Reviewer: Sophie Flint Vázquez
Released: 23rd May 2025
Label: Distiller / Bright Antenna
Sports Team, a band founded on chaos, have always known how to host a meaningful celebration. Their third album, ‘Boys These Days,’ once again critiques the absurdities of contemporary British life against a backdrop of classic guitar music. They never take themselves too seriously, and their sardonic humor remains as sharp as ever. On the title track, Alex Rice sings, “When I was your age we didn’t even have doors, we just had playing in the traffic with rocks,” poking fun at weaponized nostalgia. It's this kind of genuinely heartfelt sarcasm that has cultivated their fiercely loyal fan base.
In addition, ‘I’m in Love (Subaru),’ a bright, sax-infused standout, questions whether purchasing a red Subaru Impreza (“Immaculate leather and chrome!”) could solve all problems. Even in the album's more sincere moments, where the band reveals depth beneath their snarky self-awareness, they still manage to inject a few sharp critiques. For example, while ‘Moving Together’ explores the concept of true love, the line “Train delays mean I’m running late” pulls the listener back into a harsh reality. Similarly, ‘Maybe When We’re 30’ depicts aging in middle Britain, complete with reading The Telegraph and lodging complaints with the council about rubbish collection.
However, Sports Team have always recognized that significant ideas resonate better when expressed amidst a rowdy mosh pit, so ‘Boys These Days’ is filled with anthems. ‘Condensation’ is a fervent homage to sweat, the upbeat ‘Head to Space’ taps into their slapstick sensibilities, and the Western-themed ‘Bang Bang Bang’ charges in with style. ‘Boys These Days’ doesn’t aim to resolve anything; it’s a snapshot of a nation, a scene, and a band all striving to maintain their composure while enjoying themselves. And in these times, that may be all that's needed.
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Critiquing the nonsensical aspects of contemporary British life against a backdrop of classic guitar music.