The Spitfires are wasting absolutely no time in getting new music out there. The dust had barely settled on their 2015 debut effort when before we know it, there is another record coming already. That they are able to write music so quickly is testament to the ambition and determination that The Spitfires have. When you consider they have also toured a great and there is nothing but respect to be had for this band. With that being said, work ethic is one thing and good music is another. So, with that being said, does this album contain the songs to match the determination?
You bet is does. This album is a mission statement from a band who have seemingly no peers from a sonic stand point and that is shown straight away on the opening track, A Thousand Times. The song comes out with an incredibly uplifting alt rock styled intro but with a britpop styled tint on it but what really catches the listener and separates them from a lot of other music is the vocals and classical songwriting style (he cites both Paul Weller and The Jam as big influences) of frontman Billy Sullivan who really makes this band stand out with his interesting vocal melodies and emotional delivery.
Second track Last Goodbye follows on with a lot of the similarities to the opening track before we get to a standout track in the form of On My Mind, which sees the band embrace a more 80’s poppy sound as it seems to build up before coming in properly after the first chorus. The guitar is great fun here and Sullivan’s vocals are as interesting as ever on this track where we see the band bring even more elements into their own sound. I Don’t Even Know Myself gets equal praise for bringing different elements into their sounds also with a more rock with synths style made apparent in this song. The instrumentation for this track is exceptional also, especially the string work and the keys.
When I pick up an album to review, especially of a band I did not have much prior knowledge of, I don’t know what to expect at all and with this one, I did not expect to hear one of the best songs written all year but that is exactly what we have here when Return To Me comes out the speakers as track number 9. This song is a masterpiece, 6 minutes of sheer songwriting genius. From the bass driven intro, to the encapsulating chorus and the brilliantly pleasant verse sound, everything about this track is unbelievable. The song reaches it’s pinnacle when incredibly well written string section leads into a guitar solo that Slash would be proud of, a genuine moment of magic and a musical highlight of the year.
It would be impossible to top that brilliant track but they put up a good effort on final track A Better Life. With a slower intro, the vocals are put on point and they definitely deliver. With strange guitar effects and an interesting chorus that feels like a build up and when the song kicks in it ensures that the listener is not going to forget about The Spitfires any time soon.
All in all, this album live in a world of its own. There are so many different influences that you could pick up on by listening through this record but what stands out even more than that is the songwriting and vocal delivery of Billy Sullivan. This man has the ability in him to take this band very far and with songs such as Return To Me it is only a matter of time before they get the recognition they deserve.
9/10 – Brilliant and standout songwriting
Highlight – Return To Me