For those who haven’t heard of Kodaline (don’t worry, I didn’t
until a few weeks ago either!), they are a four-piece alt-rock band from
Dublin, Ireland. As far as I’m aware,
they were previously known as 21 Demands. I’ll be honest, I think Kodaline is
far superior name!
Kodaline were nominated for MTV’s ‘Brand New for 2013’ award
as well as BBC’s ‘Sound of 2013’ award – which gives an indication of just how
successful everyone’s expecting them to be this year. (No pressure, guys!) They
released ‘The Kodaline’ EP in September 2012 and released ‘The High Hopes’ EP
this month – in fact, this track is taken from it. If the EP is anything to go
by, these guys are going to be huge.
‘High Hopes’ is the kind of song that makes you feel relaxed
and calm but very much alive at the same time. The lyrics are probably one of
the most important things for me when it comes to a good song and there’s no
denying the power of these lyrics. They help to create the ‘relaxed but alive’
feeling with ease. Songs tend to be fairly subjective; for me, this song
screams of being hurt by a relationship coming to an end and finding yourself
rediscovering a hope that you’d momentarily forgotten. For that reason, I think
it would be a great song to listen to after a break-up because, yes, you might
cry but you’d find yourself feeling empowered too. Well, I would!
The vocals (Stephen Garrigan) are great. He’s got a great
range and ultra-soothing tones to his voice. There’s also a hint of
vulnerability in his vocals on this track which help to give it that little
special something.
Let’s not forget the other three members (guitarist – Mark Prendergast,
drummer – Vinny May Jr, and bassist – Jason Boland). They all help to create a
sound that’s mildly haunting and yet, somehow, uplifting; a happy melancholy.
Lastly, I cannot review this song without briefly mentioning
the video. Steve Rusell did a superb job directing the video; it’s powerful, it’s
emotional, it’s haunting… Just like the song.
I predict that we’re definitely going to hear a LOT more
from these guys in 2013 so keep your ears peeled! Their upcoming album is
available for pre-order now on iTunes HERE for just £9.99 and will be released on 10th June 2013. If you want
to check out their previous EP’s, The High Hopes is available HERE for £1.99 and The Kodaline is available HERE for £1.99 as well.
What do you think of the song and video? Yay or Nay?