer Ben Ottewell. By the time the drums and bass join the party, we have quite an unconventionally catchy melody on our hands. The song stands out as a darker sound than most of the rest of an album featuring songs like the Travis-esque "Girlshapedlovedrug" and "Cry On Demand".
The whole album, though, is a fantastically fun Brit-pop record that deserves your attention. Part of it's appeal is the collaboration ofthe band's three lead singers and two drummers. With one grungy-sounding lead, one indie, and one pop voice, "How We Operate" packs a variety of sounds into one solid album that is enjoyable the whole way through.
I give "How We Operate" by Gomez $16

For those intersted, Gomez in in the middle of a US tour through the end of October. See their Myspace page for details. I may post a concert review after I see their show in Columbus on October 10.