The Crooks - I Wonder

To date, the Chesterfield outfit have been delivering huge Oasis anthems or furious psychedelia with dark working class lyrics to cut through the glory of the sonic. On the last outing ‘Frankie’, the three began to merge, so, what will the new single ‘I Wonder’ bring?

The merger has been signed, sealed, and delivered! Previously, their aching to belong kept them on the outside looking in. Although lyrically, that yearning for more remains, musically, they have entered the eye of the storm.

Generations should awake to this song and ignite their dreams once more. It races around humble streets like the Roses’ ‘She Bangs The Drums’, a sense that anything is possible every morning oozes from its pores. The psyche guitars glisten on the gloomiest of days and beckon the people to set their souls free.

Their guitar parts have always been freeing. Whether it’s the emotive power of ‘She Walks Alone’ or, the soaring Hurricane #1 licks of ‘Nevermind’, the anticipation of huge release beckons and then blows you away. Now, they have Squire’s desire to spiral and Marr’s ability to thrill.

Despite the freeing nature, they too have been trapped inside their heads of late:

“I sit and wonder of what might have been”

The fallibility of the mind, even for our heroes, laid bare for us to emphasise with but, heroes they are and a guiding light they beam down upon us:

“Free fall deeply in your mind and let in spin / break the door and join me now”

There’s much talk of Oasis’ impending Knebworth documentary at present. One of the truly great moments of working class glory. However, it doesn’t have to be the last. Oasis-mania should have bitten the dust by now! With the scintillating guitars of The Crooks and, frontman Jacko’s innate ability to evoke empathy and togetherness, rock ‘n’ roll is coming home, again!

The Crooks - Frankie

Chesterfield’s The Crooks were set to blow up in 2020. ‘Nevermind’ in late 2019 and ‘She Walks Alone’ & ‘In Time’ in early 2020 were of such stature that, the word was out. Venues were selling out, This Feeling nights were repeatedly filled with “when are The Crooks playing”. It was their time!

We all know what happened next. So, when they announced their return with ‘Frankie’ in 2021, we tentatively pressed play. What bombast and the swagger of that initial run was diminished? Worse still, what if the quality dipped?

In many ways, the ebullience has abated. As they decree “I don’t know what will get us out of here”, 18 months of hardship gushes from their souls. Even at the peak of the twisted solo, there is a sombre mood at play. The magic, however, is prevalent more than ever. The band many pinned their hopes on have come back and captured the mood of the nation once again.

Fans from before the pandemic will find the power of the lyric “I know I’ve got a lot I wanna say” is immeasurable”. We all love bands with confidence. However, we should love this band more. They’ve stepped up to say, we’re here, we’re great but, we’re not sure we can do this and, we can’t do it alone. The feeling of a band and fans as one has elevated itself to an almost family level on this showing.

When you throw in the devastating psychedelia of the guitars, it’s hard to see how it’s not still their time. Only this time, they feel mortal and, people can feel even closer to their music.

The Crooks - In Time

Chesterfield’s The Crooks, recently signed to Golden Robot Records. Their first release on the imprint is ‘In Time’, recorded at Phoenix Studios, produced by Hamish Dickinson.

Artwork & image supplied by Foundry Music

Prior to the recording of ‘Definitely Maybe’, Liam was a good singer. Not a great one. He was reaching for his idol, Ian Brown. Twenty-six years on, Chesterfield’s The Crooks, have, to date, lent their songwriting to the escapist melancholy of Noel Gallagher. At the end of 2019, they released ‘Nevermind’ (full review here) and, ‘She Walks Alone’ (full review here) at the start of 2020. Both singles began to manoeuvre Noel’s songwriting alongside their own.  

On ‘In Time’, they have settled into that groove again. Crucially, their sound is the predominant one. Out of the colossal Burnage shadow, they stride. The guitar playing is beginning to shudder souls like Steve Craddock on ‘Get Blown Away’ and reach beyond the early dynamism of Noel.

In this time of lock-down, who among us can say, we haven’t stared out of the window and dreamed? Dreamed of partners in different cities, festivals, parents, lonely grandparents isolated and lonely? It’s a shit time for the soul. Step forward the lyrics:

“Cherish these days before its too late / If you could turn the hand yourself / Would you hold on to your world? / Would you change what you have done?”

To be able to pang those heartstrings in a moment of reflection and, fire out a global clarion call for change is a gift. The sense that, everything we hold dear is worth fighting for, during Covid19 is life-affirming. To so boldly, decree messages of radical change is life-changing.

Whenever this ends, get yourself to the Brudenell Social Club in Leeds for This Feeling’s Re-Wired.  

