Check out what we thought of Album 4 from the Scottish trio.
It feels like every UK music fan and their dog (and their dog’s dog, for that matter) predicted greatness for The Xcerts when their heartfelt, colossal third album ‘There Is Only You’ dropped a couple of years back. They’ve seen steady if not spectacular progress since then, but now they’re back with another 10 exceptional, moving songs.
‘Hold On To Your Heart’ presents a wiser, less angsty take on The Xcerts’ formula – but the hooks are still there, make no mistake. Songs like raging lead single ‘Feels Like Falling In Love’ and the warm, fuzzy title track are right up there with the best the band has ever written, but it’s the more unexpected twists of this album that really hit home.
Piano-led opener ‘The Dark’ is carried along by Murray Macleod’s soaring voice and is brilliant in its simplicity, while there’s even a saxophone to go with the huge chorus on ‘Drive Me Wild’; the greatest ’80s anthem to be released in 2018 so far. And what’s more? It works.
It all makes an album full of awesome, genuine pop-rock music. Time will tell if this album and the next couple of years propel this band to the huge rooms these songs were made for, but for now? A great band just got even better.
