Okay, so these guys might not stand out like fellow British rock acts like Arctic Monkeys or The Cribs, but their second album proves their ability. Yeah, yeah, we know; the “Under Control” video is a little freaky, and we’re not fans of middle-aged, wrinkly, well-tanned female bodybuilders either. But, you have to hand it to these guys; it got your attention, didn’t it? No Hope, No Future, as a whole, gives these dudes an original voice as an upbeat, borderline power pop quartet.

The album opens with “The Way My Heart Beats”, which is a great example to illustrate Good Shoes’ sound. It’s filled with glorious Smiths-style, ‘60s-tinged guitar, a distinguished bass line, absolutely undeniable clashing drums, and the echoing vocal talents of Rhys Jones. Sure, they’re not Alan Donohoe (of The Rakes) vocals, but they’re pretty darn catchy. The opening track segues into the more mundane, almost shoegazing “Everything You Do.” Despite being a quality song, the track is a far cry from the majority of the release. Rhys Jones’ vocals are deeper and more subdued, the guitar is down-tempo, and Thomas Jones’ drums (yes, Rhys’ brother) are a lot slower. Including more than one of these melancholic songs might have been a serious drag on the album, but as a stand-alone bit of moroseness, the track works.

Four songs in, you will stumble upon “Under Control.” Yes, the infamous single with the ridiculous aforementioned music video. Our advice? Listen to the song before you go and YouTube the video. Undoubtedly, you will glean more out of the borderline disco vibe of this song by listening to it than you will from watching the video (which, again, is filled with unnaturally oily, muscular and over-tanned women, all old enough to be my mother). Regardless, this track, like the majority of the album, is catchy and upbeat, and there is nothing wrong with that.

The last few tracks of No Hope, No Future are varied in style and sound, displaying the versatility of the English band. “Times Change” is still a fine example of the guitar pop sound for which the group is famous. Stephen Leach’s lead guitar is in line with Jones’s drums, and William Church’s bass keeps everything together beneath it all. On this track, you get a good look at the group’s lyrical styling, which is pretty true to life, but darkly humorous at the same time. So what if it sounds like a break-up song? It’s hard to encounter an album these days, indie or otherwise, that doesn’t have at least a single lyric dealing with the worst part of the relationship cycle. Just ponder this line: “And the photos fade, and the hair turns grey, and the cracks turn into cavities/and now you both sleep in separate beds.”

I hope that Adam Ant is sitting in some forlorn corner of England, reading this review, because Adam, I’m talking to you! (Well, at least for this track.) On “1000 Miles an Hour” Here Rhys Jones sounds like he is channeling the millennium version of Adam Ant. It is a refreshing sound, especially this late on the album, but that is probably the only good thing about the song. The irritating repetitiveness of the lyric, “It was a thousand miles an hour / Sometimes, I was thinking it would never stop,” really begins to grate a minute or so into the song.

Thankfully, the last two tracks on No Hope, No Future manage to make up for the tragedy of “1000 Miles an Hour.” Again, “Then She Walks Away,” is a second example of how heartbreak weaves its way into Good Shoes’ music. But, both times, it just works. This time around, the sound is a bit more serious and not nearly as funny as “Times Change,” Jones's misery making for another great song. This ballad segues right into “City By The Sea,” which stands out from the rest of the album, as it is not nearly as visceral or musically upbeat. It reminds me a bit of Noah and the Whale, but slightly more energetic (and much less depressing). Still, the themes of love and new experiences are central on this track, and oddly enough, they work to Good Shoes’ advantage.

The musicianship between these four guys is solid, and their ability to seamlessly integrate the sounds of artists such as The Smiths and Adam Ant into their work brings a little something extra to their style. No, they don’t photocopy the talents of either band, but they make use of similar ideas to create their own original, power pop-like sound that anyone can bop along to.

Track List:
1. The Way My Heart Beats
2. Everything You Do
3. I Know
4. Under Control
5. Do You Remember
6. Our Loving Mother In A Pink Diamond
7. Times Change
8. Thousand Miles An Hour
9. Then She Walks Away
10. City By The Sea