REVIEW; The Straights 'Waiting For Someone'

Britpop Is Back!

Straight off the bat, I can hear a lot of Oasis in this song. The chord progression really reminds me of the 1998 hit “D’ya Know What I Mean?”, but it feels fresh, which is so important. The key to having success in a particular genre is to make something that feels a little bit familiar to other songs in that genre, but also make something that doesn’t sound exactly like the thousands of songs from that era. It still has to surprise you. And that's exactly what I get when I listen to ‘The Straights’ new song “Waiting For Someone”.

So who are ‘The Straights’? They are a four piece band from Portsmouth,  who have blended their love of all things Britpop, Indie, Punk & Grunge. The band has received both national and international radio airplay. Although the pandemic put things on hold for the band in terms of performing live, it couldn't stall their success, and they went on to claim a high position in Amazon's music charts. A fantastic achievement for the lads!

Back to the song now, and it is a wonderful mixture to begin with of thumping drums, powerful guitar solos, groovy bass and really versatile vocals. For most of the song, it really does feel like a true 90’s anthem. Something that you could easily rock out too, especially on a Saturday night down your local boozer. It's clear to see that the success ‘The Straights’ have received is no fluke. You wouldn’t have thought that the band formed in 2019, which is also why the song is so impressive. It feels like you’re listening to a band that has been going for decades, a true testament to their chemistry.

What I really love about this song is that it takes many twists and turns. It's loud and heavy for the first part of the song,then naturally calms down a bit for the bridge, before returning back to its Oasis style verse and chorus. Then, just as you think the song is coming to an end, you are greeted with this minute or so long instrumental that's a bit softer. And you go into this kind of swaying folky outro that has acoustic guitars, keys and a clean electric guitar. It's like a last hurrah which I could imagine working really well in a live setting.

I really enjoyed this song. It really does have a bit of everything for everyone. And the fact that ‘The Straights’ have managed to come up with something that sounds so mature, so early on in their discovery, is really promising. Definitely a group to keep an eye on.

4/5  ​