I'd Rather Be Dead (Than Be With You) (Single) - Glasvegas

Glasvegas are one of many bands who were heralded as the next big thing by the NME as part of the accompanying hype surrounding their debut album (see also The Fratellis). That album was a huge success, cementing the band’s identity amongst popular culture through hit singles such as ‘Daddy’s Gone’ and ‘Geraldine’, the latter of which was an anthem fit for football terraces and stadiums. The follow-up album: “Euphoric /// Heartbreak \\\”, failed to live up to the success of its predecessor, perhaps due to the experimental nature and lack of really big hits. The album was considered a commercial failure, but it still had some solid tracks, including ‘The World Is Yours’ and ‘Euphoria, Take My Hand’.

Since the sophomore album was considered a failure, the upcoming third album – “Later... When The TV Turns To Static” – must surely take on a more commercially appealing sound. 

Surely?

Apparently not.

As the title would suggest ‘I’d Rather Be Dead (Than Be With You)’ is a very dark and brooding track. Musically it is very stripped down, just a piano accompaniment beneath James Allan’s vocals. The piano arrangement is gorgeous in this track, sad and regretful, and James Allan’s voice sounds more anguished and distraught than ever, especially when he screams out the chorus line and stretches his vocal chords to near breaking point. The experimental nature of the second album is still present, as the track transitions into spoken word section halfway through, which references ‘Casablanca’ and also continues the band’s lyrical trend of paraphrasing nursery rhymes (in this case ‘Little Red Riding Hood’). The track concludes with another spoken word piece, except this time there is no musical accompaniment beneath it. This rounds off a solid enough track, but it doesn't scream 'lead single' as loudly as it does it's chorus.

It would seem that the band is pursuing artistic merit as opposed to more commercially appealing third album, or at least that is what this lead single would suggest. I’d be surprised if this album is able to replicate the success of the band’s debut, but then again I might be wrong. After all the first album was also very dark lyrically, and contained the brooding piano-led track ‘Stabbed’ which had a similar feel to it. The album is due out later in the year, so I suppose time will tell whether or not it will be a hit. I’ve enjoyed their first two albums, but I may have to hear a bit more of this one before I decide whether it’s worth buying or not.