SHEFFIELD newcomers Little Man Tate must be a happy bunch of campers, because their debut record, About What You Know, is a stunning triumph.
Those who have admired Jon Windle and co for some time have had to wait patiently for this opening offering, as single after single established their credentials. But it's been well worth it. Clever, witty - and sometimes just downright funny - lyrics, blend with anthemic choruses and infectious guitars and basslines.
While city colleagues Arctic Monkeys prefer to focus on the grittier side of life, with LMT it's all about drinking a case of a beer with your mates, picking up girls and crashing house parties. And what's wrong with that?
Shrewd observers will notice that LMT's breakthrough tracks The Agent and What? What You Got? are not present as Windle prefers to look to the future, rather than dwell on previous offerings.
That is a risk as, second time around, these quality songs could have helped the four-piece outfit find a new audience.
But in Sexy In Latin, complete with its breathtakingly direct rhyming couplets, House Party At Boothy's and the rabble-rousing opener Man I Hate Your Band, there is more than enough quality on here to do the job.
Meanwhile, Milburn - yet another Sheffield band - operate on a similar principle, albeit with passing reference to The Coral, and melody and staccato guitars are prominent. Superb single Cheshire Cat Smile is a standard bearer for what is an impressive record.
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