The Proclaimers

Notes and Rhymes

Craig and Charlie Reid are still going strong more than 20 years after introducing Scottish folk geek chic and those lovely, defiantly long vowels to the world.

Their eighth album kicks off with a nice rockabilly shuffle in the title track, followed by Three More Days, a Motown-lite attempt at a new Proclaimers anthem, a la I'm On My Way. Free Market and the anti-war I Know show that the brothers' social conscience is still intact, and complement some downbeat vignettes from their homeland.

Just Look Now, in which they reflect on Scotland's economic and cultural renaissance since their heyday, sits next to Sing All Our Cares Away, which reminds us that things aren't all peachy.

There's also a dash of country with It Was Always So Easy (To Find An Unhappy Woman) and the rousing soul stomp of Wages of Sin.

Best tracks: Just Look Now, Sing All Our Cares Away

• Reviewed by Nick Ward, CDs for review supplied by Everyman, Nelson
  

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