I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose

2009 debut album from the British Alt-Pop band, a beautifully literate and ambitious release. From the dizzying MBV/M83 swoops and morning-after ruefulness of the LP's opening song to the open-tuned, Appalachian folk feel of the record's closing track, the album thrums with subtle invention and quiet emotional intensity. Fans of Bloc Party, Broken Social Scene and Bon Iver will be utterly beguiled. Indie Rock rarely gets to enjoy it's innocence these days, but Bombay Bicycle Club knows that's exactly what makes it precious. Jamie and Jack formed Bombay Bicycle Club after spending their early teens trying to sneak into 18+ gigs together. They were dissuaded at first by Jamie's guitar playing Dad, Neill MacColl (son of Ewan, sister of Kirsty), who once told Jack he should become a plumber rather than a musician if he ever wanted to make a decent living. Then Neill heard the astonishing cache of songs Jack had amassed in his bedroom with Garageband and a cheap guitar, and instantly changed his mind, offering to produce Bombay Bicycle Club's first demos. Island.