Album Review - Tasty Fanzine

Tim Mullineaux has done what very few of us ever really achieve. He's formed a band, so far as I can make out almost entirely on his own, and is gleefully indulging his Britpop fantasies with a combination of mockney elan and a certain wry humour. Taken on their own, The Lucky Face's songs are at least quite good, crashing bar chords and sardonic observations given added impetus through Mullineaux's own enthusiasm and his cheerfuly matey persona. He'd make a great postman.

Mullineaux certainly makes a serious bid for art pop notoriety, if not actual immortality with this 12 tracker. It's another grey evening down Tim's street but the guitars are in tune, the words all rhyme and look what the cat's doing ... there just isn't time for boredom when there's the 1990s to relive in their entirety between now and the R4 closedown tune. The Lucky Face are more than just lucky, and at their best, Mullineaux's songs actually reach the giddy heights of Davies and Welleresque wit and assonance. Fab.

Album Review - Whisperin' And Hollerin'

Following the plethora of makeshift offerings and download-only singles that have appeared over the past couple of years along with last year's debut physical release, namely the 'Lounge' EP, this is the first full-length album proper from one-man band Tim Mullineaux, a.k.a. THE LUCKY FACE.

This collection of effortlessly catchy and extremely radio-friendly pop songs includes versions of all four (sic) well-received single releases. Mullineaux might well have forsaken innovation, but his slightly self-deprecating sense of humour shines through during tracks like the helplessly optimistic 'Self Help' and the bittersweet, feline-inspired tongue-in-cheek melancholia of 'When Edie Decides' (meowww!) time and again

Hyperactive nocturnal adventure 'Underneath The City Lights' takes centre-stage, emitting massive instantaneous oddball appeal by the bucket load, whilst the easy-come-easy-go copping-off anthem 'John, You Always Get The Fit One' boasts absurdly high levels of guttural-voiced intensity despite its ostensible 'shrug-of-the-shoulders' stance.

Making it all sound so effortless that he could be on autopilot, Mullineaux includes a rendition of an early creation, 'Calamity', as well as shades of music-hall-influenced pop that smiles in the face of evil before the brief but intricate country-tinted (and possibly ironically-titled) finale 'Fifteen Minutes'.

Refreshingly as well as deceptively light-hearted, this debut LUCKY FACE album is an all-embracing extravaganza that can't help but celebrate everything we love about pop music.

Mike Roberts

 

Like Ronnie Said To Phil - Loud Horizon Review 

Yup! - Tim Mullineaux (aka THE LUCKY FACE) has only bloomin' gone and done it again! This is another superbly crafted, radio-friendly single. Combining a general bluesy feel (incorporating, weird as it may sound, harmonica and piano snippets that sound like a combination of Billy Joel's 'Piano Man' and the theme tune to 'Cheers') with a compulsive sing-a-long chorus is certainly a winner with this reviewer.

In the background the piano combines effortlessly with some subtle guitar pickin' and the vocals take on a more rasping and really soulful feel through the choruses and link. The backing vocals add some lovely harmony and altogether, this is the best from THE LUCKY FACE to date - even though once again I have no idea what the hell he's singing about!

The 'B-side' is 'No Personality' and seems a more 'serious' song. Again, it is beautifully constructed and the harmonies are a little bit 'Beautiful South' - but without the female touch.

This is the fourth LUCKY FACE review I have written, following 'Underneath The City Lights;' 'Leech,' and 'Sunk Soul Song,' and on each previous occasion I have made mention of the fact that by rights (as a punk man, myself) I should not like this type of music. And maybe in general terms that still holds...............but no longer in the case of THE LUCKY FACE.

Count me in!

Jesus H. Tap Dancin' Christ - I have seen the light!

(Available worldwide on a download basis from 7th June 2010)

(9/10) Colin Jackson.

 
Underneath The City Lights - Room Thirteen Review

'Underneath The City Lights' is the debut single to come from The Lucky Face. I found it remarkably comforting to know there are still some great talents being discovered and this band is one of them.

This single is bursting with great rhythms, which are mainly down to the acoustic guitar presence. The vocals are perfectly melodious, the harmonies on track and with the whistling sound amazing. While listening to 'Underneath the City Lights' I found it awfully TV friendly, it is a song that could be one of those 1960's/70's cartoon like themes to programmes such as Trumpton or Bagpuss. The second track on this release, 'Ian's Got A Complex' is another amazing song with the addition of keys.

If you want to be reminded of your childhood days or those of your parents, or if you are just after an incredibly good tune then The Lucky Face have just the number for you.
11/13 - Michelle Moore.