Duncan Reid and The Big Heads
Album: The Difficult Second Album
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 12
Website: http://www.littlebighead.co.uk

Former 'The Boys' stalwart Duncan Reid brings forth his second collection of musings and witticisms with his new(ish) pop punk collective 'Duncan Reid and The Big Heads'.....aptly entitled 'The Difficult Second Album'. Twelve tracks of melodic post punk gems, with hooks galore, harmonies a plenty, and wry observations by the transit van load.....for those of us enjoying our first steps into mid- life this is an operators manual!!!....'Girls were there for making passes, now I need glasses, just so I can read'......yep, ain't that the truth!!!

Duncan, who takes on bass, guitar, keyboard and vocal duties is accompanied by Alex Gold on guitars, keyboards and vocals, Sophie Danger Powers on guitar and backing vocals, and Ciara Lavers on drums. Together they manage to produce and album of substance, an engaging soirée into the world of pop punk that's easy on these ageing ears!

There's certainly nothing brand new here, but there doesn't need to be, as opening song 'Just as good as I used to be' tells the story of his album, '.....and boy I used to be good.....'. The titles read as reflections of those days now long gone, and sadly missed!, and the lyrics serve to tell the story, to underline what folk of a certain age know and feel..... 'Long, long gone', 'When we were young', 'C'est la vie', 'End of the world', 'Wasting time', yes, it's all there and all only too pertinent! A soundtrack for mid-life maybe......

James Cosgrove