The Minutes: Live Well, Change Often

It's been well more than 60 seconds since The Minutes released their debut album (Marcata), but it doesn't sound as if the three-year gap was exactly spent fine-tuning the Dublin trio's sound. Despite a title alluding to change, Live Well, Change Often is a perpetuation of their scuzzy rock'n'roll sound, as heard on the high-octane rock of Seven Seas and slouchy shuffle of Cherry Bomb, the latter more than a cheeky nod to BRMC. Beefy guitar riffs, frantic drum beats, gurgling basslines and a strident, self-assured swagger abound throughout, but their attempts to soften the grizzled edges on the strummed Lo and Behold and the almost poppy 1,2,3,4 come off as ineffectual. Most of all, Live Well, Change Often simply sounds like music that's all been done before – not least by The Minutes themselves. theminutesmusic.com
Download: Outlaws