You Can't Change That Boy

You Can't Change That Boy, the debut full-length from the Glasgow-based group Wake the President, came out on Electric Honey Records, a student-run label that has gained considerable attention for releasing, among other things, Belle & Sebastian's Tigermilk; given the semi-legendary nature of their label, Wake the President's debut enjoyed a healthy dose of hype prior to its release. While You Can't Change That Boy doesn't really reach the heights of Tigermilk, it's definitely a solid first effort, especially in light of mixtape-worthy tracks like "Professor" and "Miss Tierney." These songs really show off Wake the President at their best — that is, when they stop trying to act like a storytelling band (kind of like Belle & Sebastian) and start sounding, believe it or not, like R.E.M. — sure, they might have Scottish accents, but there's something about Eric Sandberg's arch, half-singing-half-speaking delivery, Bjorn Sandberg's jangly guitar work, and bassist Mark's knotty bass that just screams Reckoning-era R.E.M. ("Miss Tierney," "You Can't Change That Boy"). Contrast this with straight-up storytelling tracks like "Wake" and "Just Give Me Two Secs" (which almost sounds like something by the Proclaimers) and there's just no comparison — Wake the President are at their strongest when they stop trying to get all narrative and start getting fiery and danceable.