The Crooks – Silhouette Sunshine

Chesterfield’s The Crooks have been in anthemic mood of late. Their previous two singles ‘She Walks Alone’ (full review) and ‘Nevermind’ (full review) massive crowd uniting numbers. On their latest offering, ‘Silhouette Sunshine’, they return to fall to floor rock ‘n’ roll. Will it stack up?

We have said it before and, for this record, we will say it again. Whilst The Crooks have the hallmarks of Oasis, they a much much more than that! Their quality is on par, and at times, it surpasses their idols. Especially on this single!

The aggression and volatility are astonishing. It’s a whirlwind of psychedelia and punk. It’s only a matter of time before Creation23 come out of self-isolation to sign them.

The sex and violence of Supergrass’ ‘Richard III’ collides with the good aspects of ‘Be Here Now (yes, there was some) to create this fire breathing behemoth. They say, if you don’t learn your history, you’re doomed to repeat the past. Well, this ginormous psychedelic rock ‘n’ roll epic comes in under three minutes and thus, banishing ‘Be Here Now’. Somewhere in Muswell Hill, a tear of pride is rolling down Noel’s cheek.

You bet your life this single stacks up!

The Crooks - She Walks Alone

Chesterfield five piece, The Crooks, are a fledgling band in name only! They continually reach for the stars and, on previous single ‘Nevermind’, begun to nestle in alongside them..

*All images supplied by the band.

With Noel Gallagher’s early day dreaming euphoria in their hearts, they are song writing for headline slots. Noting has changed on their new single ‘She Walks Alone’, released on Friday 17th January.  

Barely two months since ‘Nevermind’, the progress is astonishing. Frontman Jacko, has innate ability to sing Noel’s Oasis songs as if her were Liam. That extra aggression, apace with emotive key changes breeds new life into the sound.   

The intricate influence of The Verve has added a depth to their sound. The opening Nick McCabe licks will put your excitement levels on red alert. Then, Mods’ solo strikes. The heady days of Steve Craddock’s OCS brilliance align with the shimmering genius of McCabe, it’s truly sublime!

Lyrically, they have elevated themselves too. The tormented soul who “walks alone in her mind” paints a tragic picture. Not to be downhearted, The Crooks’ infectious spirit comes to the rescue. With an encouraging arm around the shoulder, they lead their protagonist back to the promised land.

For so many, hope diminished last December. Some were even left crossing boxes in tears of shame. This song may well become a rock ‘n’ roll parable for the disaffected. Embracing the bad times, it paints a blueprint back to the good times.

The Crooks – Nevermind

“I seem to get this feeling I just cant explain”

Chesterfield outfit The Crooks, fresh from selling out their This Feeling’s 13th birthday this past Saturday, release their new single ‘Nevermind’ on Friday.

In 1994, when Liam sang ‘you and I are gonna live forever’, the world changed. Ambition and escapism combined on Noel’s story of two best friends who ‘see things they’ll never see’. The universality of its message (plus the great melody) became all things to all people.

It was amazing time of hope and unity. Job security was a thing, pay rises could be earned. Unlike 2019! Having a job for longer than 12 months is a fucking achievement these days! Thank god, no, thank The Crooks for this single!

Despite being less personal than the heroes of Live Forever’s tale, it’s not less gallant. Defiantly drawing the line in the sand, they shall be pushed no further! Furthermore, when the guitars soar, they offer a helping hand off the canvas for everyone to stand up to the torrent of shit we’re being made to live through.  

Musically, Hurricane #1’s classic ’Step Into My World’ and Embrace’s ‘The Last Gas’ leaps of the page as this track triumphant builds. However, its within the all-inclusive clarion call where its beauty lays. As Jacko sings ‘remember things are easy, don’t get left behind’, it’s hard not to be overcome with emotion. Thoughts of friends, lovers, family will flash before your eyes on this truly defining moment for the band!

Their next gig is 2nd November, again for the brilliant folk of This Feeling, it is not to be missed!

The Crooks - Crystal Eyes

Chesterfield's The Crooks are back with their new single 'Crystal Eyes' today. Melodic, in your face rock n roll has been the mantra so far, what will this provide?

The return back to the studio has seen them slide back into the destructive psyche of mid point Oasis along with, a kick ass punk bassline. The added spikiness steers them away from their polished EP and in the direction of confrontation. Images of battle lines being drawn are unavoidable as front man Jacko snarls “ it's in our veins to live differently”.

Yearning to be heard is one thing, but now, The Crooks are demanding it. The rabid attack of The Enemy's 'Away From Here' combines with Oasis' psyche in what is, an announcement to the world to get behind them as they ride into battle.

Every generation has a set of bands luring the people away from insipid creativity. With the vapid Love Island having just finished, let The Crooks be that band.