10 Years Ago, We Got One of the Best Alt Rock Debuts of the Century: Here’s How It’s Holding Up Today

Much like the romantic pursuits described in this album, ten years later, this band is incredibly frustrating.

Back when I was in college in the mid to late-2010s, our local college radio station was still going strong. This meant that every summer when I went home to work to save money for school, I got to listen to amazing new alt rock bands that I may otherwise never have found. One of those bands was Catfish and the Bottlemen, and stumbling across their song “Kathleen” would go on to have a very profound impact on my musical life.Why am I telling you this story? Well, aside from my love of college radio, Kathleen and the album it came from, The Balcony, just celebrated their ten-year anniversary a few days ago in mid-September. Released on September 15, 2014, The Balcony was the debut album for the catchy Welsh rockers.

A Unique Blend Of Influences

One of the most captivating parts of “The Balcony” is how triumphantly Catfish introduced the world to their sound. In some ways it is easy to see who influenced them, yet the band still sounds remarkably unique and distinct compared to the prevailing alt and indie rock trends of the time.

The more familiar aspects of their sound are the clear influences from bands like Oasis, The Smiths, and Feeder. To me, the songs have a very Noel Gallagher-like structure and approach that’s generally built on catchy chord progressions as the base of most songs. The Smiths, specifically Johnny Marr, had more influence in the lead work of guitarist Billy Bibby at the time. Chiming, effects-laden leads were one of the biggest hooks for me, and great examples can be found on “Business”, “Homesick”, “Cocoon”, “Rango”, and “Pacifier”.

At the same time though, I always felt like there was a sprinkle of The Killers in the mix as well, especially with frontman Van McCann’s penchant for dramatic love songs and huge choruses. Overall, the band had announced themselves as a more classic alt rock option in a sea of dancier, poppier bands that were on the airwaves at the time. It was a formula that clearly caught the attention of many, myself included.

The Album’s Legacy

This is one of the top ten debut albums of all time in my book. And it’s definitely closer to the gold standard set by The Killers’ “Hot Fuss.” While the band’s follow-up albums are strong, “The Balcony” serves as one of the most raw and real narrations of working your way through romance in the 2010s.

The lyrical content is impressively descriptive, all while not relying solely on love song clichés. But to me, the real standout is the guitar work on this album. In lieu of traditional solos or big riffs, the album relies on Billy Bibby’s melodic game of cat and mouse with the vocals. The guitar lead lines aren’t pentatonic embellishments. They are counter melodies. Just listen to the haunting performances in the bridges of “Cocoon” and “Business.” Or, the leads on the chorus of “Fallout” and “Homesick.” All over the album, verses are beautifully dotted with guitar phrasing, and the last two tracks, “Sidewinder” and “Tyrants,” amount to almost being lad rock or pub rock jam sessions.

A Frustrating State Of Affairs

While this album is unequivocally one of my favorites, the band has been frustrating to be a fan of at times. Just recently, the band canceled the US tour, which I had promptly bought tickets to. But that aside, they have a history of hurried lineup changes and periods of no news or activity. Shortly after “The Balcony,” Billy Bibby left and was replaced by the equally talented Johnny Bond.

However, after their third album, a period of silence ensued that was only broken when guitarist Bond and drummer Bob Hall announced they were no longer with the band. Still, little has been publicly said about who replaced Bond and Hall on their recent tour in England. Hopefully, the band can sort itself out, as Van McCann has proven to be a prolific and talented songwriter at a time when indie rock has gone EDM. Nonetheless, this album is a perfect 10 for me, as I can listen to every song over and over, so here’s to 10 years!