Album Review: The Spitfires - Songs From The Debt Generation

With a fearless spirit that's reminiscent of the punk rock bands The Spitfires are so desperate to disassociate themselves from, their debut record delivers a set of tracks that stay true to their classic sound yet prove to be limited in scope.

Their single, Radio Control, kicks off the record with vocalist Sean Regan barking “I don't need no radio control/I don't need no sound advice from you”. Featuring their trademark guitar-ridden sound, the track vents about big companies taking over airwaves.

Once claiming the British royal family was a “bunch of strange inbred loons”, Regan obviously refuses to shy away from making strong statements, and Fox News is no exception. The track is dictated by piercing guitars, paving the way to the powerful chorus that contains an ample dose of “fuck you”s to the spawn of Rupert Murdoch's media empire. This political anthem is a highlight on the record, with a distinct Spitfires touch.

Despite, however, the band's signature sound, which has been strongly consolidated in this album, the tracks on Songs From The Debt Generation lack diversity. Each song considered individually is punchy enough to garner its own fan base, but with the repetition of fast-paced guitars and stock standard song structures in each track, it's tricky to distinguish between them when listened to as a whole. With a penchant for throwing a middle finger in any direction they deem appropriate, criticism doesn't seem to be a likely issue for The Spitfires. Loyal fans will welcome the album for containing more of the stuff they love, but it certainly doesn't set a groundbreaking direction for the band that will see them miles ahead of the garage punk pack.