‘Radio:ACTIVE’ is pop punker’s McFly’s fourth studio album, released free with the Mail On Sunday on the 20th of July 2008, and officially (including a deluxe edition) on the 22nd of September 2008. It was the first release under the band’s new self-constructed record label after the band came together back in 2004.
Released as a single on the 6th September 2008, first track ‘Lies’ charted 4th in the UK, and depicts the playful esque ‘Radio:ACTIVE’ offers with a dark edge projected in the music video. The familiar combination of Tom Fletcher’s and Danny Jones’ (also a co-producer) vocals with bouncy string sections and start and stop instrumentation patterns display McFly’s progression from their ‘Five Colours In Her Hair’ days. Although somewhat repetitive, the track builds up into a great example of the band’s talents with regards to instruments, production and songwriting.
‘One For The Radio’ is a jaunty, and ironically radio-perfect song which was originally simply called ‘Radio’. It conveys McFly’s want to by different from other, more conventional bands and artists on the airwaves, ‘here’s another lie from the heart.’ It reached number two in the UK singles charts from the 9th of July 2008 and aimed to bring fans together as it was never intended to be a fundamentally negative track. The punchy breakdown ‘We don’t, we don’t care’ leads wonderfully into Jones’ top notch vocals that inevitably become harsher as the chorus breaks out for the final time.
Third track ‘Everybody Knows’ is an optimistically driven song about growing up in a band rather than going onto further education or common careers like others, like McFly chose. It is well produced and sure to be a hit at concerts with a elevating yet gentle guitar solos, gang vocals and an uplifting tone. ‘Radio:ACTIVE’s’ third single ‘Do Ya’ has all the instrumental poise of a Queen song with a pop backbone, along with various tempos and tones throughout. Released to download from the 10th of May 2009 to promote McFly’s ‘Radio:ACTIVE Live At Wembley’ DVD, ‘Falling In Love’ is about missed opportunities and regret. Leisurely, tender and soppy, this song is a great gushy pop love song, ‘I can’t take another night on my own, so I take a breath and then I pick up the phone...’.
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| Radio:ACTIVE'S artwork |
Piano-led ‘POV’ has an explosive, anthemic chorus and emotion-ridden melody. It portrays the emotive and rugged sides of McFly, blended seamlessly into one track, depicting future potential. ‘Corrupted’ is a slick and dark illustration of a messed-up relationship featuring backing vocals from bassist Dougie Poynter. With finger clicking and acapella harmonising vocals, ‘Smile’ comes together for yet another big, repetitive chorus preaching happiness at all times, representing McFly’s bubblegum branch of music, which may appeal to some listeners more than others.
A song held back for three albums, ‘The End’ is a welcomed addition to ‘Radio:ACTIVE’; with its guitar and vocal simplicity it conveys the great vocal abilities of Fletcher and Jones linking into monotonous drumming, leisurely guitar solos and dawdling string sections. Despite the misleading name, it does not end the album as ‘Going Through The Motions’ brings back McFly’s surf rock style from their first album, which unfortunately mixes into sluggish and dense ‘Down Goes Another One’. Upbeat ‘Only The Strong Survive’ has been branded as the weakest track on the album previously, showing that the tail end of ‘Radio:ACTIVE’ is very lacklustre at times. However, this is disproven somewhat thanks to final offering ‘The Last Song’, which evolves from a few pokes of a piano into another rowdy, emotive, pop-friendly chorus.
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| McFly in 2009 |
‘Radio:ACTIVE’ reflects McFly’s strident progress from their first few releases, with boisterous pop punk compositions, lots of emotion and some great instrumentation. However, the band’s heaviest release to date (from 2008) is no depiction of musical perfection as it marks how unsure McFly appear as to who their audience actually is, although better tracks convey how much potential they have.
4/5
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