I am delighted to be reviewing Blossoms third album, as I have been a fan for quite some time. I have even had the privilege of seeing them at the EE Stadium, Wembley supporting the Stone Roses on what seems to be their final tour in 2017 ( It’s all very vague, and nothing official has been made by the Stone Roses, albeit a cryptic message from the frontman, Ian Brown.). However, it was only twelve songs during that hot summer’s evening. Of course, we are all familiar with “Charlemagne”, which they also use as their set closer. Their other singles have not charted that high, but “My Favourite Room” and “Honey Sweet” are crowd favourites (Well, from what I have experienced, anyway.) So, to the review, they still haven’t lost it with their ability to write melodies with lyrics that will get inside your head and your heart. That’s always been their strength that they can write songs where the lyrics hit home and the melodies add to that effect. Indeed, when I heard songs like “Honey Sweet” with Tom Ogden’s vocals matching the keyboard, I was taken to another realm. I feel as if I am in some dreamland, and everything around me, save for the music, is phased out, and I am in a three-minute thirty-five-second transient state. On a side note, those songs are from their 2016 debut record, “Blossoms”. The title track is my favourite off their 2018 sophomore record, “Cool Like You”.

From the opening track, “If You Think This is Real Life”, the tone is set, and yes, it does remain the same throughout the record. With “My Swimming Brain”, we have a song heavily influenced by the ’80s. Although you may hear the trademark sound by Blossoms, they have managed to keep it original and keep the listener interested without losing their familiarity. Well, on the first half of the record, anyway.

Now to the mid-section of the record. It sounds much more sedated with tracks like “Romance, Eh”. They have done the track listing very much like what you would expect if you go to see the band live. We’ve already had the upbeat/get up and dance section, and now we are embarking on the more calm down/listen section. When Noel Gallagher was track listing the Oasis 2010 album “Time Flies…1994-2009”, he used that method of having a live setlist feel to it, and I expect Blossoms are doing the same. I expect that at the moment, but I might be completely wrong when the albums draw to a close. Anyway, this section of the record reminds me more of the second album, “Cool Like You”, with its more relaxed yet melancholic state. It is also lovely to see that none of their songwriting abilities have been lost so far on the record, and their melodies are still on point.

So now we enter the closing stages, and you find out why the album is called “Foolish Loving Spaces” through the track “Like Gravity”, which references the record title within the chorus. The album ends how a typical live set does. With a monumental bang wrapped in heavy guitar songs fit for the stadiums and arenas.

I love how the lads from Stockport have combined their album with all the elements of the previous records while still making it sound original yet maintaining that classic Blossoms touch. I am glad they are back, and it was a joy to sit there and listen to “Foolish Loving Spaces” yet feel like I wasn’t even in the room. Their music is like listening to My Morning Jacket. You could be on a crammed Underground train, but the music propels you to the fantasy realm, and all is right in your world. 9/10