Album Review: The Snuts - W.L

Last week, West Lothian band The Snuts found themselves caught up in a fight with Demi Lovato for a number one spot in the official charts. In a post on their Instagram The Snuts wrote, ‘A number 1 record for a band like us will not only change our lives but we believe it will change the landscape for all young guitar bands. It is so important that young musicians feel that they CAN achieve their dreams whatever they may be and escape their circumstances.’ In a testament to what really can be achieved by emerging young talent, on April 9th The Snuts’s debut album, W.L.(Whitburn Loopy), landed its well-deserved spot at number one in the charts.

Following on from the success of their E.P. Mixtape, which landed a top 15 album chart position, The Snuts have created an exciting debut album showcasing the extent of their range, with clear, varied influences, spanning across genres and resisting one label. The album takes a journey through the band’s youth and their evolution into their dream turned reality. The Snuts open with ‘Top Deck’, an introduction to the delicate lyrics and soft acoustics that recur throughout the album on tracks like the heart-breaking ‘Boardwalk’. A reimagining of their 2016 demo, ‘Glasgow’, opens mellow before crashing into drums and clamouring guitar, translating as a musical nod to Catfish and the Bottlemen’s debut album ‘The Balcony’.

The single ‘Somebody Loves You’ is a carefree summer festival anthem, successfully injecting some happiness back into 2021. Singing about their friends and family, The Snuts provide a reminder of what togetherness feels like, and redefines traditional, physical notions of togetherness, fitting to the experiences of many after what has been a sometimes isolating twelve months. ‘Somebody Loves You’ is a bright anticipation of post-lockdown reunion. This same optimism continues to flow through songs‘. Maybe California’ and ‘Don’t Forget It’. ‘Juan Belmonte’ gives us husky vocals and fuzzy hooks, whilst ‘Elephants’ delivers bouncy, hip-hop driven beats, further evidence of the range the band have achieved on this album. Artists like Lewis Capaldi, The Libertines and The Fratellis have taken to social media to promote the album and congratulate The Snuts on their success.

In September, the band are set to embark on their near sold-out tour, ‘Unplugged with Strings’. From the quieter, sensitive tracks on W.L. it is clear that their stripped back tour promises to be something special. W.L. is a bold reminder that young, emerging talent is not to be underestimated.

Words: Eli Evans