Yahoo! Music Album Review

Released on 04/12/06
Label: RCA

The key to Lil' Chris's stellar rise lies buried right at the end of his thank yous: "...Mrs Johnson from school for bringing in "Rock School". Lil' Chris, you see - for those in need of a catch-up - was the diminutive Lowestoft schoolboy on Channel 4's "Rock School", a reality show which saw Gene 'Kiss' Simmons attempt to mould a bunch of bored comprehensive kids into a rock band. From day one, LC - real name Chris Hardman - was the show's short, skinny, spunky star, yet he was denied (possibly for dramatic effect) the sought-after job of lead singer until the final episode.

From this point on, in his own words, "the outcome was never in doubt". Major label interest followed, although unusually - and he'll be grateful when the publishing royalties start rolling in - he's no-one's puppet. He gets the main writing credit on all the songs and his skater-boy image, as anyone who watched "Rock School" will attest, was in situ long before he'd ever heard of a cross-collateralization deal. In fact, there's even a song here that was penned by Chris and his classmates during the show: the consummately ballsy "Is There Anybody Out There? (Kickin' Off')".

This 'indie cred' can be put down to the avuncular guidance of veteran pop producers Ray Hedges and Nigel Butler, clearly relishing this diversion from their usual work supplying ditties to the likes of Ronan Keating, Emma Bunton, and assorted "Pop Idol" rejects. Here, they produce, mix, co-write and even play guitar and provide backing vocals, yet ultimately let their pocket dynamo speak (or wail, yowl, warble) for himself. Consequently, this debut bubbles with the innocent triumphalism of a 16-year-old who has escaped the run-down seaside town of a Morrissey song to have a Top Ten smash hit and the patronage of the NME.

It's one big headrush of classic, retro brat-punk that takes in everything from The Undertones to Kim Wilde. The Vapors get a look-in with a sly "uh-oh-eeh-oh!" tucked away in the middle eight of irresistible lead single "Checkin' It Out", while the chorus of "Gettin' Enough" owes a tonal and melodic debt to The Buzzcocks' "Ever Fallen In Love With Someone". It's all perfectly tailored to Chris's brattish, high-pitched tones, a priapic blend of Feargal Sharkey and Kevin Rowland. That's not to say there are no surprises: Hedges and Butler show their age with an unexpected Yazoo moment in electro emo-ballad "I Never Noticed".

There's time enough for profundity and progression. For now, this is a brilliant, unreconstructed adolescent dream come true. Here's to you, Mrs Johnson.

    by Anna Britten