Conquest Reviews
Conquest
... "Finally, The Scruffs: as Memphians obsessed with anglophile pop, they were Big Star's heirs, Alex Chilton's comrades, and recorded at Ardent Studios. On Conquest SCRUFSSVILLE, the band's new album, head Scruff Stephen Burns still brings the hooks, only filtered through a cavernous, textured sound awash in strings, horns, steelguitars, and keyboards. From the rolling anthemry of the gleaming "Treasure Girls" to "Demon Mine"--shades of Nikki Sudden-Conquest is modern pop with depth and heart.
Scruffs Review via Uncut (scanned image)
CD Review – The Scruffs (Classic pop, but is it worth it?)
This indie-pop band has been around for over three decades. Despite that, they are still putting out solid albums, and this time with some famous help. Members of Big Star, Belle & Sebastian, Teenage Fanclub and The Proclaimers all lend their hand to Conquest, The Scruffs seventh official album (they also have “Swingin’ Singles” and “Angst: The Early Recordings”). Compared to their last album Pop Manifesto, this album is all about the power chords and stick-in-your-head choruses, like the “Oo-Mau-Mau” chorus on “Curse of the Mau Mau.” This is a must listen for anyone who craves catchy pop with a vintage foundation.
Conquest
Posted 1/18/10 at Burt-online.com
Imagine this. A band that recorded their debut outing some 32 years ago suddenly returns with an album as fresh and vital as anything the competition's offered in the interim. And on top of that, it comes courtesy of an outfit whose marquee pull is practically nil. Regardless, with the irresistibly infectious Conquest, the Scruffs offer a set that not only affirms the confidence echoed in the album's title, but more importantly, makes them worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as Big Star, Badfinger, the Raspberries, the Shoes, the Spongetones and any other band that's helped define the power pop idiom. A soaring blend of sprawling melodies, relentless refrains, billowing harmonies and undeniably effusive execution, every one of these dozen songs measures up as instantly memorable, equal parts acumen and adrenalin that sink in from the first note on.
Indeed, despite cheesy cover art that evokes the ruins of a Greco-Roman temple, Conquest is the kind of record that would incite any of their fellow retro rockers to drool over in envy. From the initial surge of "Conquer Me" and the robust strains of "Curse of the Mau Mau" to the drive and jangle of "All the Pharaohs" and the rollicking "Land of Trance," it suggests an album for the ages, its ancient muse notwithstanding. And while some sort of concept is implied in the themes, the imagery and the Scruffs' own survivor ethic, the set's strength is borne through the songs themselves. Clearly, this Conquest worthy of reaping the rewards.
Conquest
Review by William Ruhlmann at allmusic.com
As with previous releases by the 21st century reboot of the Scruffs, notably their last album, 2007's Pop Manifesto, Conquest finds singer/songwriter/guitarist/pianist/producer Stephen Burns, with a lineup also featuring Mike Baillie (guitar), Simon Cottrell (bass), and Mark Rodgers (drums), plus a large supporting cast, going for more of a neo-classic rock/prog rock style rather than the power pop for which the original band was known in the 1970s. Burns retains his talent for catchy melodies and his lyrical fascination with young women (one of them, in this case, is an "iPod Girl"), while as a record-maker he evokes mid-‘60s Beach Boys and Beatles, along with mid-‘70s Electric Light Orchestra (like the latter band, he even employs a string quartet). Making like Phil Spector, he constructs a Wall of Sound in which his gruff vocals are heavily echoed and often accompanied by what he calls "The Sun Records Million Dollar, Glaswegian 5 Quid Barbershop Choir." There are only a handful of members of that ensemble, according to the credits, but you've got to believe they've been overdubbed numerous times. And all the voices and horns and strings, plus the rock band at the center, have had a studio sheen applied to them to make the overall sound even bigger. Burns likes to focus on a particular instrument occasionally, as he does with Jim Spake's saxophone on "Savage Teen" and the organ on "Bad Memories." But he is after a widescreen effect on Conquest, and for the most part he achieves it.
