More about: Shack

There’s nowt so tragic as an underachiever. We’ve all met that kid at school that, come exam results day, teachers shake their heads at sadly, sighing “Ah, but he showed so much promise…”. Scouse outfit Shack are undoubtedly the musical equivalent of this unfortunate kiddie, as this ‘Best of’ album chock full of could’ve beens and should’ve beens demonstrates.

Brothers Mick and John Head formed the basis of Shack’s ever-changing line-up having previously spent time in cult ‘80s folk rockers The Pale Fountains and in the backing band for Arthur Lee’s Love. As Shack, though, they’ve released five albums which all garnered critical praise and a plethora of today’s leading lights cite them as huge influences – Shack’s gentle harmonies, wistful arrangements and touching lyrics were all clearly absorbed by the likes of The Coral, The Thrills, Elbow and The Zutons. Hell, they’re even on Noel Gallagher’s Sour Mash Records label, so why in the name of frick haven’t they acquire the same sort of status as contemporaries The Stone Roses or Oasis?

It’s certainly a toughie, especially given that this album kicks off with all that’s great about Shack. ’I Know You Well’ features Beta Band-esque production over an ever-present bass riff, while ‘Comedy’ combines lush harmonies with piquant chord progressions that build up to a triumphant string-soaked guitar solo finale. ‘Cup of Tea’ has the endearingly quirky lyrics that singer Mick Head made his trademark (“My cup of tea doesn’t taste the same when she’s with me”) while ‘Pull Together’ has Ian Brown-like verse vocals that give way to a howling, affecting chorus.

So with all these riches to be found, why are Shack punching so far below their weight? As with much of Shack’s output, at times it sounds like they’ve been overplaying their Beatles records like good musical Scousers. ‘Meant to Be’ and its Beatles-esque melody is nothing compared to the outrageous thieving of ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps’ in ‘On the Terrace’. There’s also a noticeable drop in momentum towards the end of the record, one track tends to blur into another in a happy summery haze. Nevertheless new tracks ‘Holiday Abroad’ and ‘Wanda’ suggest that the Shack tank is still full of enthusiasm and a knack for a catchy tune. With a tour to support the release also in the offing, we can but hope that the wilderness years might be coming to an end for Shack, so shout it from the rooftops, give it some onions and generally get this record heard.

More about: Shack