The Xcerts // In The Cold Wind We Smile

Do you like boys in tight jeans, plaid shirts and cardigans? Do you like said boys expressing your heartbreak for you through the medium of emo/rock/indie? Hey, who doesn’t?! Why not try the debut album from The Xcerts? Originally formed in Aberdeen, Scotland and now with members from Brighton and Exeter, this fresh new band of boys may be the way forward from emo-weariness to a new world via “distorted pop”. There are a lot of sad and angry lyrics about girls and that, but there is none of the self pity that is often present in modern indie bands (I’m looking at you, The Fray) .Coupled with some kick-ass guitar action and tight drumming fashion, there are the heart breakingly gentle, hair-stroking parts that are simply lovely… think Snow Patrol. I really enjoyed hearing the Scottish accent proudly used instead of covering it up with a faux American twang. I do feel that they have a little work to do yet to really stand out from other similar bands but no doubt this will come in time; they’re still young and have a growing fan base, including Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly, so we’ll be hearing them during a tender moment on Hollyoaks very soon. But in a good way. Oh, by the way, their influences include Bruce Springsteen, Mickey Rourke and food poisoning. Hmm.