Real Estate, Scala - review - Music - Arts - Evening Standard
       

Real Estate, Scala - review

Critic Rating
Reader Rating 0

Boasting one of the dullest band names of the year, and surely the dullest back story (three friends graduate from university, return to the New Jersey suburbs of their childhoods, like it) no one went to see Real Estate expecting to party down with shirtless riff monsters.   

Nerdy they may be but their particular brand of introspection is quietly striking a chord. For their second release they've been taken on by Domino Recordings, home of Arctic Monkeys, and Days is one of the loveliest albums of the year.

In concert they had slightly sharper teeth, mainly thanks to the firm-handed drumming of touring member Jackson Pollis. The real joy came from the weaving, meandering guitar lines of Matt Mondanile and singer Martin Courtney, a gentle jangle reminiscent of Johnny Marr's more plaintive moments on Easy.

They found more energy when All the Same stepped up a gear in its instrumental second half and even managed something approaching a singalong chorus on It's Real. But it was Green Aisles that showed their best side, a dream in sound about "wasted miles" on "aimless drives". This song about drifting deserves to drift right into the ears of as many new fans as possible.

Real Estate
The Scala
Pentonville Road, King's Cross, N1 9NL

Comments

Don't Miss
Gala night for the Queen of arts - stars turn out in their hundreds to pay tribute

Happy & glorious

Stars turn out in their hundreds to pay tribute to Queen
Prints charming: patterned trousers for summer

Prints charming

Patterned trousers for summer
Promethipedia: the lowdown on Ridley Scott's new blockbuster Prometheus

Promethipedia

The lowdown on Ridley Scott's new blockbuster Prometheus
The Middletan: Kate Middleton has the most requested tan in London

The Middletan

Kate Middleton has the most requested tan in London
Amy Childs bares all like Britney

Dare to bare

Amy Childs vajazzles like Britney
Thais go Gaga: singer’s ‘fake rolex’ tweet sparks new tour row... but fans still mob her at airport

Thais go Gaga

Singer mobbed at airport
Trip the bright fantastic - in vertiginous neon

Fashion

Trip the bright fantastic - in vertiginous neon
Chelsea Champions League celebrations - in pictures

Victory parade

Chelsea Champions League celebrations
High-flying heroes

High flying heroes

David Oyelowo reveals all about new film Red Tails
The Twitter Diaries: Think Bridget Jones tries social networking

The Twitter Diaries

Think Bridget Jones tries social networking