Arctic Monkeys have proved themselves to be both a blessing and a curse to young Sheffield bands over the past few years. Sure, they've opened doors and paved pathways with their pioneering urban indie; but bands like Bromhead's Jacket, Little Man Tate and Reverend and the Makers will be forever in their shadow - even though, like the latter, they may not strictly be genre-buddies. Although Jon McClure - the man known as Reverend to his disciples, and prime song-scribe for his Makers - has the same knack as Alex Turner for unearthing the complexities facing 'today's yoof', there's an electro undercurrent lining The State of Things that sets RatM apart from their peers. The opening floor-stomping brace of the title track and Alex Turner-featuring The Machine are instantly likeable, as is the taut indie-funk of 18-30 and the reggae pant of Sundown On the Empire, while the fantastic He Said He Loved Me ('She used to go to bars / Now it's just rattles and baby food in jars') and What the Milkman Saw ('What's going on at number 34? / Kev said there's bodies buried underneath the floor / But this isn't murder, it's just Grenoside') are lyrically sharper than a sliver of Sheffield steel. Supposedly more influenced by Mancunian poet John Cooper Clarke than any palpable music source, the Reverend and his Makers have produced a debut album that certainly won't define an era, but will surely put a wry smile on your face with every listen.
