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Fans of the Feeling's bright, playful, and undeniably British songcraft will get a similar buzz from the Hoosiers, who mine the same crop of influences (ELO, Supertramp, and other vintage pop/rock groups) but deliver a frantic performance reminiscent of the Kooks and Hot Hot Heat. The Trick to Life is strongest when the band works to meld both those styles -- luminous power pop and nocturnal indie rock -- into such U.K. chart-toppers as "Worried About Ray" and "Goodbye Mr. A." Choral harmonies, organs, and angular guitars combine on the latter song, which dissolves into a psychedelic freak-out after four minutes of candy-coated hooks. "Worst Case Scenario" follows a similar pattern; Irwin Sparkes' guitar cuts choppy patterns throughout the verse, but the chorus brings nothing but bounce and summery sparkle, with Sparkes' bandmates echoing their frontman's voice in sweet bursts of harmony. Elsewhere, the Hoosiers fly their oddball flag high on tracks like "The Trick to Life" and "Run Rabbit Run," two songs whose quirky grandeur recalls the experimental work of post-Neon Ballroom Silverchair. In fact, Sparkes shares a number of similarities with Silverchair's Daniel Johns, from his extended falsetto range to his vocal theatrics (which run the gamut from cooing sighs to dramatic, rock opera stylings). So while it might be easy to write off the Hoosiers as a cheeky clan of Jeff Lynne wannabes, the second half of The Trick to Life shows a diversity that's missing from the band's hit singles. Only when the Hoosiers ride a poppy riff into the ground or attempt to emulate Muse (as they do during "Killer") does this debut suffer, but those mistakes are few and far between.
© Andrew Leahey /TiVo
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Toby Smith, Producer, Keyboards, Recording Engineer - The Hoosiers, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Alfonso Sharland, Background Vocal - Martin Skarendahl, Composer, Lyricist, Bass, Background Vocal - Irwin Sparkes, Composer, Lyricist, Guitar, Vocal - Alan Sharland, Composer, Lyricist, Drums - Sam Miller, Engineer, Whistles - Alan Gordon, Composer, Lyricist - Garry Bonner, Composer, Lyricist - Andy Saunders, Recording Engineer - Duri Darms, Keyboards
(P) 2007 Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Toby Smith, Producer, Keyboards, Recording Engineer - The Hoosiers, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Alfonso Sharland, Background Vocal - Martin Skarendahl, Composer, Lyricist, Bass Guitar, Background Vocal - Irwin Sparkes, Composer, Lyricist, Guitar, Vocal - Alan Sharland, Composer, Lyricist, Drums - Sam Miller, Engineer, Recording Engineer, Whistles - Duri Darms, Keyboards
(P) 2007 Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Toby Smith, Producer, Keyboards, Recording Engineer, Background Vocal - The Hoosiers, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Alfonso Sharland, Background Vocal - Martin Skarendahl, Composer, Lyricist - Irwin Sparkes, Composer, Lyricist, Background Vocal - Alan Sharland, Composer, Lyricist - Sam Miller, Engineer, Mixing Engineer, Whistles - Andy Saunders, Recording Engineer - Duri Darms, Keyboards
(P) 2007 Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Toby Smith, Producer, Keyboards, Recording Engineer, Background Vocal - The Hoosiers, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Alfonso Sharland, Background Vocal - Martin Skarendahl, Composer, Lyricist - Irwin Sparkes, Composer, Lyricist, Background Vocal - Alan Sharland, Composer, Lyricist - Chris Storr, Trumpet - Fayyaz Virji, Trombone - Sam Miller, Engineer, Recording Engineer, Whistles - Mike Smith, Saxophone
(P) 2007 Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Toby Smith, Producer, Keyboards, Recording Engineer, Background Vocal - The Hoosiers, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Alfonso Sharland, Background Vocal - Martin Skarendahl, Composer, Lyricist - Irwin Sparkes, Composer, Lyricist, Background Vocal - Alan Sharland, Composer, Lyricist - Sam Miller, Engineer, Mixing Engineer, Recording Engineer, Whistles - Neil Sidwell, Trombone - Kwame Yeboah, Keyboards - Martin Winning, Flute, Saxophone - Matt Holland, Trumpet - Jonathan Byers, Cello - Samuel Swallow, Arranger - Trevor Miers, Trombone - John Willmott, Saxophone
