The Zutons

Tired Of Hanging Around

[4/5] The Zutons could have easily kicked back and stuck next to fellow countrymen the Coral in the Liverpuddlian quirk queue while counting the cash from their Levi’s “Pressure Point” payday. Instead, Tired Of Hanging Around kicks the hooks into high gear, with the band’s nouveau mod take on northern soul freshly laced with the muscular gloss found in Bruce Springsteen’s early work- especially when main Zuton David McCabe essays the ladies in “Oh Stacey (Look What You’ve Done!)” and “Valerie.” The first single, “Why Don’t You Give Me Your Love?,” is a stalker saga wrapped in a bluesy swagger. Stephen Street’s crisp production keeps things smooth, yet big and ballsy, even if Abi Harding’s gritty sax takes a few steps back in the process. More proof that sophomore efforts don’t have to be sleepy. (COLUMBIA) Erick Haight