February 6 2005
New Model Army – Great Expectations: The Singles Collection
It’s really no mystery why New Model Army never caught on in the United States, they were just too British to really latch on. Despite the the underground appeal of UK postpunk, frequent forays into folk inspiration via flourishes of violin, harmonica, and the ever-present strumming of an acoustic guitar insured that they would be viewed as an oddity rather than embraced. New Model Army share a lyrical bent with groups like U2; both groups were decidedly leftist and advocated better things for the underclasses, yet New Model Army’s allusions are more likely to confound an American audience than incite them. And really, it’s a shame because the singles collected on Great Expectations are all top notch: they storm along with a rare fire, only pausing long enough to remind you that a human heart beats underneath all the vitriol. Truly, we’ve been missing out on something great here.
