Cornershop - Judy Sucks a Lemon For Breakfast

With it having been over seven years since the release of their last album - during which time the band’s core members busied themselves with parenthood - it seemed we’d heard the last of Cornershop. This would have been a shame as they proved to be one of the more interesting bands to emerge from the often self-congratulatory and bloated Britpop era. But, joyfully, they finally return, and do so with an album that offers the same genre-hopping eclecticism as their groundbreaking debut did. In fact, Judy Sucks a Lemon For Breakfast is pretty much a journey through the history of British rock.

As is Cornershop’s way, Indian sounds mix with a strong leaning towards Western influences. Opener Who Fingered Rock ‘n’ Roll sets the rest of the album up well, being a Stonesy, riffy romp through guitars, sitars and soul harmonies, while the title track, with its strings, bassoons and perky melody, reminds us just how appealing their brand of pop is. Similarly, The Roll Of Characteristics (of History in the Making) is ridiculously catchy and as toe-tapping as Brimful Of Asha was all those years ago.

It wouldn’t be Cornershop without a few surprises along the way. The 16-minute soul track, The Turned On Truth (The Truth Is Turned On), ends the album epically, but the cover of The Mighty Quinn really shouldn’t have made it out of the studio. It’s not badly executed, but its inclusion serves to over-egg the reminiscence. This aside, Judy Sucks… represents a welcome return for Cornershop and shows that, even after a seven year hiatus, they are as effervescent as ever.