Not every Unspun Hero has to move you to tears or startle you with epic storytelling. Sometimes an album comes along that simply makes you happy and want to dance around in the kitchen. Please Describe Yourself by Dogs Die in Hot Cars is one of those.
Released in 2004, it’s the only album the Glasgow band released, but it’s a cracker – a collection of well-crafted, humorous and catchy pop songs that brighten up any mood.
The influences on the young band are clear to see, with elements of Big Country, Talking Heads, Dexy’s and more than a smattering of mid-career XTC running through the record. It could have been derivative. It could have been a bit of a mess. But it wasn’t. It was fab.
Each song offers the band’s own unique take on their influences, with witty lyrics and musicians that are obviously enjoying playing together. With the bouncy piano opening of ‘Godhopping’ (which reached no.24 in the UK singles chart), the jangly indie guitar of ‘Lounger’, and the ska-infused ‘I Love You ‘Cause I Have To’, the band opens the album with a bucketload of positive energy. Later in the album they add woodwind and vocal harmonies, dabble in country and reveal a slightly unhealthy obsession with Lucy Liu.
Yes it’s a bit naive in places and a bit goofy, but that’s its charm.
Please Describe Yourself was only released 5 years after their first single, and then only as a CD. It made number 44 in the UK album chart and received positive reviews, but somehow it never entered the mainstream. Apparently the band tried recording another album two years later, but abandoned it and went their separate ways. Demos of this exist (one of the Unspun Heroes co-founders has a copy!)
A long-awaited vinyl release of the album, with extra tracks, was issued by the band in 2020 after long delays, and it looks like there are still very reasonably-priced copies available. Do yourself a favour and give it a whirl.
Scotland has produced more than its fair share of indie musical heroes, Unspun or otherwise, so expect us to return north of the border in coming posts.