The Brakes have not always impressed me in the past; Give Blood has proved me wrong. Contained within the punchy, pithy and passionate half hour are sixteen pocket-sized tunes that contain off-kilter punk, blasting blues and experimental rock. There are excellent covers of the Jesus & Mary Chains Sometimes Always and Johnny Cash’s Jackson each recast in the Brakes style.

Short and to the point is the key here. There is no fat on these bones and it sounds so much better for them choosing not to pad out these tracks. Give Blood is a something to be treasured.

Label: Rough Trade
Website: www.brakesbrakesbrakes.com
Release date: 4th July 2005

Tracklist:

1. Ring A Ding Ding
2. NY Pie
3. The Most Fun
4. Heard About Your Band
5. What’s In It For Me?
6. You’ll Always Have A Place To Stay
7. Cheney
8. I Can’t Stand To Stand Beside You
9. Pick Up The Phone
10. You’re So Pretty
11. Jackson (feat. The Duke Spirit’s Leila Moss)
12. All Night Disco Party
13. Hi How Are You
14. Comma Comma Comma Full Stop
15. Sometimes Always
16. Fell In Love With A Girl