Songs For Me (And My Baby)

The Motorhomes, like The Cardigans and The Wannadies before them, are trying hard to make an impression in Britain.

Songs For Me (And My Baby) is, broadly speaking, guitar pop, although with more whimsy than whammy. It's all nicely produced and the occasional strings add a slight sense of drama. More often than not, though, you get the impression that The Motorhomes are quite happy to mope around feeling sorry for themselves as the tunes rarely lift above a slow shuffle.

That said, they are quite good at it. 'Don't Die Young' tries to out-miserable Morrissey, 'O'Er Land' is quite beautiful, and the ultramaudlin 'For Whom It May Concern' drops the pace to a jog-speed that would embarrass Neil Ruddock. Recent single 'It's Alright' is a cracking tune, even though it occupies the middle ground between Coldplay and Radiohead.

It all gets a bit too monotonous after a while, however. While the individual songs are good, collectively they just add up to a sense of ennui.

Songs For Me (And My Baby) is a decent debut album. I just wish they'd break the melancholy sometimes, turn the amps up to 11 and rock out. They'd feel all the better for it.