The Like - Release Me

With the original line-up featuring the teenage daughters of three music industry veterans, The Like’s debut album, 2005’s Are You Thinking What I’m Thinking?, was well-enough received to make it somewhat surprising that it’s taken so long for them to follow it up. Since then, one member has departed, two have joined and the American four-piece have refined their indie-pop sound a little by adding healthy dollops of 60’s girl group and British invasion influences. Who better then, to produce Release Me, than Mark Ronson?

As one would expect from a Ronson project, potential pop hits are all over this record. Songs like Narcissist in a Red Dress and Catch Me if You Can are ridiculously catchy and perky, as harmonies, handclaps and organs support the fine vocals of the marvellously-named lead-singer Z Berg. However, the most pleasing thing about Release Me is that, beneath the shimmering production, the lovely melodies and the oohs and aahs are some devilish lyrics. These songs may be sugar-coated, but they have a bitter centre. Boys are, more often than not, the cause of The Like’s troubles and a example of the kind of R-E-S-P-E-C-T the quartet demands comes within the very first line of album. “If I could kick his head in…” Berg sings on the vengeful Wishing He Was Dead.

Therefore, as with the likes of Lily Allen, The Like have more depth than you might initially think. With pop music that is sweet and almost impossible not to dance/sing along to coupled with lyrics that give proceedings some nice bite, Release Me is a winner whichever way you look at it.