Album review: The Would Bes' 'A Beautiful Mess'

Before The Strypes and The Whereabouts, Cavan laid claim to The Would-Be’s. The early-'90s indie band that teetered on the brink of stardom, yet never quite made it over the edge are back after 23 years with their debut album 'A Beautiful Mess’.
Formed in the late 1980s, The Would-Be’s released a number of singles that regularly achieved 'single of the week’ status. Their debut song 'I’m hardly ever wrong’ garnered serious radio play and was championed by the late BBC legend John Peel. The band even earned a support slot at Morrissey’s Dublin gig, yet in a classic case of too much too young - the average age of the band was just 17 - The Would-Be’s faded from the spotlight and returned to their everyday lives.
Yet as Julie McDonnell’s ethereal voice cries “It’s never too late, it’s never, never, never, never, never too late” on the perfectly poppy 'Some other planet’ it’s clear that it’s not too late for The Would-Be’s. Band members Aidíne O’Reilly (saxophone and trombone), Julie McDonnell (singer), brothers Matthew (guitar) and Paul (drums) and Eamon Finnegan (bass) have pieced together an album which perfectly encapsulates their unique indie sound.
Released last month through Cork’s Fifa Records the album features 10 tracks all written by the Finnegan brothers.
There are unmistakeable strains of The Smiths and The Sundays in The Would Be’s music, with their intelligent guitar work and poignant lyrics but there is also the added brass element and the allure of Julie’s Debbie Harry-esque vocals. The opening song, 'A Beautiful Mess’, is a wave of timeless melodies which instantly transports the listener back to the '90s.
While there is a certain repetitiveness to a couple of tracks, songs like 'Could be the Weather’, 'Let’s play dumb’ and 'Some other Planet’ stand out as the powerhouse tracks on the album, showcasing the band’s ability to weave catchy harmonies with brash melodies.

Jenny McGovern