“Cash Machine”
from the album Stars of CCTV
2005
iTunes
Some people believe in love at first sight, some other say it’s total bullshit and that you need to know the person first. Whatever it is, you will love this album, sooner or later. It has all the features of a classic: potently singalong tunes, highly emotional lyrics, spot on low-fi production, and there’s a really endearing underdog story behind this band. In other words, Hard-Fi deserve all the success they’re having, and even more to come.
Songs like “Cash Machine,“ the perfect ode to being broke, or “Tied Up Too Tight” are capable of making other people — even the ones who’ve never been there — understand all the rage and the pride of coming from a suburban town, all the problems, the real-life stories, the desperation, the loneliness. Finally “Hard to Beat,” one of the most romantic stories of love in a provincial town, is also a great dancing tune and is riding high in the UK charts right now.
Hard-Fi are the people’s band, having been compared to The Clash, The Specials and The Streets. Probably true, but listening to Stars of CCTV is such a pleasure and will make anyone understand there’s much more to them than the hype.