(P) 2007 Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Chris Brown, Viola - Toby Smith, Producer, Keyboards, Recording Engineer, Background Vocal - The Hoosiers, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Alfonso Sharland, Background Vocal - Martin Skarendahl, Composer, Lyricist - Irwin Sparkes, Composer, Lyricist, Background Vocal - Alan Sharland, Composer, Lyricist - Sam Miller, Engineer, Mixing Engineer, Recording Engineer, Whistles - Kwame Yeboah, Keyboards - Jonathan Byers, Cello - Emma Parker, Violin - Samuel Swallow, Arranger - Heather Babke, Violin
(P) 2007 Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Toby Smith, Producer, Keyboards, Recording Engineer, Background Vocal - The Hoosiers, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Alfonso Sharland, Background Vocal - Martin Skarendahl, Composer, Lyricist - Irwin Sparkes, Composer, Lyricist, Background Vocal - Alan Sharland, Composer, Lyricist - Cenzo Townshend, Mixing Engineer - Sam Miller, Recording Engineer, Whistles - Matt Holland, Trumpet - Trevor Miers, Trombone
(P) 2007 Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Chris Brown, Viola - Toby Smith, Producer, Recording Engineer, Background Vocal - The Hoosiers, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Alfonso Sharland, Background Vocal - Martin Skarendahl, Composer, Lyricist - Irwin Sparkes, Composer, Lyricist, Background Vocal - Alan Sharland, Composer, Lyricist - Sam Miller, Engineer, Mixing Engineer, Recording Engineer - Tamasin Healey, Violin - Matthew Denton, Violin - Duri Darms, Keyboards - Jonathan Byers, Cello - Samuel Swallow, Arranger
(P) 2007 Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Toby Smith, Producer, Keyboards, Recording Engineer, Background Vocal - The Hoosiers, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Alfonso Sharland, Background Vocal - Martin Skarendahl, Composer, Lyricist - Irwin Sparkes, Composer, Lyricist, Background Vocal - Alan Sharland, Composer, Lyricist - Sam Miller, Engineer, Mixing Engineer, Recording Engineer, Whistles
(P) 2007 Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Toby Smith, Producer, Keyboards, Recording Engineer, Background Vocal - The Hoosiers, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Alfonso Sharland, Background Vocal - Martin Skarendahl, Composer, Lyricist - Irwin Sparkes, Composer, Lyricist, Background Vocal - Alan Sharland, Composer, Lyricist - Cenzo Townshend, Mixing Engineer - Sam Miller, Engineer, Mixing Engineer, Whistles - Andy Saunders, Recording Engineer - Duri Darms, Keyboards
(P) 2007 Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Chris Brown, Viola - Toby Smith, Producer, Keyboards, Recording Engineer - The Hoosiers, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Alfonso Sharland, Background Vocal - Martin Skarendahl, Composer, Lyricist, Bass Guitar, Background Vocal - Irwin Sparkes, Composer, Lyricist, Guitar, Vocal - Alan Sharland, Composer, Lyricist, Drums - Sam Miller, Engineer, Mixing Engineer, Recording Engineer, Whistles - Tamasin Healey, Violin - Matthew Denton, Violin - Jonathan Byers, Cello
(P) 2007 Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Chris Brown, Viola - Toby Smith, Producer, Recording Engineer - The Hoosiers, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Alfonso Sharland, Background Vocal - Martin Skarendahl, Composer, Lyricist, Background Vocal - Irwin Sparkes, Composer, Lyricist, Background Vocal - Alan Sharland, Composer, Lyricist - Sam Miller, Engineer, Mixing Engineer, Recording Engineer, Whistles - Sam Swallow, Arranger, Keyboards - Martin Winning, Flute, Saxophone - Matt Holland, Trumpet - Jonathan Byers, Cello - Emma Parker, Violin - Heather Babke, Violin - Trevor Miers, Trombone
(P) 2007 Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Toby Smith, Producer, Keyboards - The Hoosiers, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Skarendahl, Composer, Lyricist, Bass - Irwin Sparkes, Composer, Lyricist, Guitar, Vocal - Alan Sharland, Composer, Lyricist, Drums - Sam Miller, Engineer, Mixing Engineer
