New York based Rathborne (aka Luke Rathborne), releases his new album Soft. This indie-pop / garage rock album occasionally touches on the Ramones, with splashes of Dylan, Pavement, The Strokes and Lou Reed...

On first listen through I was surprised that 'Soft' was the album's opener. For me, it was one of the weakest songs on the album. Thankfully, this is followed by the infectious 'What More'; an upbeat, soft rock track.

But then, as track after track flowed by on subsequent listens, I realised that it was almost impossible to pick which song would make the best opener. Rathborne's songs are diverse and hard to not enjoy.

Highlights include the aforementioned 'What More'; 'Low!'; and 'Why' - the three tracks on the album that it's almost impossible not to get lodged in your mind for days.

Rathborne takes some of the classic sounds of rock and serves them up fresh for a new generation.

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Nick Smithson