Cheeky For A Reason

At the insistence of producer Mike Crossey (Arctic Monkeys), Dundee natives The View knocked their trademark 24/7 partying on the head while putting together this record. The abstinence has paid off as, for the first time since their debut Hats Off To The Buskers, the group sound as if they’re having a good time. There’s a lot of spontaneity here, which is probably owed to the fact they finished the songs during the recording process, rather than arriving with them fully fleshed-out. The highlights are up there with their finest moments: ‘Hold On Now’ has the same ragamuffin lilt as breakout smash ‘Same Jeans’, ‘Anfield Row’ is a would-be terrace anthem that brings to mind a rowdier Coral. Singer Kyle Falconer has described Cheeky For A Reason as ‘Fleetwood Mac’s Rumour as done by The Clash’ and, while it doesn’t quite live up to that billing, it’s plenty enjoyable none the less. Most of the attention has thus far focused on the controversy generating video for single ‘How Long’ – essentially the Prodigy’s ‘Smack My Bitch Up’ as recorded in camcorder – but it would be a shame if the bru-ha-ha overshadowed a decent comeback tilt.