On their third album it is less Chubby And The Gang and more just Chubby. Frontman Charlie Manning has lost ‘The Gang’, deciding to play all instruments and write every track alone on the bands third album And Then There Was… – and is probably better off for it.
A chaotic blend of hardcore and rock, And Then There Was… takes the best parts of the band’s sound and lets Manning create a new monster. Distinctly British, the album has flavours of the 60s/70s London punk scene while maintaining that hardcore edge that sets them apart.
At face value the album seems a daunting prospect with its 16 tracks but you get through them in no time. With only seven of the 16 tracks coming in at over three minutes, the album keeps you on your toes quicky going from track to track.
Straight away the diversity of the album is in show with opener ‘Neither The Day, Nor The Hour’ being a classic punk track before ‘There’s A Devil In The Jukebox’ has a bluesy feel. Starting off with slide guitar ‘There’s A Devil In The Jukebox’ starts in a pretty mellow fashion before launching into a blues-punk banger.
There’s a lot going on in each track, sometimes making it hard to keep up with Manning’s growled vocals. When the tracks are instrumentally firing on all cylinders, Manning’s vocals become less about the lyrics and more just another instrument in the mix.
While at points lyrics may be lost in the mix, And Then There Was… still features some of Manning’s best writing of his career so far. Tracks like ‘To Be Young’ and ‘Since You Said Goodbye’ showcase some of the best writing in the bands catalogue, making up for those moments when the lyrics seem to be lost.
From the first second to the last the record is punk in every way even when things are slowed down. ‘To Fade Away’ is a slower, brooding track with echoes of Nick Cave and closer ‘Cocaine Sunday’ is the most London centric track of the lot, but the perfect ending to the album. Ending on the slowest track on the album is a brave move, but one that totally paid off.
And Then There Was… is Chubby And The Gang’s most chaotic album while being their best. On the bands third album, Manning has come into his own both as a musician and a songwriter. Taking up the mantle of playing every instrument and writing everything himself is no easy feat, but Manning has made it sound easy. With 16 tracks, Chubby And The Gang’s third album is one of mostly highs leaving you wanting even more.
