We Were Promised Jetpacks

These Four Walls (Fat Cat)

By Callye Morrissey
Published: July 21st, 2009 | 12:00am

We Were Promised Jetpacks may borrow from their influences (Frightened Rabbit, the Twilight Sad), but in the meantime, the Scottish quartet has learned how to write instantly catchy songs. The Glasgow friends met in high school, and their first outing was at a Battle Of the Bands contest. They won the challenge, and the result of years of playing is captured on their debut, These Four Walls.

These Four Walls is a tremendous exertion that begins with the single “It’s Thunder and It’s Lightning,” a hard-hitting yet emotional opener. Vocalist-guitarist Adam Thompson has some straightforward, memorable lyrics as he wails, “I have to say goodnight / I’m leaving before you punch out my lights.” Standout tracks include “Quiet Little Voices,” a ramped-up track that finds Thompson declaring, “Quiet little voices creep into my head / I’m young again / I’m young again / I’m young again.” The obvious single with an obvious title, “Ships With Holes Will Sink” leaks faint similarities to UK bands Bloc Party and the Futureheads.

The group's years of playing together most likely allowed for extensive revisions and perfection of These Four Walls. If We Were Promised Jetpacks can release another album in a quarter the amount of time with songs just as good, then I’ll be convinced of the raw talent that they seem to possess.

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