Watercress - Bummer

Watercress - Bummer
Label: Creeping Herb WCHCD 007
Format: CD, Album, Paper Box
Country: UK
Released: 1998
Genre: Rock
Style: Rock, pop, acoustic, electric
Tracklist
1. Spacegirl 4:06
2. Candlemaker 1:45
3. Tripped Up 5:00
4. Holiday 3:56
5. Gravity 3:04
6. Stars Shine On 4:24
7. I Wish (Someone Would Shoot Me) 3:45
8. Plastercast 4:12
9. Cruelty 0:59
10. Someone's Watching You 3:57
11. Other Things 2:18
12. Oh Yeah 5:02
13. Sky Rocket7:21
14. Fire in the Cup 18:53
Credits
Rock, pop, acoustic, electric, and 100% fun...Watercress is the best live band we've seen in years... "believe the hype... they really are like nothing you ever saw... they just got better with every song... the audience was in awe... they're a real treat
Notes
Watercress were a truly captivating Belfast band who I came upon quite by chance. In their sadly short-lived career this was their only album, but it is a quite excellent record. They never made it big outside of Northern Ireland, but did support some decent bands on tour. I was lucky enough to see them live during their UK tour of late 2000, supporting the Levellers. They were the best supporting act I've ever seen, and I quickly bought their album.
The music of Watercress defies easy categorisation. It certainly has a traditional Irish element, especially with the thick Irish accent of the singer, but the music is more complex than mere Irish folk. While proving masters of the catchy three minute pop-rock song, the band was not tied down by the standard guitar-bass-drums set up, featuring other instruments such as the mandolin and the good old-fashioned double bass, played by Bruce Reid, whose sister is now by chance a good friend of mine.
Above all, the songs are all so catchy that, after a few listens, you'll have songs like Spacegirl, Candlemaker and Holiday in your head for months. Stars Shine On is even better, showing a real depth, but even this is bettered by the outstanding Skyrocket, which builds up from a melodic, folksy start to a cacophonous crescendo, in which Watercress could almost be the Velvet Underground at their peak. The lyrics are also captivating throughout, especially on the unusual and beguiling Cruelty, which is transformed from a throwaway to a little gem.
It is a great shame that a band with as much energy on stage as Watercress have now split up. We won't see them live again, but this album is a great reminder of how good they were, and of what might have been.

Price: 25.- €