(P) 2008 Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Toby Smith, Producer - The Hoosiers, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Skarendahl, Composer, Lyricist - Irwin Sparkes, Composer, Lyricist - Alan Sharland, Composer, Lyricist - John Davis, Mastering Engineer - Sam Miller, Engineer
(P) 2007 Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Toby Smith, Producer, Keyboards - The Hoosiers, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Skarendahl, Composer, Lyricist, Bass - Irwin Sparkes, Composer, Lyricist, Guitar, Vocal - Alan Sharland, Composer, Lyricist, Drums - Alan Gordon, Composer, Lyricist - Garry Bonner, Composer, Lyricist - Duri Darms, Keyboards - Something Else Productions, Recording Engineer - Barry Gardner, Engineer
(P) 2007 Virgin Radio Limited
Toby Smith, Producer, Keyboards, Recording Engineer - The Hoosiers, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Alfonso Sharland, Composer, Lyricist - Martin Skarendahl, Composer, Lyricist - Irwin Sparkes, Composer, Lyricist - Sam Miller, Recording Engineer - Jake Ridley, Producer, Drums, Bass Guitar, Keyboards, Re-Mixer - Matt Holland, Trumpet, Fluegelhorn - Trevor Miers, Trumpet
(P) 2008 Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Toby Smith, Producer, Keyboards, Recording Engineer - The Hoosiers, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Alfonso Sharland, Composer, Lyricist - Martin Skarendahl, Composer, Lyricist - Irwin Sparkes, Composer, Lyricist - Sam Miller, Recording Engineer - Matt Holland, Trumpet, Fluegelhorn - Tha Prof, Mixing Engineer - Trevor Miers, Trombone - Ashanti Boyz, Producer, Re-Mixer
(P) 2008 Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Toby Smith, Producer, Recording Engineer - The Hoosiers, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Alfonso Sharland, Composer, Lyricist - Martin Skarendahl, Composer, Lyricist - Irwin Sparkes, Composer, Lyricist - Sam Miller, Recording Engineer - Tinchy Stryder, Rap - Melox Marvels, Re-Mixer
(P) 2008 Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
The Hoosiers, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Skarendahl, Composer, Lyricist - Irwin Sparkes, Composer, Lyricist - Alan Sharland, Composer, Lyricist - Alan Gordon, Composer, Lyricist - Garry Bonner, Composer, Lyricist - Matt Snowden, Recording Engineer
(P) 2007 Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
The Hoosiers, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - BILLY JOEL, Composer, Lyricist - Matt Snowden, Recording Engineer
(P) 2007 Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
The Hoosiers, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Alfonso Sharland, Composer, Lyricist - Martin Skarendahl, Composer, Lyricist - Irwin Sparkes, Composer, Lyricist - Matt Snowden, Recording Engineer
(P) 2007 Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
The Hoosiers, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Alfonso Sharland, Composer, Lyricist - Martin Skarendahl, Composer, Lyricist - Irwin Sparkes, Composer, Lyricist - Matt Snowden, Recording Engineer
(P) 2007 Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Toby Smith, Producer - The Hoosiers, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Skarendahl, Composer, Lyricist - Irwin Sparkes, Composer, Lyricist - Alan Sharland, Composer, Lyricist - Alan Gordon, Composer, Lyricist - Garry Bonner, Composer, Lyricist
(P) 2017 Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Toby Smith, Producer - The Hoosiers, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Skarendahl, Composer, Lyricist - Irwin Sparkes, Composer, Lyricist - Alan Sharland, Composer, Lyricist
(P) 2017 Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Toby Smith, Producer - The Hoosiers, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Skarendahl, Composer, Lyricist - Irwin Sparkes, Composer, Lyricist - Alan Sharland, Composer, Lyricist
(P) 2017 Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Toby Smith, Producer, Keyboards, Recording Engineer, Background Vocal - The Hoosiers, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Alfonso Sharland, Composer, Lyricist, Background Vocal - Martin Skarendahl, Composer, Lyricist - Irwin Sparkes, Composer, Lyricist, Background Vocal - Chris Storr, Trumpet - Fayyaz Virji, Trombone - Sam Miller, Engineer, Recording Engineer, Whistles - Mike Smith, Saxophone
(P) 2007 Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Toby Smith, Producer - The Hoosiers, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Skarendahl, Composer, Lyricist - Irwin Sparkes, Composer, Lyricist - Alan Sharland, Composer, Lyricist - Samuel Swallow, Arranger
(P) 2017 Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Toby Smith, Producer - The Hoosiers, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Skarendahl, Composer, Lyricist - Irwin Sparkes, Composer, Lyricist - Alan Sharland, Composer, Lyricist
(P) 2017 Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Toby Smith, Producer - The Hoosiers, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Skarendahl, Composer, Lyricist - Irwin Sparkes, Composer, Lyricist - Alan Sharland, Composer, Lyricist - Samuel Swallow, Arranger
(P) 2017 Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Toby Smith, Producer - The Hoosiers, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Skarendahl, Composer, Lyricist - Irwin Sparkes, Composer, Lyricist - Alan Sharland, Composer, Lyricist
(P) 2017 Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Toby Smith, Producer - The Hoosiers, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Skarendahl, Composer, Lyricist - Irwin Sparkes, Composer, Lyricist - Alan Sharland, Composer, Lyricist
(P) 2017 Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Toby Smith, Producer - The Hoosiers, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Skarendahl, Composer, Lyricist - Irwin Sparkes, Composer, Lyricist - Alan Sharland, Composer, Lyricist
(P) 2017 Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Toby Smith, Producer - The Hoosiers, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Skarendahl, Composer, Lyricist - Irwin Sparkes, Composer, Lyricist - Alan Sharland, Composer, Lyricist - Sam Swallow, Arranger
(P) 2017 Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Toby Smith, Producer - The Hoosiers, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Skarendahl, Composer, Lyricist - Irwin Sparkes, Composer, Lyricist - Alan Sharland, Composer, Lyricist
(P) 2017 Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Album review
Fans of the Feeling's bright, playful, and undeniably British songcraft will get a similar buzz from the Hoosiers, who mine the same crop of influences (ELO, Supertramp, and other vintage pop/rock groups) but deliver a frantic performance reminiscent of the Kooks and Hot Hot Heat. The Trick to Life is strongest when the band works to meld both those styles -- luminous power pop and nocturnal indie rock -- into such U.K. chart-toppers as "Worried About Ray" and "Goodbye Mr. A." Choral harmonies, organs, and angular guitars combine on the latter song, which dissolves into a psychedelic freak-out after four minutes of candy-coated hooks. "Worst Case Scenario" follows a similar pattern; Irwin Sparkes' guitar cuts choppy patterns throughout the verse, but the chorus brings nothing but bounce and summery sparkle, with Sparkes' bandmates echoing their frontman's voice in sweet bursts of harmony. Elsewhere, the Hoosiers fly their oddball flag high on tracks like "The Trick to Life" and "Run Rabbit Run," two songs whose quirky grandeur recalls the experimental work of post-Neon Ballroom Silverchair. In fact, Sparkes shares a number of similarities with Silverchair's Daniel Johns, from his extended falsetto range to his vocal theatrics (which run the gamut from cooing sighs to dramatic, rock opera stylings). So while it might be easy to write off the Hoosiers as a cheeky clan of Jeff Lynne wannabes, the second half of The Trick to Life shows a diversity that's missing from the band's hit singles. Only when the Hoosiers ride a poppy riff into the ground or attempt to emulate Muse (as they do during "Killer") does this debut suffer, but those mistakes are few and far between.
© Andrew Leahey /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 34 track(s)
- Total length: 01:58:08
- Main artists: The Hoosiers
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Sony Music CG
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
(P) 2017 Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
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