Reviewed by Elliot Rose For this album, youth worker Mark Tiddy has ventured back into the studio, aiming to enhance the depth and impact of the songs featured on his 2010 debut album. Initially, this re-record kicks off brilliantly (ignoring a few timing issues), with a guitar/keyboard combo before bursting into an energetic, pulsing anthem, which for me makes "I Need You" the highlight of the fifteen tracks, including the newly written "Hopeless Romantic". Considering he's put this album together in a home studio, I'm impressed with the clarity of sound produced, from the funky bass lines to the punk-style electric guitars. However, the majority of the album still possesses the same flaws as the original. If I were to just copy and paste Ian Webber's review of 'Escape This Town', it would mostly be an accurate description of this version as well. Lyrically I was by no means inspired but the major downside to the album is Mark's vocal performance. Despite the rerecording, at times Mark's voice is so off pitch that it sounds like he's singing in a different key to the track. Also, as a lyricist, Mark has the unfortunate tendency of trying to scan awkwardly rhymed lyrics which made for an uncomfortable listening experience. So though this is an improvement on the original release, 'Escape This Town' is still some way from being an album I could recommend.
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I liked it. Yer there are swings and roundabouts but this is real music from a real person. Will mark be opening Glastonbury any time soon?? Maybe not quite yet but for a "pay what you think is fair" album this is definitely worth the benefit of the doubt