St Jude, by The Courteeners (LP on Polydor)

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The words “hotly anticipated” are much overused in the music industry but one glance at the forum pages for The Courteeners would justify that term in relation to the band’s debut album St. Jude – due on April 7th. Named after the patron saint of lost causes, and the icon that hangs around singer Liam Fray’s neck, St. Jude is the debut album from a band that are quickly cementing their place in the list of great Manchester bands.

The Courteeners’ passage to this point of acclaim from Radio 1, Q Magazine and the NME has come about through the old fashioned method of building a fanbase via playing live. Much overlooked by many of their contemporary bands, The Courteeners base is built with solid foundations. What other band in 2008 can claim to have sold out the 500 capacity Manchester Academy 3 before signing a record deal? To have sold out Manchester Ritz (1000) and London’s King’s College (500) on their first single proper? To now having sold out Manchester Academy (2300 tickets in a couple of hours) and London’s Astoria (2000) after their second single?

And it’s these live shows that have now become legendary for the singalong participation of the audience. This is the mark of The Courteeners, a fierce dedication to the band that means you have to know every word, have to know every inflection because it matters. In that respect, the comparisons to former Mancunian sons such as The Smiths, Stone Roses and Oasis are correct. It is also the mark of a great lyricist in the making – something that producer Stephen Street was not slow to pick up on.

Throughout St. Jude, Fray’s lyrics resonate with fierce honesty, biting wit, and his knack of conversational story telling shot through with an ability for a well timed barbed put-down does indeed remind of Morrissey, but also John Cooper Clarke and Jarvis Cocker.

St. Jude is available physically on CD, Heavy Weight LP and Special Addition 2CD format. The Special Edition 2CD features the original recordings of Cavorting, No You Didn’t, No You Don’t and Acrylic with the b-sides Kimberley and An Ex Is An Ex For A Reason plus the acoustic version of Bide Your Time (given away as a free 1 sided 7” at the band’s Manchester Academy2 2007 gig). These tracks make up the Here Come The Young Men EP that was released earlier in the year in Japan. Also included are acoustic versions of the singles Acrylic, What Took You So Long? and Not Nineteen Forever. Packaged in a 6pg digipak with alternative artwork and a 16pg booklet.

1.             Aftershow     
2.             Cavorting               
3.             Bide Your Time         
4.             What Took You So Long?         
5.             Please Don't         
6.             If It Wasn't For Me         
7.             No You Didn't, No You Don't         
8.             How Come         
9.             Kings Of The New Road         
10.             Not Nineteen Forever         
11.             Fallowfield Hillbilly         
12.             Yesterday, Today & Probably Tomorrow         

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Other items by The Courteeners:

Acrylic by The Courteeners (CD single, £2.99)

Cavorting by The Courteeners (7", £24.99)

Not Nineteen Forever by The Courteeners (CD single, £1.99)

Not Nineteen Forever / If It Wasn't For Me by The Courteeners (7", £0.99)

St Jude by The Courteeners (CD, £15.99)

What Took You So Long/ Slow Down by The Courteeners (CD single, £2.99)

What Took You So Long/ Tomorrow (Live) by The Courteeners (7", £2.99)