Free Diamonds aren't the sort of band that will be endearing to anyone. Instead, they write minute-long or 100-second bursts of energy that are very much hits and misses. While they deliver the punk-meets-roots "Backpack Escape Plan" with aplomb, the ensuing "Hugs & Kisses" is a head-bobbing ditty that many would find agreeable. Fans of
Violent Femmes and Swedish outfit
Quit Your Dayjob would lap these songs up, but over the course of 16 tracks, some holes start showing. While vocalist
Gemma Andrews has a light touch on songs, fellow vocalist
Scott Anderson's pipes are not as soothing and are even quite grating on "To Russia with Love." Meanwhile, there are some hidden gems including the punk rock vibe oozing from the oddly funk "Cobracobana." Another group that comes to mind is
the Cure in their "Killing an Arab" infancy -- short, crisp packages of pretty, powerful pop, while the foot-stomping "A Herd of Elephants" sounds like they're channeling
the B-52's.
Free Diamonds show another side with the dance-rock groove oozing out of "Teen Magic." On the whole the album is an adequate collection of songs, but not everything on this affair is grade 'A' material. The closing "My Boxing Days Are Over" might be the album's sleeper pick as it could have been stolen from the back pockets of
Marah.