The Scruffs : Conquest
By Michael Layne Heath at Popmatters.com
Back in 1977, a quartet from Memphis called the Scruffs had all the conceptual elements for power pop down pat. Mining similar lovelorn, lust-torn lyrical territory as hometown antecedents Big Star, the Scruffs had a comparable gift for wrapping post-adolescent angst in winsome harmonies and guitars set on high-treble jangle. Granted, the lead vocals of chief songwriter Stephen Burns did have an occasional tendency to wander dangerously close to Eric Carmen at his most earnestly horny. No matter. To those savvy enough to pick up on their debut LP, Wanna Meet the Scruffs?, it was plain that such standout tracks as “Break the Ice”, “Revenge”, and “I’m a Failure” were the brilliant if heart-rending craft of someone whose lady love was never going to suggest going all the way. That the tunes were so damned catchy was the cherry gravy on top.
What followed for Burns and cohorts was a serious string of buzzard luck: recording a second LP, Teenage Gurls, that was inexorably shelved; an unsuccessful move to NYC to crack that city’s Punk/Wave circuit. In their aftermath, one could be forgiven in thinking Burns and company were fated to join their fellow Memphian Chilton’s mob in bargain bin purgatory.
Thus, it was a joyous jolt a few years ago to witness the CD release of both Wanna Meet… and its unlucky sequel, via the British Rev-Ola label; even more so to discover that Stephen Burns was still making music. Indeed, since expatriating to Glasgow, Scotland in the late ‘90s, Burns has kept the Scruffs name going with a select crew of musicians, including such relative novices as members of Belle and Sebastian and Teenage Fanclub. Conquest is, in fact, this transcontinental Scruffs’ third offering (preceded by 1998’s Love, the Scruffs and 2006’s Pop Manifesto).
As one may expect, Burns’ voice has thickened and deepened with the years, though still recognizable as the yelping, frustrated player of Scruffs past. His talent for solidly constructed, rocking pop has hung in undiminished as well, as evidenced in the snap and swagger of this disc‘s “Treasure Girls” and “All the Pharoahs”, both perfectly anchored by none other than Big Star skinsman Jody Stephens. One of several pleasing recent developments on display is Burns’ skill for the slower, more atmospheric ballad. Barely glimpsed previously on tunes like Wanna Meet…’s swooning conclusion “Bedtime Stories”, the likes of “One More You” and especially “The Radio Song” (which details a broken romance or perhaps something darker) are dreamily affecting.
Burns has also expanded his instrumental palette since the days of Wanna Meet…. On Conquest, the basic two-guitars-bass-drums foundation is handily supplemented by horns, strings, and synths. A song like “One More You” benefits from the shadings of a string section that wouldn’t disgrace a Southern cotillion. Similarly, the almost Tom Scott-ish tenor sax winding through “Savage Teen” is appropriate for its comically schizoid arrangement, equal bits Jeff Lynne and Venus And Mars-era McCartney.
Not everything on Conquest hits the mark—its bookend tracks are, respectively, undistinguished FM pop and a ponderous prog-rock beastie that’s too much a reminder of all that one wants to forget about ‘70s rock.
Even so, in its best moments, hearing the Scruffs’ Conquest is like getting a postcard from a long lost compadre. Thankfully it’s not a postcard from the edge, but certainly one far edgier in its exuberance than the merchants of emo-glum and vacant vessels of glam currently fobbed off as 21st Century pop. Get with it; get conquered.
The Scruffs: Conquest
The Scruffs
Conquest
(Scruffsville, 2010)
The brainchild of lead guitarist and songwriter Stephen Burns, the Scruffs originally coalesced in Memphis in 1974, around the time of Big Star’s break-up. Burns, and frequent co-writer and sometimes bass player Rick Branyan, penned catchy rock tunes that aimed for pure pop perfection and often achieved it, albeit with a dark undertone that was theirs alone. Burns had a sardonic sense of humor that showed up in his skewed lyrics years before irony became a pop music staple. As good as songs like “I’m a Failure” were, it’s easy to see (especially with 20/20 hindsight) why the Scruffs might have put people off in 1977. Still, along with Big Star, they helped invent power pop.
