Good Intent is the debut album by English alternative rock band, Press to Meco. Released on 16 October 2015 on Best Before Records, the album was produced by Neil Kennedy.
| Good Intent | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 16 October 2015 | |||
| Recorded | 1 October – 12 November 2014 | |||
| Studio | The Ranch Production House, Southampton | |||
| Length | 39:03 | |||
| Label | Best Before | |||
| Producer | Neil Kennedy | |||
| Press to Meco chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Good Intent | ||||
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Background and recording
editRecording initially began during the first half of 2014[1] with Dan Weller (SikTh, Enter Shikari)[2] but work had to be halted due to financial problems. Prior to the surfacing of these issues, the band released the track, "Family Ties" as a free download on 10 April 2014 from these sessions.[3] Recording then resumed in October later that year, this time with Neil Kennedy who had handled production of the band's Affinity EP. Funded through a PledgeMusic campaign, the band achieved 144% of their target, with 5% of the goal being donated to the Teenage Cancer Trust.[4] An additional 10% of the money raised over the targeted amount was also donated. Three previous songs from the Affinity EP - "Honestly", "Tired Bones" and title tack, "Affinity" - were re-recorded for the album, with work concluding on the record on 12 November 2014.
Speaking about the lyrical content of the album, drummer and vocalist Lewis Williams explained that, "It's about growing up and becoming far more aware of the world, the people around you and what being human means. Its manic, overthought, tongue-in-cheek and sarcastic at points. It's the stuff I'm trying to get out of my head at 3am." While discussing how the band wanted the record to sound sonically, guitarist and vocalist Luke Caley stated, "We wanted this album to be a lot rawer sounding and less produced than our previous recordings. Neil [Kennedy, producer] really nailed it too."[5] Preceding the album's eventual release the following year on 16 October 2015, the band released lead single, "Means to an End" a month prior on 17 September.[6]
Critical reception
editUpon its release, Good Intent received largely positive critical response. Rating the album four out of five, Already Heard summarised that the album was, "an excellent debut record that hits the sweet spot between heavy and melodic to offer a sound that's uniquely refreshing as it is catchy."[7] In a similarly positive review, Hit the Floor described the album as a, "creative melting pot [that] aims to take the listener on a genre journey that will both surprise and inspire [them].", concluding that, "Good Intent is a spark of insanity and an original masterpiece."[8] In another four out of five rated review, the Courier Online wrote: "Filled with math rock-inspired guitar noodles and bass-driven grooves, the band have put together a masterfully melodic debut record that doesn't invite comparisons, because the three-piece are in a league of their own."[4] In a more critical review, Punktastic writer Rob Barbour noted a disconnect between the newer and older material on the album, stating, "We get the sense that the band have included some of these older songs in order to justify the release of a full-length album and subsequently the end result suffers. That's not to say 'Good Intent' is bad by any means, but rather than a cohesive album its simply a collection of good songs."[9]
In August 2016, Good Intent was nominated for Independent Album of the Year at the 2016 AIM Independent Music Awards where it found itself up against the likes of A Moon Shaped Pool by Radiohead, Blossom by Frank Carter & the Rattlesnakes, The Ship by Brian Eno and Konnichiwa by Skepta amongst others.[10] The band ultimately lost out to the Little Simz album, A Curious Tale of Trials + Persons.[11]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Family Ties" | 3:54 |
| 2. | "Diffusion of Responsibility" | 3:15 |
| 3. | "Honestly" | 3:43 |
| 4. | "Means to an End" | 3:22 |
| 5. | "Autopsy" | 3:39 |
| 6. | "Manipulate" | 3:24 |
| 7. | "Affinity" | 3:48 |
| 8. | "Apprehension" | 3:45 |
| 9. | "Tired Bones" | 3:19 |
| 10. | "Ghost" | 2:43 |
| 11. | "Sacred Grounds" | 4:13 |
| Total length: | 39:03 | |
Personnel
editPress to Meco
- Luke Caley – guitar, vocals
- Adam Roffey – bass guitar, vocals
- Lewis Williams – drums, vocals
Additional personnel
References
edit- ^ "LSRadio's Brendan Walsh spoke to Press to Meco about their upcoming album and tour antics with Fizzy Blood ahead of their gig at Sound City". Mix Cloud. 3 May 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
- ^ "10 New Bands That Prove Rock Isn't Dead - Page 7". What Culture. 12 December 2017. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
- ^ "VIDEO: Press To Meco - Family Ties". Dead Press. 10 April 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
- ^ a b "Press To Meco: Good Intent". The Courier Online. 26 October 2015. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
- ^ "PRESS TO MECO". Rotosound. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
- ^ "Press To Meco Release New Single, 'Means To An End'". Punktastic. 17 September 2015. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
- ^ "Album Review: Press to Meco - Good Intent". Already Heard. 16 October 2015. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
- ^ "Press To Meco - Good Intent - Album Review". Hit the Floor. 1 October 2015. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
- ^ "Press to Meco - 'Good Intent'". Punktastic. 3 November 2015. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
- ^ "NEWS: AIM Independent Music Awards 2016 full shortlist announced". God is in the TV. 3 August 2016. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
- ^ "Christine & the Queens, Stormzy and Daughter win AIM Awards 2016". DIY Mag. 7 September 2016. Retrieved 30 October 2020.