Razorlight Up All Night CD

`Up All Night' is one of the most hotly anticipated albums of 2004, coming, as it does, from one of the finest young rock'n'roll bands to emerge in Britain for many long years - Razorlight. Led by the charismatic Johnny Borrell, Razorlight have spent much of 2003 and 2004 grabbing headlines, releasing sharp sounding singles and generally behaving like the greatest band that ever walked the earth.

Razorlight: Bjorn Agren, Johnny Borrell (vocals, guitar); Carl Dalemo (vocals, bass guitar); Christian Smith-Pancorvo.
Personnel: Björn Åquen, Johnny Boruell (vocals, guitar); Christian Smith-Pancorvo (vocals, drums); Carl Daleure (vocals).
Audio Mixers: John Cornfield; Steve Lillywhite.
There must be a healthy middle when it comes to capturing the essence of Brit-pop. Something in between the impenetrable swagger of Liam and Noel Gallagher and the vacuous and hollow bravado of Jet that can both pay homage to big riffs and bad attitude, yet still maintain a unique personality, which is what made the rock gods of yesteryear so endearing. Razorlight mastermind, lead singer/guitarist Johnny Borrell wants so desperately to be the next Joe Strummer or Lou Reed, and for what Razorlight's first album lacks in identity, it gathers momentum on effort and sheer will. It's the same, albeit slightly worse, garage rock revival record that's been all too common in the early 2000s, but quick, aggressive tracks such as "Vice," "Rip It Up," "Golden Touch" and "Stumble and Fall" are undeniably catchy and Borrell himself is largely responsible for playing them as if he really were the next Freddie Mercury. He wails and passionately groans over some horribly vapid vocals, "hey girl/get on the dancefloor/rip it up, yeah/that's what it's there for" (on "Rip It Up") but even a bad cover version of your favorite Strokes-type song can still appeal to the less cynical part of your brain. Even John Cornfield and Borrell's production seems like a shoddy attempt to re-create the frontman's favorite records note for note. His desire to add a layer of grime by muddying up the louder moments (such as on "Don't Go Back to Dalston," which starts off quietly before careening into a bloated call and response conclusion) doesn't remove the feeling that the entire recording process was extremely sterile. At this stage, Borrell lacks the confidence to move beyond his idols, and his energetic music remains a game of spot the influence. ~ Erik Leijon
The 2004 debut by London's Razorlight is another addition to the post-Strokes fray of driving, updated garage rock. Stylish, swaggering, and fueled by catchy hooks, chugging bass and drums, and electric guitars that alternately ring and chime, Razorlight has all the trimmings of a successful rock outfit. From the seesaw riff that kicks off "Leave Me Alone" and vocalist/guitarist Johnny Borrell's David Bowie-influenced phrasing, it is clear that Razorlight plans to take the international stage with a classic flourish. And if any doubt remains, the punchy, pop-conscious rave-up "Rock N Roll Lies" should settle the score.
However, UP ALL NIGHT mixes it up a bit, too. The title track is a brisk, melodic ride aided by stinging, upper-register guitar leads. The bouncy vocal delivery of "Which Way Is Out" provides a bit of quirky, rock & roll soul, while "Don't Go Back to Dalston" is a minor-key ditty that builds in intensity. But edgy, energized, raw-throated rockers like "Rip It Up" bring the quartet back to what it does best. UP ALL NIGHT shows this up-and-coming band not only finding its legs, but strutting with them.

Entertainment Weekly (pp.85-7) - "[T]his no-filler debut conjures the wounded majesty of Springsteen and Patti Smith..." - Grade: A-