In their first incarnation, the Scruffs recorded two albums—the now classic Wanna Meet the Scruffs?, recorded at Ardent Studios in 1977, and Teenage Gurls, which was recorded in 1978-1979 and went unreleased until 1998. Burns made an album as the Scruffs in the mid-’80s and moved to Glasgow, Scotland in 1998. Since 2000, he’s has released three Scruffs projects—Love, The Scruffs (2000), Swingin’ Singles (2003), and Pop Manifesto (2007).
Conquest is a blast from the past, a groove-heavy time machine full of hits from an alternative universe where it’s still 1977 and cool cats and foxy chicks rock the night away in skinny ties and beehive hairdos. An impressive cast of power-pop heavies add their talent to the proceedings, including drummer Francis MacDonald (Teenage Fanclub), vocalists Bobby Kildea and Stevie Jackson (Belle & Sebastian), guitarist Zac Ware (The Proclaimers), and Jody Stephens (Big Star), although the liner notes aren’t exactly clear on who plays or sings on any given track.
Things kick off with the anthemic “Conquer Me”, three minutes of lust driven by jackhammer drumming, sizzling cymbal crashes, surly power chords, and the shrieking, over-the-top lead vocal of Mr. Burns. The band channels the Trashmen, as played by the Cramps, for “Curse of the Mau Mau.” Burns sounds like Lux Interior as the band blends cheesy keyboards, grungy drums, and tribal vocal harmonies into a twisted R&B version of surf music. Distorted guitars and Beatles-esque harmonies make the simple pop of “Treasure Girls” so sweet it’ll send you into insulin shock. The cheeky “Yeah, yeah, yeah” quote from “She Loves You” puts the icing on this frothy confection. The blues-rock of “Bad Memories” brings to mind Blonde on Blonde-era Dylan with a sound that mixes a big organ with jazzy piano and a tasty, stinging guitar solo.
Burns nods to the modern world, at least conceptually, with “iPod Girl”, a Beach Boys pastiche full of sly humor and great backing vocals. The lush pop of “One More You” is as sunny as a summer breeze, with a delirious string quartet and Burns almost swooning as he delivers his yearning vocal. “Demon Mine” brings to mind George Harrison on belladonna, but the bright melody, soaring guitars, and cheerful harmonies make the tune sound more playful than sinister. “Savage Teen” inhabits an odd space between space age jazz, exotica, and ’70s pop. The verse is laid-back and jazzy, with a meandering sax line and peculiar Moog accents, then the tune kicks into overdrive with a pounding, hook heavy ELO chorus that has just a hint of ska in its backbeat. The track closes quietly with an extended Moog/sax jam.
Burns closes the album with “Land of Trance”, an echo-heavy, psychedelic freak-out marked by moaning harmonies, screaming guitar solos, wobbling Moog accents, and vocals that sound like a disturbed inmate going off his meds. Crashing power chords, dramatic rhythmic accents, and swooping, distorted slide guitar create a mysterious, carnival-like atmosphere that slowly dissolves into a solitary acoustic guitar and a single, solemn voice intoning long, sustained, wordless lamentations.
Even in their early days, Burns and the Scruffs wore their inspirations on their sleeves. They made powerful, crunchy, guitar-heavy music, but never quite transcended their influences. The same is true here, but discovering the quotes and tributes that float through the tunes is part of the fun.
Band of the Day: The Scruffs!
The Scruffs have been around, in some form or another, since 1975. Led by (and sometimes solely comprised of) Stephen Burns, the power-pop pioneers have had quite a journey over the last 35 years and haven't exactly been prolific, but they're trying to make up for it with their upcoming release, Conquest, their fifth studio album. Admittedly, I didn't know The Scruffs' history until after I first heard their new record, when I was tempted to label the band as Arcade Fire's fun-loving younger brothers. This of course seems somewhat absurd now, though I think the comparison still holds, especially with The Scruffs' dramatic pop style and Burns' quavering tenor voice. And perhaps describing them as youthful should be taken as a compliment as the band sounds remarkably fresh and energetic throughout most of Conquest as they provide 44 minutes of hook-filled rock and an undeniably great time.
