Pete & the Pirates
Little Death
Release Date: Feb 18, 2008
Genre(s): Indie, Rock
Record label: Stolen
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Album Review: Little Death by Pete & the Pirates
Very Good, Based on 2 Critics
Based on rating 8.0/10
The past few years have seen the "grower" album come increasingly into vogue. More than ever, the arty and the arcane have dominated critical opinion and concert halls alike -- even well-established outfits like the White Stripes and New Pornographers have crafted their slow-burners and view-turners as well. Growers, it seems, are growing on us. That's why the debut LP of England's Pete and the Pirates comes as such a relief: Little Death comes roaring out of the gate.
Based on rating 3/5
The Mystery Jets and Young Knives are about to have some company: Pete Cattermoul and his Reading-based Pirates plough the same weird pop row, but with more attention to hooks and choruses. The "Pirates" is more than just affectation: there are plenty of rollicking, shantyish numbers (the misleadingly named Lost in the Woods, for one) that have the tang of salt air. These tracks are a surprisingly snug fit alongside the garage rock, the Mersey-style pop and the musty pastoral ballads that fill the rest of their debut - though this eclecticism does make Little Death feel like the work of several different bands.