Blossoms “Gary” Review – A Stockport Synth-pop success
Stockport’s greatest exports since Fred Perry, Blossoms, have returned with their fifth studio album, Gary. The modern-day indie-pop legends are renowned nationwide for their synth-driven indie floor fillers, and they certainly didn’t fail to provide even more on this new record. The band recently left their record deal with Universal Music Operations to set up their own label ODD SK Recordings.
The unrelentingly groovy Gary, named after a fibreglass statue of a gorilla that was stolen from a garden centre in Scotland, is kickstarted by Big Star. Setting the scene for the rest of the half an hour of head-bopping that follows, the album opener is classic Blossoms earworm that you’ll be humming for the next half an hour after the album is over.
The second track, What Can I Say After I’m Sorry? along with Nightclub, are two indie dance-floor hits produced by Josh Lloyd-Watson of Jungle fame, who clearly smeared the perfect amount of his band’s pop magic onto those two songs.
The title track may not be my ultimate favourite on the album, but it is a masterpiece that ties the entire thing together. Frontman Tom Ogden read an article on a lost statue and wrote a song about it. It’s silly and absurd, but it’s a hit, and I’ve been singing it for months. For me, Gary the song is what makes Gary the album so good. It’s a reminder that not everything has to be serious. It’s an album where every song makes you want to sing and dance and forget the world around you for half an hour. Blossoms are now bona fide indie-pop heroes, and this album solidifies that.
I Like Your Look is the standout track. Assisted by Irish pop icon CMAT, a slightly left-field, almost spoken-word tune about flares and designer fashion brands with arguably the biggest singalong chorus on the whole record.
Perfect Me might just be the ultimate Blossoms’ track. It is so Blossoms, but they do it so well. I also haven’t seen anywhere near enough love for Cinnamon or Mothers since release day, because they’re now two of my absolute favourite Blossoms songs ever. In fact, all ten tracks might be my favourite Blossoms tracks ever.
For its entire runtime, Gary is just pure indie-pop bliss. It’s short and sweet. It’s fun. It’s got some of their best songs in their entire discography and certainly doesn’t have any bad ones. It’s Blossoms’ crowning moment.
They are still making hits ten years in, and they show no signs of slowing down.
They are now embarking on a sold-out UK tour this autumn and have announced three outdoor summer shows across the country.