This band from Scotland (West Lothian, to be precise)was first brought to my attention by several of my followers talking about them, but only since 2017, even though the band formed two years before that. The more I kept hearing about them and seeing them appear in regular new talent polls on Twitter, the more I got curious. I eventually gave them a listen and was highly impressed with their rock sound. 

Social media can be a potent tool in the music world these days. The Snuts were getting talked about ages before this debut album was in the offing. They were getting a reputation for their gigs and the demos they released. Bizarrely, thanks to that reputation, they were already playing out at significant festivals like TRNSMT, Reading and Leeds, and SXSW. They have also supported the Libertines, among others. Last year, they released their EP “the Matador”, which gained them a top 20 spot in the album charts—already encouraging signs from the Lads from Whitburn to fare well when the record finally did drop.

The producer used on “W.L.” has a good reputation working with the likes of the legendary Beck and the French band Phoenix( Do you remember ‘1901’? Well, you should because it was played to death at every student union bar or Indie night). 

Tony Hoffer travelled to the Firepit in London to work with the band and refurbished their back catalogue to give those songs a more professional finish. There’s no disputing they were not good before, but they could turn those songs into something else with Tony on board. Jack Cochrane’s vocals are wonderfully showcased over the acoustic ‘Top Deck’, which opens the album. The band’s versatility is displayed as we go from indie to blues to hip-hop. Not forgetting rock n roll and punk.

‘No Place I’d Rather Go’ is a track with a swift change in direction from an acoustic ballad; it then turns into an uptempo track that sounds like the Beatles if they had the chance to use modern equipment. Because it was my introduction to the band, my personal favourite is ‘All Your Friends’. I love the punk attitude and Jack’s venomous vocals, which sound like Alex Turner and John Power combined. Indeed, the track itself is something Arctic Monkeys and Cast would do. It’s also magnificent when performed live.

I was very impressed with Tony’s reworking of ‘Glasgow’; it sounds a lot beefier than the original while not overpowering Jack’s emotional vocals. Tony still respects the original by not going overboard on the production. Boardwalk’ was another highlight for me on the record because I loved the songwriting with the melody flourishing into all-out rock. Of course, the album’s standard edition closes with their now-iconic encore closer, ‘Sing for Your Supper’. Again, I love the energy in this song, and I always have, but maybe because I’ve heard it countless times, I have become immune to it and don’t get all that excited when I listen to it now. However, I like a good story in my songs, and this one is no exception.

Not only is this album full of several genres inspired by who the band members listen to, but it’s like an audio version of an autobiography depicting life growing up as working-class kids in West Lothian(Forgive me, my Scottish friends, but I don’t know whether West Lothian is working class. I have read bits and pieces, but it’s all somewhat blurred)and having hopes and dreams of making it big with their music. It’s a fucking brilliant debut album, and with their arsenal of songs already in their possession, the second record will hopefully live up to expectations.

 It is great to see that all this stuff about guitar music is dead(Including you, Mr Weller)is a load of bollocks. The Snuts have proved that it still kicks like a drum and that the working-class lads and ladettes can still find their way through. Indeed, I can give you many examples of that. Fontaines DC, the Lathums, Riviera, Citylightz, the Crooks, Tom Smith, and Rianne Downey. I predict they will do an Oasis and have as much success with their second album. Trust me, the working class is fighting back, not just through grime or drill, as Weller said. Kids with guitars, indie rock, and punk persuasion are banging the doors down.

Song recommendations: “All Your Friends”, “Boardwalk”, “Glasgow”

9/10