Highlights include the wistful ballad "The Radio Song," the jangly "Demon Mine," and the smooth rocker "All the Pharaohs ," though most every tune is a solid pop anthem showcasing the considerable talent and quirky personality that makes these guys so easy to enjoy. Whether you've been a fan for years or are just now being introduced, take time to check out Conquest.
The Scruffs: Conquest [Album Review]
Like a time-warped whirlwind, the sometimes southern, sometimes Swedish, but always rockin’ band known simply as The Scruffs breaks through again, or for the first time. With the release of Conquest, this band of old-school rockabilly masters have truly conquered (all pun intended) the art of reinvention. Their songs have the ability to create massive nostalgia for middle-aged cats from the glory days, while still intriguing the ever-searching-for-nostalgia troubadours of the new times.
A song doesn’t get much catchier or more appealing than Conquest’s “Days of Silver and Gold”. It has the energy of a Billy Joel happy dance, but its Cult like lyrics that are mellowed down by the occasional “Aah Aah Aah” that’ll bring those spirits back up. The Scruffs bask in the glory days with multi-instrument touting tracks like “Savage Teen” or “Land of Trance”. And you can’t deny the almost awkward Costello-like song about the deviant torture of change, “iPod Girl”.
A splendid old school band like The Scruffs would come off as a leaning tower of cheese and corniness if it were to be reinterpreted by the youth of today. But, when it’s in your nature, blood, and experience, it is noticeable. And thankfully, with some original members in tow, the massive heartache of reinvention was not only surpassed, but it remained as pure as a Nun’s heart. Conquest is than just another great Scruffs disc, it’s as timeless as anything you’ll hear these days.
The Scruffs: Conquest
1.11.10
The Scruffs
CONQUEST-(SCRUFFSVILLE)- It was nearly 2 years to the day that The Scruffs released POP MANIFESTO, their terrific comeback record of sorts. Here they are again, head Scruff Stephen Burns with a few Glaswegian friends (and just like on POP MANIFESTO, it’s recorded at Cava Studios in Glasgow and Burns gets some of his famous friends to contribute: a few Belle & Sebastians (Stevie & Bobby), a Big Star (Jody Stephens), and an ex Teenage Fan Clubber (Frank McDonald) and the batch of songs, is , once again, fabulous. Incorporating his own wall of sound (while Phil is locked up) Burns gets things going with the majestic opener “Conquer Me” while “Curse of the Mau Mau” is what you want playing at your next luau instead of some cheesy Don Ho soundalike (at least get the real thing, right?) and just to show he’s up to date Burns offers up “Ipod Girl” which has more bah-bah-bah’s than any other song in recent memory. Later on he and the gang offer sultry sax pop in “Demon Mine”, Beatles pop in “One More You” , gorgeous acoustic tune in “Days of Silver and Gold” and maybe some inspiration from Teenage Fan Club on the fantastic “Treasure Girl” (and “All the Pharaohs”). Burns and his crack musical cast have done it again, let’s hope it doesn’t get forgotten about when the best of 2010 list come out. www.thescruffs.com
More Scruffs Reviews
Posted 1/18/10 at Burt-online.com
Imagine this. A band that recorded their debut outing some 32 years ago suddenly returns with an album as fresh and vital as anything the competition's offered in the interim. And on top of that, it comes courtesy of an outfit whose marquee pull is practically nil. Regardless, with the irresistibly infectious Conquest, the Scruffs offer a set that not only affirms the confidence echoed in the album's title, but more importantly, makes them worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as Big Star, Badfinger, the Raspberries, the Shoes, the Spongetones and any other band that's helped define the power pop idiom. A soaring blend of sprawling melodies, relentless refrains, billowing harmonies and undeniably effusive execution, every one of these dozen songs measures up as instantly memorable, equal parts acumen and adrenalin that sink in from the first note on.
