Artist: Doves Album: Some Cities

Year: 2005
Duration: 0:0-1

Doves' 'Some Cities': A Masterpiece Critique

In the early 2000s, post-Britpop emerged as a popular music genre across the UK, providing some of the most exceptional and iconic albums of the decade. One band that contributed to the movement's success was Doves. The band was formed in the late 1990s in Cheshire, England, by twin brothers Jez and Andy Williams and Jimi Goodwin. The band started with its debut album Lost Souls in 2000, followed by the iconic The Last Broadcast and Some Cities. In this article, we explore Some Cities, released in 2005, and evaluate it against Doves' previous works and the standards of the genre.

The music genre throughout the album is a culmination of influences from post-punk, new wave, and Britpop. This fact is prominent on songs such as Almost Forgot Myself and Someday Soon. However, they added elements of electronica and orchestral arrangements on tracks like Black and White Town, One of These Days, and Sky Starts Falling. Some Cities is a marked departure from their earlier works, with hints of optimism and positivity replacing their previous introspective and brooding songwriting.

The basic pillars of the album are perfect songwriting, expert musicianship, and thematic content that often explores the urban realm. Across eleven tracks, they maintain a definite consistency of theme by describing modern urban problems. Black and White Town, is an excellent example of a song that captures the angst and frustration of the inner-city working class. Snowden and The Storm explore the idea of lost innocence and regret for past mistakes with poignant lyricism and haunting instrumentation.

The album's most innovative part is the constant experimentation of diverse musical influences in their sound. Doves imbue violin and electronic loops throughout the album that make it distinct from previous offerings. The combination of analogue and digital techniques in production, combined with bold songwriting, creates an explosion of sounds with deep atmospheric textures. Some Cities is an excellent example of how a band can genre-hop without sounding inconsistent.

The best songs of the album are Black and White Town, One of These Days, Snowden, and The Storm. These songs showcase Doves' songwriting prowess, musicianship, and diverse range of musical influences that work incredibly well together. The melodies are catchy, the hooks are infectious, and the lyrics are relatable, making it an exceptional album from start to finish.

In terms of criticism, the album is not without its flaws. At times, the songs feel overproduced, and the band's tendency to overuse certain sounds might leave some listeners feeling saturated. Some tracks take a while to build, and while that's not necessarily a negative aspect, those wanting instant gratification might be put off.

Overall, Some Cities is arguably one of Doves' finest moments. The album demonstrates the band's tremendous growth and maturity over the years. It sees the band expanding its sound in new and fresh directions while still maintaining a typical theme. The album's experimentation, songwriting, and production make it essential listening for both fans of Doves and post-Britpop enthusiasts. It's a remarkable album that will stand the test of time.

Overall, Some Cities is arguably one of Doves' finest moments. The album demonstrates the band's tremendous growth and maturity over the years. It sees the band expanding its sound in new and fresh directions while still maintaining a typical theme. The album's experimentation, songwriting, and production make it essential listening for both fans of Doves and post-Britpop enthusiasts. It's a remarkable album that will stand the test of time.