Sights - Circus
by Jonjo McNeill
published: 16 / 1 / 2005
Label:
Sweet Nothing
Format: 7"
intro
Punchy glam rock-tinged new single from highly touted Detroit act the Sights, back as a slimmed down three piece
Detroit’s the Sights are back as a slimmed down three piece, with this two track single ‘Circus’ b/w‘Everything’. For those who don’t know the Sights this provides a great introduction. The lead track is full of the kind of harmonies and riffs which symbolise their earlier sound. They seem to have taken an ever-so-slightly glam-rock direction with this, but the cap fits them and they’re wearing it well. The pop sensibilities they have always traded on are less apparent - the record sounds very raw - but the new sound suits them. The songs chorus asks "Do you see what I see?", and in the angrily voiced outro we find out what‘s in view -"Nothing! Nothing!" From nothing to ‘Everything’ - a Northern Soul stomper with 60's Hammond and Kinks guitar riffs. Eddie Baranek’s vocals are, as always, the perfect mix of angry young man and lovelorn adolescent. There’s an excellent psychedelic mid section as well. This sounds more like the material from their 2003’ album ‘Got What We Want’, but shows the Sights are growing into a truly great band. As always the Sights manage to avoid fashions whilst still sounding very ‘now’. Mixing British and American influences in equal measures they have a universal sound which should appeal to gloom merchants and pop fans alike. Are the Sights this years Strokes? They’d hate me for saying it (they told me so in an interview) but maybe the Strokes are just the old Sights. One thing is for certain, the Sights don’t seem to be struggling for new material, and there’s not a re-hash in earshot. Bloody good stuff.
Track Listing:-
1 Circus2 Everything
interviews |
Interview (2003) |
Detroit born and raised, the Sights' exciting brand of punk rock pop has had both critics and music fans in awe. Jonjo McNeill caught up with them on the last night of their first British tour to speak about their second album 'Got What We Want' |
reviews |
Sights (2005) |
Superb third album from "Detroit’s very own Small Faces" the Sights, who while doing nothing that would have sounded new even in 1971, give retro a class of its own |
Be Like Normal (2003) |
most viewed articles
current edition
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #15- On Being Dignified and Old aka Ten Tips From Jah Wobble On How To Be Happy.Doug Dillard Expedition - Live At The Hotel Fremont, Las Vegas, September 1970
Beat Featuring Ranking Jnr - Sala Jerusalem, Valencia, 18/2/2024
Simon Heavisides - Destiny Stopped Screaming: The Life and Times of Adrian Borland
The Church - Interview with Steve Kilbey
Sami Sumner - Interview
Starless - Interview
Near Jazz Experience - Interview
Editorial - May 2024
Dodson and Fogg - Movement In The Exterior World/Music For Strange and Mysterious Stories
most viewed reviews
current edition
David Cross Band - Ice Blue Silver SkyTy Segall - Three Bells
Hillbilly Moon Explosion - Back in Time
Lewis 'Burner' Pugh - Bullets for Bread
Smalltown Tigers - Crush On You
Pearl Jam - Dark Matter
Kula Shaker - Natural Magick
Ian Hunter - Defiance Part 2: Fiction
Sami Galbi - Dakchi Hani
Burial - Dreamfear
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart