Album Review: My Device - Jumbo Fiasco :: Wessex Scene Online

Album Review: My Device - Jumbo Fiasco

9th December 2007
Kathryn Hegarty

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On paper My Device have a lot going for them, supporting the likes of Kasabian, The Enemy and Babyshambles, and even going on to win NME Breaking Band of 2006.

Despite all this the 3 piece from Brighton haven’t jumped on the indie bandwagon and offer a refreshing energy and passion that is arguably absent from the current talent today.

My Device sound like what brightly coloured paint looks like splattered up a blank wall- pure chaos! This chaos is exciting but occasionally hard to listen to. "UH!" the opening track is initially disappointing but an average song is suddenly turned upside down by thrashing guitars and vocals. My Device sounds like a raw, dirty, edgier version of Test Icicles, minus the new rave, and, strangely, a little like The Futureheads in places. This mish mash of styles and genres is what makes this band and the energy they produce, consequently meaning every song on this album is different and no song sounds the same on Jumbo Fiasco.

The messages behind their lyrics range from the usual topics, such as breaking up in "Fixxa Uppa", to the just plain crazy, such as giant babies in "Super Tonio!". This band is anything and everything and very far from ordinary! Their best song by far is "Life is a Blast", with touches of Billy Talent at the start and in the chorus adding another element to My Device and their eclectic album. Due to their mixed up style, many of their songs always start or end stunning, but few songs completely work. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, however, as it proves that this band isn’t contrived in any possible form.

My Device are one of those bands that you see live first and get into the record later. The band is well known for their energetic live performances and you can see why on the very first listen of Jumbo Fiasco. My Device are, however, very much an acquired taste. The album really is a bit of a fiasco but a highly enjoyable one.

Jumbo Fiasco is out now on Shifty Disco. My Device play Southampton Joiners on 28/11/2007.