Ahhhh. Dopamine. My little treasures. Opening with their usual melodic guitar riffs and pretty vocals and lyrics, ‘This Message’ already has me hooked, I’m staring into space with a smile on my face instead of staring intelligently at my computer keyboard. I do, however, raise a furrowed brow when the lead singer announces, “Is it ok if I carve my name into your heart?” as I’m not sure if I really want the name ‘Neil’ etched into my chest.

Dopamine haven’t changed, they still have the ability to write songs which make you want to sing along and kiss your walkman. Unlike almost every other band in existence, Dopamine’s predictability is what makes them so good. You know what’s coming and you know you’re going to like it. Second track, ‘Wake Up’ has a lovely little harmonic chorus at the end which made me feel all warm inside, like I’d just swallowed a hot water bottle. The lovely quintet continue throughout their three songs with their beautiful style which always make my stomach churn. Reuben’s Accomplice, however, make my stomach churn in a completely different way.

Now you’d think any band with the word ‘Reuben’ in their name would have me rushing out to buy their latest release, I’m so glad I held back in this case though. Reuben’s Accomplice are like a terrible Jimmy Eat World covers band. I am a fan of Jimmy Eat World, but much like chocolate milk, you can only have so much of a good thing. After a while it starts to grate, you start to feel a bit sick and you need to have a little bit of a lie down. It takes a couple of hours for Jimmy Eat World to do that to me, it takes the first note of ‘Life Is Easy’ to have me lying in bed with a hot towel wrapped round my face and ears. Lead singer, Jeff Bufano’s voice defines the word irritating, whilst the jingle bell theme they seem to employ makes you want to shove their instruments in their jingle balls.

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