Stolen From the Radio, 10/01: A Genuine Freakshow

I always found it strange when I’d pick up a cd from the CJLO bin that wasn’t from the current year. Had it just come in? Did it get discarded somehow a few years ago, then found again, then discarded again? Who knows. Either way, I stumbled upon some beauties this way, and A Genuine Freakshow is one of them.

Hailing from the UK, this 7-piece band released their debut full length “Oftentimes” (picture above) in 2010, though it only made its way into my hands over the summer of ’12. It’s an indie-pop record with charting power, though it’s hardly made waves here in Canada. The band’s insistence on integrating a bit of an orchestral vibe throughout the record is a wise choice, adding an element that isn’t often heard in a standard pop album, and doing it really well. I found myself playing the record over and over upon acquiring it, which can’t possibly be a bad thing – though I did tire of Timothy Sutcliffe’s vocals a bit after a while. Give it a listen, you might like ‘em!

Enjoy!

-Al