Mew - No More Stories Are Told Today...

1. Vital Stats

Artist: Mew
Release Date: 28th August 2009
iTunes Link: Buy on iTunes+

We give it:

Right from the beginning of Mew's fifth studio outing something feels different. This is something we've never heard before. And by gum it's good....

Mew have kept us in suspense for this one. Originally announced last year, Mew posted up on their Facebook and MySpace pages in November that the album was essentially finished. And then the waiting began, and after the release of the "No More Stories EP" in June, we now finally have the finished product.

I should really begin by giving the full name of this album:

No More Stories
Are Told Today
I'm Sorry
They Washed Away

No More Stories
The World Is Grey
I'm Tired
Let's Wash Away

Pretentious much? Yeah probably, but with the world of Mew there's always a good dollop of lunacy.

I'll admit, I was a bit disappointed with the EP in June. Whilst Introducing Palace Players managed to grow on me, and Repeaterbeater was an instant hit, I found the other three tracks really lacking in Mew magic.

I therefore was quite nervous when listening to the full album, fearing that my love of Mew would be shattered.

Oh goodness me how wrong could I be.

The first track on the album New Terrain serves as a fantastic statement of intent, Mew have thrown away the rulebook and are just doing whatever they want this time around. The weird, messed up and yet somehow unthreatening feel of New Terrain sets the album off to a flyer, which then stumbles a little with Introducing Palace Players, before getting right back on track with Beach and Repeaterbeater.

Playing through the album, I find myself thinking that the weakest track is in fact the first track released with the EP (Introducing Palace Players, hereby referred to as IPP). IPP tried a little too hard to be different, with the completely off-camber intro and heady lyrics. No More Stories.. however completely makes up for all of it, and tracks such as Hawaii are so different to Mew's usual style, you'd think them out of place, but somehow they aren't.

Somehow, Mew have broken new ground without alienating their unique and captivating sound. They weren't lying when they said that this was a happier album, it certainly is, but the final track Reprise contains the patented Mew hint of menace which we've all come to love.

I honestly can't stop singing the praises of this album. It has a clear beginning, middle and end, and feels worth every second that we waited for it.

And Mew, true to form, have posted the entire album up on their MySpace page, so go have a listen before parting with your cash!

Both me and Finn are huge fans of this, so we heartily recommend you go out and buy it.