10 Amazing Noughties Albums No One Ever Talks About

3. The Long Blondes - Couples

The Long Blondes' first album, Someone To Drive You Home, was a success, receiving excellent reviews and finding a comfortable spot on many of 2006's best-of lists. But 2008's Couples was one of those notorious follow-ups that didn't quite garner the same success as the debut. It wasn't panned, exactly, other than the odd grumble here and there, but like with many Next Big Thing bands, the initial hype surrounding the group before and around the release of their first album had long since died down. Couples is a very different album to Someone To Drive You Home, in that it forgoes the cheery indie pop feel for a more dance-oriented sound, and the lyrics are far more personal; but the quality certainly doesn't wane because of the change. Some critics were alienated by this, and complained that the Long Blondes had somewhat lost their appeal. Perhaps the band on this album are not the same Long Blondes everyone fell in love with, but that does not make Couples a bad piece of work. Best Tracks: I'm Going To Hell, Guilt, Here Comes The Serious Bit