I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose

Artist: Bombay Bicycle Club

Released: July 2009

Length: 47m 52s

My review:

My first encounter with this band happened over 15 years ago at a local music festival on the blustery hill tops of Derbyshire, so it is fitting that I find myself writing this weeks review after finishing the take down for 2025's Y Not festival. Over the years I have found myself first as a punter, then volunteer and now an employee, working on the creative side of this festival and it has been fantastic to see it grow and develop into the force it has now become. Back in either 2009 or 2010 (I am struggling to find the lineups) I was introduced to Bombay Bicycle Club as I saw them perform at one of my first festival experiences, I was blown away, they were, and very much still are, one of my favourite bands to watch live. Since then I have seen them many more times in many more locations and they always deliver! Whether playing to a small crowd in an unassuming English field to headlining Benicàssim festival in Spain in front of thousands of fans (both of which I am pleased to say I witnessed), the music is always the same, fuelled by the passion and care they obviously have for their craft, you can literally feel the love exuding from the stage as their quintessential British sounds smother you, wrapping all around you like a warm comforting blanket.

First up we have Emergency Contraception Blues a lovely instrumental introduction to the album with the classic swooning guitars that will become a staple in both this record and eventually their overall sound. The transition into Lamplight is effortless and smooth as we pick up the pace and are treated to some tight drumming, inviting guitar licks and the first lyrics, sung with that adolescent twang, full of raw emotion and optimism that seems both inherently intense and bound by youth. After what seems like the natural rounding off of the tune the last third of the track is reserved for some call and response between the guitarists and an exploration into the conflicting loud and quiet sections, nothing here is groundbreaking in subject matter but the chemistry of  the band and its members is beginning to become apparent. Evening/Morning could have easily been my standout song, with that long drum filled crescendo before isolating the distortion heavy bass for a few bars before launching us into the midst of it all with twangy guitars and sincere lyrics. Again there is the juxtaposing use of volume and fake endings that keep the listener on their feet, heightening your senses, perpetuating your interest and attention. Next up we have Dust On The Ground another firm favourite, all the elements gel together so effortlessly it is difficult to believe that this is a debut album produced by a handful of school friends (mostly) in their late teens. There is an acute sense of understanding when it comes to composition as well as a certain maturity when deciding where to let each instrument gently take the lead, it all comes together with an assuring confidence, nothing is forced. Ghost has some of my favourite, and particularly relatable lyrics “always planned but never get things done”, and also the inclusion of the only swear word on the record, maybe this was the punk teen rebellion coming out but I like its placement and love the fact it was never an overused gimmick. Always Like This  is a stone cold classic and on another day could easily be my stand out song, with a deeply infectious sound full of emotion, especially when you are part of the crowd at a live show, with that deep thud of the kick drum prevailing in the second half after the little breakdown and everyone singing along to the chorus, that is a core memory that I will hold onto forever. Each track on this album is fantastic and Magnet is no exception, I love the switch to downtempo for the last minute which allows time for a pause and reflection; the fact that it it falls pretty much exactly at the midpoint of the album feels too orchestrated to simply be a happy coincidence. After that small and well placed interlude we are treated to Cancel On Me, my chosen stand out song and a whole other experience to see live, I dissect in more detail below. Autumn is probably the most experimental track on the album, detouring from the classical guitar lead structure utilised throughout the rest of the record, but it never feels out of place and is a welcome addition. The Hill holds the pure essence of the album for me, spelt out clearly through the lyrics, all about going out, revelling in simpler times, looking back now I realise that is exactly what they were. Another close call for stand out song was What If, full of the excitement and opportunistic nature of youth, open to the plethora of possibilities that come with it, the promise of young love or the fear of rejection that could come instead. Tying up the album we have The Giantess a soft lullaby-esque song that provides a beautiful and calm close to a perfect record, with its whispered lyrics and finger picked acoustic guitars, this sound would flow on impeccably into their next project and album Flaws.

This is one of those records that plays through perfectly, every single song is a 10/10, absolutely no need for any skips, the only necessary button is the repeat one, when you find yourself at the end of the album. Every time a song ends I can recall the next song and get excited for it while simultaneously struggling to comprehend how jam packed full of bangers this record truly is.

It has been a great privilege to follow this bands pilgrimage and progression from the very early days with this stunning debut, right through to their latest record Big Day Out released just a few years ago. I feel even more connected to their journey because of the fact that our paths started at fairly similar times and have often intertwined at different intersections. It happened in a similar fashion to that with the Harry Potter books; I found myself growing and maturing on a similar timeline, mirroring the evolution of the characters, or in Bombay's case, the very real lives of the band members.

Stand out song: Cancel On Me

I could have easily picked at least 4 of these tracks for my standout tune depending on my mood, I genuinely think that this is the hardest choice I have had to make so far for this blog. Cancel On Me starts off unassumingly enough with a catchy guitar hook and relatable lyrics about having plans cancelled on by friends/partners and them not taking responsibility. The song really comes into its own around the halfway point with an amazing, emotionally driven, distorted guitar solo, reminiscent of Funkadelic’s Maggot Brain in the sense that so much is being expressed without a single word being uttered. After another round of the chorus things are slowed down, again playing with the theme of volume and showcasing their gentler side and the dynamic range that the band has. We have another verse or bridge that to me has a more positive spin of finding that person again or finally getting over that person, I believe it can be interpreted in multiple ways, but either in any case I feel that the mood has lifted and we finish in a more confident place than we started. Then we get the rush sweeping us up again in another onslaught of heavy reverb guitars for an epic grand finale. This, for me, is the song that best demonstrates Bombay’s fantastic compositional awareness, utilising volume as an effective tool and centring around the pleasure and pain of being a teenager and expressing it in such a way that everyone can easily relate.

When to listen: 

For me this album will always embody hot sunny days and the carefree lifestyle of a long summer after finishing school, with the world at your fingertips. This was the soundtrack to that unencumbered and idealistic stage of my life and listening to this album will always take me right back there! I recommend listening to this album in the sun and out in nature, encompassed by the warmth of a cloudless British day in late June and surrounded by the bountiful lush greens, lying down in the long grass without a care in the world.

Spotify: Listen here

Vinyl:

While the album itself is fantastic, this pressing is nothing to write home about unfortunately, however it is by no means of terrible sound quality and this record would make a lovely addition to any collection. I'm not a fan of the translucent sticker with the blue writing that covers only a small section of the total cover but I soon forget all that as soon as the needle touches the wax. For me the music of Bombay is made for hearing first hand at their live shows and, for fans and first time listeners alike, I fully recommend for you to go and see them at your next and earliest convenience. Link to the pressing I own here - Discogs link

Other useful links:

Band website for music, merch and most importantly their upcoming tour dates. There is also a lovely 'about' page that tracks each album, giving a short but detailed description of the mood and vibes surrounding each record - https://bombaybicycle.club/

If you want to be a part of Y Not Festival 2026 you can check out their website and buy tickets here (I cant promise that Bombay Bicycle Club will be there though unfortunately) - https://ynotfestival.com/

If you like this try these:

Total Life Forever - Foals

Bloc Party - Silent Alarm

Metronomy Forever - Metronomy