Catfish and the Bottlemen Unleash Their Energetic Guitar Pop on ‘The Ride’

Matt Matasci

Catfish and the Bottlemen are one of those English bands that are beloved at home but for some perplexing reason, have failed to make a significant dent in the American musical consciousness. That lack of commercial success in the States may very well be changing with the release of the band’s second studio full-length album, “The Ride.” The first singles to be released from the record have fared better commercially in the U.S. with “7” marking their best performing song on the Billboard charts. While the first songs to be released certainly offer some of the most memorable moments on “The Ride,” beyond the singles, this is one of the strongest sets of guitar-driven pop music in recent memory.

The main attraction on “The Ride” is the North Wales quartet’s ability to create well-structured pop songs that are buoyed by the energy of punk and the riffing of rock. The listener could absorb this entire album without the Van McCann’s singing and still come away impressed at how infectious it is. Despite the excellent instrumental quality, the lyrics do offer quite a bit for the listener to dive into. McCann’s lyricism reveals “The Ride” to be a highly personal collection of songs with a wide range of emotion demonstrated throughout. Often these diametrically opposed sentiments are expressed within a single song.

One of the first three singles, “Twice” is a perfect example of a song that blends McCann’s polar-opposite thinking. The pogo-ing pop-rock track combines a laundry list of regrets in the pre-chorus (“From every hangover my head feels/To every ex I didn’t treat right/To every Monday I call in sick/To every argument I let slide”) with a chorus that affirms the narrator’s love for the wild life. A pitfall many guitar-based bands fall into is being overly repetitive and monotonous over the course of an album. That is a songwriting misstep that Catfish and the Bottlemen deftly side-step. While “Twice” may only feature a handful of distinct components, the band’s writing chops shine through with a ripping guitar solo leading into a climactic, halftime finale.

“Soundcheck” ranks among the most melodic tracks on the record, guided by a palm-muted guitar riff and lighthearted rhythms. The song begins peculiarly with McCann wondering if he is no longer in love with his partner; that uncertainty is quickly quashed just a few lines in. The song completely changes gears going from appearing to be a heartless break-up song and morphing into a gushy ode to love with a sing-along chorus of “I wanted everything at once/Until you blew me out my mind/Now I don’t need nothing.” This is guitar-pop at its best; while the lyrics may wax a bit sappy, the unforgettable refrain, peppy verses and blistering guitar riffs more than make up for that.

The first half of “The Ride” can only be described as a tour-de-force. The second half of the record takes things down a notch but it never completely relents its manic attitude. On “Oxygen,” a guitar riff kaleidoscopes around the mix as McCann describes his affinity for a particularly intriguing lady. He relates the feelings she gives him when he is in her presence, literally comparing it to getting high. Unsurprisingly, he doesn’t mind.  

Later, “Red” takes the Foo Fighters template and injects it with a refreshing youthfulness that Grohl and company have been lacking over their last few years. The driving chorus is embellished with a background of “ahahas” and a twisting guitar touch that then concludes the song in epic fashion with what is likely the best guitar solo on the record. The final two songs, “Heathrow” and “Outside,” close out the record in a quieter way, offering a pleasant change of pace after the pure exhilaration of the preceding nine songs.

With “The Ride,” Catfish and the Bottlemen should only further their inevitable takeover of the American rock ‘n roll scene. While it may not be the album that breaks them into superstardom, it will easily rank among the best guitar albums of the last few years.

Catfish and the Bottlemen unleash “The Ride” on Apple Music May 27.