Good Shoes - The Way My Heart Beats

2006 was a blossoming year for a new wave of indie bands. It seemed that every where you turned there was a growing band who actually had something decent to contribute to the scene, and when we look back on it, I think we were in fact over whelmed with new, innovative acts, all of whom seemed to be under twenty years old. What with the exploding success of the Arctic's slightly prior to this everyone was excitable, who knew what would happen next?

We had Eel Pie Island hermits and general odd-balls, Larrikin Love. A gang of urban gypsies who set the London scene ablaze with their amazingly fantastic and utterly underrated debut record, 'Freedom Spark'. Then there was near-by Jamie T from Wimbledon. A cut-the-crap, fast talking, street dwelling wordsmith who's debut effort was near revolutionary. Weaving various patches from hip-hop to ska and indie to rap, the urban troubadour penned a genre-hoping first effort that put him very much in the driving seat of popularity. Next up was Brighton inhabitants The Maccabees. A sophistocated gang of quiet types whose lovable and bright art-pop was technically mastered, honestly heart-felt and rather different to everything else that was floating about, not to mention they returned with a tremendous second effort.

In between these bands a number of other floated around with enthusiasm and potential. Dustins Barmitzvah, Louie, Mystery Jets, Cajun Dance Party and Kid Harpoon poked their heads out for a glimpse and all released some wonderful first demo's and perhaps the odd album, but little remains after that.

Morden's Good Shoes were another one of these bands to add to the list. Their 2006 e.p 'We Are Not The Same' and their 2007 debut album, 'Think Before You Speak', were two rousing records that never quite reached their full potential. After a number of tours and some rather hectic shows Good Shoes then just disappeared a little.

This hiatus, it seems, has been spent wisely though. The London four-piece who previously thrilled us with tales of dissatisfaction and malcontent have returned with an arousing, speedy, indie-jab in the form of new track, 'The Way My Heart Beats', from which two things seem clear.

The first is singer-guitarist Rhys Jones' voice. Despite their stimulating and rip-roaring performances, it was clear that his vocals were a little inadequate. He wasn't the best singer and this came across even more in the live shows in which Jones struggles at points to catch his breathe and sing to his full potential. Now, however, there seems to be a more refined echo to his generally better vocals.

The second is their uber-catchy song writing. 'The Way My Heart Beats' is a sing-along of contagious tendencies that's in and out quicker than a virgin in a brothel. It's a quickly executed, stripped-down guitar spit that does the job in the time needed, quick and effective.

You can download the Good Shoes new track from their website, or better still, from the link below.

Download Good Shoes - The Way My Heartbeats