Review: “Twelve Stops And Home” by The Feeling (CD, 2006)

Today’s Pop Rescue from an uncertain fate, is the 2006 debut album Twelve Stops And Home by British band The Feeling. Will this album Fill your Little World, or will it feel like a late-night rail replacement bus ride? Read on…

The Feeling - Twelve Stops And Home (2006) album. — The Feeling – Twelve Stops And Home (2006) album.

This 12 track CD opens with I Want You Now, which gives us playful ‘aaah’ vocals from Dan Gillespie Sells, set against chugging guitars. From the moment it begins, it’s a foot-tapper, as Dan leaps around these bright and cheery lyrics. At times, it sounds a bit too much fun, but it’s a belter of an opening song. We’re off to a great start.

That leads on to third single Never Be Lonely, and again there’s some great vocal playfulness, set against some nicely warm melodies and harmonies. It’s more mellow towards the end, and more mellow than the opening song, but it reached #9 in the UK charts.

Second single Fill My Little World follows that, bursting in with piano and acoustic guitars. This lets Dan to show off his vocal precision in the verses, and the vocal harmonies work wonderfully here. The song has an almost 60’s Beatles feeling it at times, but it’s another catchy track, and it was rightfully rewarded in the charts, reaching #10.

Next, the Kettle’s On, and the piano is back, and it is perfectly set against the bass, chugging guitars and a simple beat. Dan’s vocals seem to effortlessly flow through the song, in this fun ‘kettle’s on’ themed song.

Lead single Sewn follows that, opening with gentle vocals sounding not unlike something from James Blunt set against strummed guitar. A catchy ‘nah nah nah’ section helps to lure us into a catchiness right before the narrative kicks in about a ‘Danny Boy’ (no, not that one). This track feels emotive and epic, and the UK agreed, taking them to #7 with their UK debut.

Next is Anyone, and this gives us a more acoustic track to start with before the chorus arrives in a heartfelt rush of guitars and harmonies, with the song reaching its rockiest peak as it enters the final third of the track. It’s a nice melodious song.

That’s followed by Strange, and this gives us a song that has a sense of urgency to it, that runs alongside Dan’s higher register vocals that seem to effortlessly drift over the top. It’s a really nice song.

Then it’s Love It When You Call, which starts off with some wonderful little crushed synth effects bleeping away, with some growling guitars that Status Quo would feel all dewy-eyed over. Dan’s vocals dance across the top with yet more light and playful vocals that wriggle their way through to the end.

Rosé is next, and this gives a hugely lovestruck ballad that allows Dan’s rich and tender vocals alongside piano. Gradually, the rest of the band arrive, with echoing drumbeats and almost ethereal vocals. It’s a really nice song, but sadly by the time it hit the charts as the fifth and final single, it stumbled at #38.

That leads on to Same Old Stuff, which aptly gives us more wonderfully melodious music, vocals, and Beatle-esque harmonies. It builds really nicely with a great guitar solo roaring alongside the piano and thrashing drums as we head to the final section.

Helicopter swoops in next as a simple hard beat sits alongside a piano that’s chased by Dan’s vocals. The track gives us some more playful lyrics that sit neatly against the melody.

It leads straight in to Blue Piccadilly, which is the final listed track, and this gives us lots of focus on Dan’s vocals, as he sings wistfully about travelling on the Piccadilly line of the London Underground – which gives the album its title. This feels like the big epic party finalé track, and is complete with the amusing did-they-get-the-muppets-in final moments… but then the track lingers, and you realise that it’s heading towards a hidden track.

According to Wikipedia and Discogs, this hidden song is titled Miss You, from about the 6m 15s mark. In which we hear a microphone being placed on the piano, and a gentle tinkling of ivories, as Dan’s vocals take up the loved-up lyrics. Here, he sounds wonderful, and the ending sounds like a little lullaby. It’s a lovely way to end the album.

The Feeling’s lead single ‘Sewn’ (2006).

Verdict

Over all, this album feels like a combination of the best bits of The Beatles, Cast, Ocean Colour Scene, and Oasis, thrown in together on a 00’s album.

After a great start with I Want You Now, and whilst there’s nothing on this album to dislike, the album does seem to weaken slightly until the second half, with Fill My Little World shining amongst these tracks, and then from Love It When You Call onwards it feels like it regains that excellence – with music and lyrics then hitting a consistent high.

Dan’s vocals give us thoughtful narratives, playful lyrics (Helicopter being the best example), vocals that dance around the scale with ease, and well produced catchy ‘indie-pop’ style songs.