Disco de Ocean Colour Scene: “Saturday”

The last two Ocean Colour Scene releases showed promise of a truly great album and with Saturday they have delivered on that promise.

For those unaware of OCS they are a mod rock band that exploded onto the scene in the mid 90's with the blues-rock classic `Moseley Shoals'. While other bands of that period slipped away, OCS continued to release albums with decreasing sales, yet always playing to packed out live crowds. There's no doubt OCS are a live band and Saturday contains the best collection of new material to add to a setlist since their second* album, Marchin' Already.

OCS have always mixed guitar rock with soulful blues tunes and Saturday is no different. 100 floors Of Perception, Mrs. Maylie, Saturday, Sing Children Sing and Rockfield offer full-on rock tracks while Fell In Love On The Street Again and Village Life show Simon Fowler's lyrics at their best. Harry Kidnap, a song about Paul Weller's deceased father / manager is the album standout track, the sweeping orchestra adding a classic touch to this respectful tribute to this `old school' businessman... "We'll get by like we used to. When he used to run the show. He will smile and look youthful. Such a shame he had to go".

I've docked the album one star due to not having the lyrics in the insert and because other retailers offer a download with two extra tracks. I suggest purchasing this CD and getting the other two tracks separately.

* While Marchin' Already is officially their 3rd album, OCS do not acknowledge their self named album that ended up being produced in a style they were not happy with.

It seems that new ideas are gone with OCS... this CD sounds like the old OCS (but not with the masterpieces).