Mugger Dave are a rock/pop band from Galway and this is their debut album. One could see how this album would do well on the local circuit but it lacks direction, continuity and good production. It jumps between musical sounds, which isn’t a fault in itself, except that the flow just isn’t there. The first song called simply ‘Intro’ is lovely, it’s slow droning sets you up for a band who are sure of their sound and are heading in a definite progressive direction with it.
The album hits a lull on song two, ‘Crawl Up’, and doesn’t ever seem to crawl it’s way out. The pitch doesn’t suit their singer’s vocal range. There are hints of influence from Franz Ferdinand and Stone Roses as well as The Beatles and other such sixties rock / pop groups. Let’s face it, one could do worse than be inspired by Alex Kapranos. But their mixed sound doesn’t do them or their apparent influences any justice. It’s a pop album and there are certainly a couple of songs that will probably make good radio hits, songs like ‘Train’, ‘Looking Back’ and ‘Got A Lot On My Mind’ but as a whole the album doesn’t draw you in. The broken hearted lyrics scream lack of direction. Is there nothing else in their lives that inspires them enough to make music? Mugger Dave have the makings of a great band, but they’re just not there yet.
