Like most bands related to the Popical Island collective, Land Lovers’ fanbase remains small (but arguably, perfectly formed).
Their third album won’t make them overnight sensations – mostly because while the Dubliners are exceptionally good at what they do, this collection is a little over-reliant on their tried-and-trusted formula.
That means that songs like Royal Jewellery, Life of Crime and Cartoons blend into a homogeny of breezy jangle-pop with wordy lyrics; on the other hand, the rollicking guitar, warbly keyboard and amusingly exasperated lovelorn lyrics of Angeline are a highlight, as are the strings that sweep through Montecassino, while the beat-pop of Crowd of Lungs is straight out of the Cavern Club in the 1960s.
The result is a decent album by a very good band.
