The Enemy – We Live And Die In These Towns

There’s a lineage of dissatisfied British songwriters who have called to arms all those who similarly refuse to settle for the mediocrity that is our daily lives. It stretches from Townshend, through Weller and Rotten, to Morrissey and then Gallagher (senior), and every one of them have succeeded in rallying the discontented with storming diatribes and forceful tunes to match. The Enemy vie for their place on that chain, and make a decent go of staking their claim. ‘Away From Here’ flagrantly dismisses the daily grind, ‘Had Enough’ is self-explanatory, and ‘It’s Not OK’ is a sonic slap in the face of social slaves, but it’s not all full throttle tirades. The title track recalls ‘That’s Entertainment’, musically and emotionally, while ‘Happy Birthday Jane’ is a sweet, dreamy Beatley closer, standing at odds with the toughness throughout. Dazzlingly potent with fire and skill, The Enemy are set to improve your life, and will stop at nothing to do so.