Single Review: Can’t Take You Anywhere

Bad Llamas are based in my hometown of Christchurch, so I have encountered their name before, however this was my first time listening to their self-described “Indie/Pop/Rock” sound.

As Can’t Take You Anywhere opens, it would be easy to be fooled into thinking this will unfold into a sweetly pretty pop song, and stay around about there. Up until about the one minute mark, it does exactly that, drawing me to the Indie and Pop elements of their description. I didn’t expect this song to also ably demonstrate why Rock is also an important part of that bio line.

At that point, the song opens up into a much more full sound. The vocals, that have been almost whimsical and plaintive at times, are delivered with more emotive conviction and depth. That passionately mournful overtone sweeps the mood of the song along with it, the music dynamically taking on a sense of urgency. Then with thirty seconds to go, it steps up another level again, a burst of heartfelt glory… to be snatched back in the last second, the final vocal line delivered to perfectly illustrate the sense of reflectiveness and regret that the song is based around.

With superb production and solid vocal hooks, this danceable and thoughtful track is sure to find a place in many hearts.