I really want to hate this this, but I just can’t. What appears like a DIY video of a bunch of teenage, West London hipster prats having a laugh and thinking they’re hubris personified should make the blood boil, and make levels of cynicism dangerously veer toward territory that can only be described as terminal. But ‘Being A Dickhead is cool’ this isn’t, and its certainly not a cheap shot or bare in its value. As much as I loathe to admit it, I really like this, and its very, very good indeed. And perhaps most frighteningly, this bunch of GCSE dodgers are most certainly only getting started. If ‘Drivethrough’ is their idea of a raw initial home recording, it oozes the sassy coolness and confidence and hip hop zeal that most bands and producer take years to cultivate, if they ever even achieve it. And all of it despite Only Real’s leader’s name being Niall Galvin.
They may strut and pose like brash stereotypical Skins characters, but I have to hand it to Only Real, they are appropriately named, and this is an impressive slice of slick attitude and mature beatmaking. ‘Recognise’. Or whatever Vanilla Ice lookalikes say in Putney these days. At least they talk the talk.
