Reviews of We Go Out

Despite the name, Tiger MCs involves neither hip hop beats n rhymes nor a plurarity of members. Instead it is the nom de plume of Norwich's JB (James Butcher - who tans well and has a tufty beard apparently), however on this highly-anticipated debut LP he's joined by friends from Magoo, Alto 45, Little Who and Giant Robot and the City of Tokyo, bolstering the sound and making sense of the potentially confusing alias.
Soundwise this is an absolute winner, merging the coy, cosy style of The Shins or Pavement at their tenderest with vocals that melt your heart. Sonic Youth-style instrumental 'Job Job Giraffe' affably kicks the album off and 'America's Billboards' is a fine twee-pop number with lyrics as kooky as the vocals ('There's a ghost in the mainsail and a goblin in the captain's log'). 'Aces' is full-on electric with more than a hint of one of Graham Coxon's upbeat numbers and boasts some wondrous brass accompaniment. Two and a half minutes later you find yourself skipping back to hear it again.
However, some of the album's finest moments feature little more than JB picking at his acoustic, especially on the sombre, yearning and far, far too short 'Farewell Heart Hospital'. Also, 'Spooned, Snoozed and Straining' features a wonderfully cheeky lift of the chorus from Don Henley's 'Boys of Summer'.
If you like The Magic Numbers in principal but just can't get around the fact their songs are shit then this is the album for you - twee indie rock cooked to perfection, wholesome and satisfying.

Richie Brown for Culture Deluxe.

Tiger MCs provides yet more brilliance from the warm bosom of the Norwich music scene. His acoustic frolics have a warm comforting feel and along with members of Magoo, Alto 45, Little Who and Giant Robot and the City of Tokyo, tiger mcs makes music worth listening too, music that has an edge and a feel of real quality. It’s a really enjoyable listen, one you could quite easily bob along or lounge out on the warm grass on a summer’s day. Nice stuff. 4/5

Gareth for Funky As Fudge.

Norwich’s Tiger MCs also release their debut album We Go Out with a fun felt cover (a scene of some sheep in a field by a ten-year-old, ahhh) and the six-piece show an adeptness for twock (twee rock) over the whole album. I would’ve liked a couple of standouts as only the fun pop tune Aces and the amusingly named ‘the drowning of governess alpha’ stick out for me. An enjoyable listen all the same.

Alex Lawson for Shadowplay.

The enigmatically named JB is Tiger MCs, with a bunch of Norwich musical luminaries in tow for this album. Though it's JB's endearingly shambolic character that holds the album together, albeit barely, and makes it so loveable. It's extremely lo-fi, but naturally so, which comes as blessed relief in a time when affected amateur behaviour is becoming increasingly the norm in music.JB has a winsome, sundazed voice, none more so than on the lovely woozy 'America's Billboards'. Other times he just does what feels right, regardless of how it hangs together. So you find him rocking out like a fey version of Graham Coxon on 'Aces', performing a lovely circular instrumental in 'Farewell Heart Hospital or buzzing like the Wedding Present on 'Job Job Giraffe'.Even the seemingly throwaway elements work really well, such as the nursery rhyme like 'Birdy' and when he dips into Don Henley's 'Boys From Summer' on 'Spooned, Snoozed and Straining'. Stick with this album though, as he's saved his best til last. 'Lillie Bee' comes complete with strings and keyboards that bring comfort in their warmth yet are tinged with sadness. JB's voice mingles wonderfully with a mystery female voice and produces a beautiful number to end a rather fine album.

Russell Barker for Russell's Reviews.