Subways All Or Nothing CD

On their second full-length album, 2008's ALL OR NOTHING, the youthful British band the Subways offer up another set of tunes unabashedly rooted in 1990s alternative rock. As on the group's debut, YOUNG FOR ETERNITY, the Subways' chief appeal lies in the boy/girl vocals of guitarist Billy Lunn and bassist Charlotte Cooper (who, incidentally, ended their romantic relationship during NOTHING's recording), with the pop-savvy "Alright" and the passionate "Shake! Shake!" standing out as high points. Adding extra punch to the proceedings is renowned producer Butch Vig (Garbage, Nirvana), who elevates Lunn's songs with his immediate, upfront sound, as best heard on "Always Tomorrow," which builds from an acoustic beginning into a surging, upbeat number that stands as one of the Subways' finest moments.

Long-awaited 2008 sophomore outing from the youthful, Grunge-inspired Brit trio. This album saw the band decamp to L.A. to work with legendary U.S. Alt-Rock producer Butch Vig (Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins), who beefed up and smoothed out their sound. The result is a considerable sonic progression from the rudimentary Garage Punk of their debut, which sees them absorbing various influences from U.S. Rock history and beyond. Includes the singles 'Alright' and 'Girls & Boys'. Warner.

The Subways: Billy Lunn (vocals, guitar); Charlotte Cooper (vocals, keyboards, bass guitar); Josh Morgan (drums).

Audio Mixer: Rich Costey.

Spin (p.116) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "These youthful Brits shed some cuteness....Credit producer Butch Vig, too, who brings the trio closer to sonic Nirvana by coaxing out their snarls and then compressing and polishing them to maximum shininess."
Alternative Press (p.161) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "The aptly titled 'Shake! Shake!' and the heavier, growling 'Turnaround' displays the group's skill for crafting feverous, driving rock songs that have some of the best guitar riffs this side of the Foo Fighters."
Kerrang (Magazine) (p.63) - "ALL OR NOTHING is packed ripe with the kind of songs that sit comfortably and unselfconsciously between indie-pop and rock noise. Strong on melody and big on volume..."
Q (Magazine) (p.143) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "[S]o assured are producer Butch Vig's pop touch and Cooper's harmonies that these pop-punk nuggets sound as sunny as anything on their debut."
Mojo (Publisher) (p.112) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "Buoyed with emotional heft and supernova guitar riffs, their second album is wired around a maturing songcraft and the studio savvy of grunge producer Butch Vig."
Clash (magazine) (p.123) - "The Subways have channeled every jarring emotion into an altogether more prolific [album]....Shot through with far more direction than their debut..."