Indeed, despite cheesy cover art that evokes the ruins of a Greco-Roman temple, Conquest is the kind of record that would incite any of their fellow retro rockers to drool over in envy. From the initial surge of "Conquer Me" and the robust strains of "Curse of the Mau Mau" to the drive and jangle of "All the Pharaohs" and the rollicking "Land of Trance," it suggests an album for the ages, its ancient muse notwithstanding. And while some sort of concept is implied in the themes, the imagery and the Scruffs' own survivor ethic, the set's strength is borne through the songs themselves. Clearly, this Conquest worthy of reaping the rewards.
Wanna Meet the Scruffs?
by Mark Deming, All Music Guide
Power pop bands who worship at the altar of Big Star are a dime a dozen today, but the Scruffs were doing that long before Alex Chilton became a cool name to drop, and Wanna Meet the Scruffs?, the sole album they released during their lifetime, is that late-'70s rarity, a slice of classic power pop that doesn't sound "new wave," unlike most of smart pop's class of 1978. Using Big Star and the Raspberries as a starting point, vocalist and songwriter Stephen Burns blended an Anglophile's sense of melody with a very American feel for crunchy guitars and the occasional power chord. And Burns' songs about dreams of rock stardom ("Break the Ice"), his vast array of romantic problems ("My Mind"), and his multitude of other anxieties ("I'm a Failure") suggests the neurosis of the early Modern Lovers sides without Jonathan Richman's willful childishness; in a genre where aggressive cheerfulness or good-natured arrogance were the order of the day, Burns' intelligent angst was something new and distinctive. And the band, anchored by David Branyan's tough, concise guitar leads, made music that was bright and hooky but still had backbone and plenty of punch; this is pop that earns the prefix "power." That so strong an album could slip though the cracks is both sad and puzzling, but the 1997 CD reissue of Wanna Meet the Scruffs? (augmented with two bonus demo tracks) thankfully restores a lost classic to circulation, and anyone who loves a good hook with an interesting idea behind it ought to seek this out. ~ Mark Deming, All Music Guide
Commercial Appeal
extract from article, 2nd June, 2006
....[Stephen] Burns is back in Memphis for only the second time in six years, working on a new album and -- perhaps more exciting -- leading the latest incarnation of the band in the first local Scruffs performance in more than 25 years.
The Scruffs -- featuring Burns (vocals and guitar) with United Kingdom bandmates Paul Napier (lead guitar), Simon Cottrell (bass) and Mark Rodgers (drums) -- will perform Saturday night at tiny Murphy's, 1589 Madison. Admission is $10, and the show could start as early as 9 p.m.
The band spent much of this week at Midtown's Ardent Studios, where the Scruffs (and Big Star) made their classic early recordings. The upcoming album, titled Pop Manifesto, mostly was recorded in Scotland, but Burns wanted to finish the CD and record a couple of new songs at Ardent, the studio where he's most comfortable (and where he worked as a doorman at age 17)....
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Stephen Burns (right) at Ardent Studios with new members of the group, based in Glasgow, Scotland. From left are guitarist Paul Napier, bass player Simon Cottrell and Mark Rodgers on drums |
 Picture by Lance Murphey/The Commercial Appeal |
Stephen Burns (left) reviews a mix with engineer Geoff Allan and bass player Simon Cottrell at Ardent Studios in Memphis.
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The Scruffs have received a great many reviews over the years and we do intend to gather a lot of these together and post them on the site. Meantime, here are some that can be accessed online:
- Interview with Stephen Burns for peacedogman.com
- f..y.e. Review of Pop Manifesto
- Daggerzine Interview with Stephen Burns
- Not Lame Review for Pop Manifesto
- Harp Magazine Review for Pop Manifesto
- Target.com Pop Manifesto review
- Billboard.com Pop Manifesto review
- Amplifier Magazine Review for Pop Manifesto
- Artist Direct Review for Pop Manifesto
- Amazon Link for Pop Manifesto
- Village Voice, original reviews for Wanna Meet and Midtown
- Review of Angst by Mark Deming, All Music Guide
- Little Hits rare article and pix on “She Say Yea” by The Scruffs
- Wanna Meet The Scruffs article from Japan, Target Earth Records
- History of Rock (in Spanish language)
