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Demo Review
TKO Hats Off EP
Article written by
Hattie N - Oct 24, 2005
What does TKO stand for? Do you care? Probably not, but feel free to spend the time you would have spent reading this review thinking up amusing three word phrases instead. Because there really isn’t much interesting to say about this four-track E.P. “Crashing Down” is nice, unchallenging rock with a tinge of oirishness (funny that, considering TKO are from the Emerald Isle), which is saved from dullness due to this indefinable edge it has: maybe it’s the use of that undervalued instrument the fiddle (or it could be a violin, and what’s the difference?); maybe it’s Mic Geraghty’s subtly gravelly voice; or maybe it’s the refreshing fact that this is definitely not art-rock, and isn’t trying to be. “My Fault” and “Monday Comes” are both indistinguishably MOR, though extra marks for lovely harmonies and being all melodic and graceful. Final track “(Jammin’ In) Room 5” is every bit as cheesy as the title sounds, and even borders on territory inhabited by the frankly awful Counting Crows.
“Hats Off” is ok, but nothing more. Save the last track, it’s a perfectly pleasant listen, and shows individuality and a desire not to be pigeonholed into some random subculture, although mellow-spaghetti-folk-rock may come close. Not exactly “Hats Off” to TKO then, more a restrained nodding of the head if you see them busking on a street corner in Dublin anytime soon