STEREOPHONICS' last single "Maybe Tomorrow" suggested that there might just be a future for the band beyond the sad arena cliches they seemed to be readily sliding into.
OK, it was hardly a radical departure from their 'formula', but at least it had a likeable lightness of touch. Since then, though, Kelly's got onto his dictatorial trip with a vengeance and sacked big-haired drummer Stuart Cable for allegedly alowing his outside interests to interfere with his commitments to the band.
Well, I can only say Stu's come off best if "Since I Told You It's Over" is anything to go by; proving conslusively "Maybe Tomorrow" was but a mere flash in the pan. This is truly dreary stuff, with Kelly's apparent mutation into Rod Stewart surely nearing completion. I suppose if we're being kind, we could say he's trying to inject some emotion the way Liam G did when confronted with Noel's dog's dinner songs circa "Be Here Now", but however you read that it's horrible faint praise as "Since I Told You It's Over" is merely tired, schmaltzy and as lowest common denominator as they come. Listening to Cable's drumming, you kinda feel he knew it was coming all along as he sounds bored, distracted and close to falling asleep.
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The two acoustic Dutch Radio session flipsides try their best to make up lost ground and "Nothing Precious At All" in this setting is not too far from passable, with the lonely Fender Rhodes momentarily sparking interest. It's quickly dashed by the take of "Madame Helga", though, which - even in this stripped-down form - suffers from a ridiculously over-elaborate, OTT arrangement that only further over-eggs the pudding. If that's possible.
It's depressing to rewind and remember fine Stereophonics' early singles like "Looks Like Chaplin" and "Local Boy In The Photograph" and then be confronted with this bilge that they fling at us in the name of progression and 'real' passion these days. Where once there was emotion and energy there's now only a cast-iron corporate heart. If Cable's sacking isn't the death knell, it bloody well should be as "Since I Told You It's Over" is one sorry spectacle. Do yourself a favour and take the title's advice, Kelly.
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