REVIEW: Nothing but Thieves' "Dead Club City" via Sony

I haven’t really been in tune to this band over their eleven year career and counting and I now somehow feel as though I’ve been missing the boat. This is the Essex-based alternative act’s fourth record and I didn’t even realize they’ve been around this long, let alone on a major label. Still, I’m here now, sort of on the unconscious sign off by other reviewers I respect and what I found within DCC was a pleasant surprise.


From track one I simply want to move. The dance-vibes on “Welcome to the DCC” bring me back to a certain mid-aughts radio rock era that I always wish I had been more present for. There are theatrical verses, huge choruses and a dance-pop inspired production all throughout this thing that makes for a lot of highlights and a lot of memorable moments overall. I will say, however, that this band sort of just has the one trick to them. That lack of variety sort of keeps me from loving this record even if there is a variety of moods to the songs themselves. The band does end on a strong note as well as a curveball compared to the other songs on “Pop the Balloon.” This is a heavier track with some politically pointed lyricism and a rather interesting false ending to the song and record as a whole. Overall I wouldn’t say I’m compelled to go backwards in Nothing but Thieves’ discography but I am at the very least a casual fan of this record of theirs.

Our Rating - 7/10

Favorite Tracks
  1. Welcome to the DCC
  2. Overcome
  3. Tomorrow is Closed
  4. Keeping You Around
  5. City Haunts
  6. Do You Love Me Yet?
  7. Members Only
  8. Green Eyes :: Siena
  9. Foreign Language
  10. Talking to Myself
  11. Pop the Balloon

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