During January 2004, Razorlight's Johnny Borrell gave that infamous interview where he suggested his debut album would be "better than Dylan" or words to that effect. Immdiately, we scoffed long and loud. Who was this young whippersnapper? It'll be fun savaging his album when it does come out, we thought.
Of course, while making comparisons with Mr.Zimmerman proved entirely redundant when "Up All Night" did finally appear, Borrell still got the last laugh. It was a fine album, full of charisma and great tunes and this writer recently voted it inside his personal Top 30 of 2004. For all his 'ex-Libertine' cred, it seemed Mouth Almighty Johnny wouldn't need to trade on his contacts after all.
And, approximately 12 months on, it looks like we're going to have to do a similar word-eating job where another Libertines acolyte is concerned. Initially, I admit, we were suspicious of THE OTHERS round W&H Towers. Dominic Masters was another outspoken mate of Peter Doherty's and wrapped up in that whole 'London's Burning' thing the dear old NME were thrusting into our midst. Bah humbug, we thought. This lot are bound to be crap.
Then their second single "Stan Bowles" hit the stereo. The moment of truth, we thought. And, despite all our reservations, it wasn't half bad. Ragged, but glorious, its' oik-like power was infectious and buoyed up by an illuminating pair of interviews Masters granted us over the next few weeks. That he walked it like he talked it was undeniable and when we caught one of their typically incendiary live shows at London's Cargo it seemed we were staring burgeoning greatness in the face.
So it's fitting that I'm writing about The Others' soon-come third single "Lackey" on New Year's day. For whether anyone likes it or not, 2005 is going to be a major year for this band and this single is the obvious trailblazer for an album that will be big news.
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Crucially, too, "Lackey" is the one that shows The Others amount to more than just Dominic's charismatic, Dickensian presence. Driven along by another of those metronomic, Peter Hook-style basslines from Johnny Others, it demonstrates The Others' musical wing are far more than simply muso-also rans orbiting their leader's creative sun. Before Masters even makes an appearance, we're treated to Jimmy Lager's spidery guitar work and Martin Oldham's steamhammer drumming and the end results are even more exhilarating and persuasive than "Stan Bowles."
Naturally, though, it's ultimately Dominic's weaselly, Bill Sykes-style presence that steals the show. "I don't wanna sell my soul to The Man today, I don't wanna throw it all away," he sneers, absorbing himself in another anthem that's destined to be quintessential Others and a calling card every bit as potent as "This Is For The Poor."
Natural selection will ensure 2005 kills off the majority of the 'London's Burning' bandwagon jumpers, but The Others are made of sterner stuff. This much we know. The rest will be made clear when the album arrives. Dominic's already said it'll be this generation's "Definitely Maybe" and at this moment in time you'd be foolish to dismiss the notion as empty rhetoric.
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