This Many Boyfriends - This Many Boyfriends
- Written by Kenneth McMurtrie
Having never been that much of a fan of The Pastels (despite Stephen Pastel running a tight ship in the music department at the sorely missed Hillhead branch of John Smith’s bookstores), there was a good chance myself and This Many Boyfriends wouldn’t get on in person seeing as track six on this enjoyably energetic debut album of theirs is called ‘I Don’t Like You (Cos You Don’t Like The Pastels)’. Best to get these things out in the open early on.
Musical reference points are a regular feature amongst the ten tracks right from the off, seeing as cut number one pays homage to Tina Weymouth of Talking Heads fame and namechecks the first Dexy’s Midnight Runners album as well as The Lemonheads’ Come On Feel The Lemonheads. Elsewhere, The Go-Betweens and Bruce Springsteen get mentions.
Sound-wise the group fall into that category of floppy fringes and oversized jumpers from the late Eighties exemplified on the C86 tape given away by the NME. Imagine The Wedding Present from around then (with less dour vocals) or A Tribe Of Toffs and you’ll get the idea. This is a sound that lacks any pretension and so brings the band closer to the listener – you feel they’re as normal as you (apart from liking The Pastels of course). Definitely one of the most fun indie debuts of 2012.