THE AUTOMATIC – Steve McQueen
Thanks to the distressing yelps of keyboardist Pennie and a suitably goofy music video, ‘Monster’ became a, well, monster hit. Such mammoth success was perhaps never on the cards for the Welsh indie tykes, and their decision to play it serious for their next album saw them swiftly drop off the radar. At least lead single ‘Steve McQueen’ gives it a good go, an arms-aloft anthem with snarling guitars and downtrodden lyrics.
UK chart placing: 16 Independent rating: 8/10
Good or bad: Take away ‘Monster’ and the turbo-charged turmoil of ‘Steve McQueen’ is a fantastic slice of Foo rock.