Scotland's the View make a rousing brand of classicist pop/rock distinguished by lead singer Kyle Falconer's puckish brogue. The band broke through with their Top Five U.K. single "Same Jeans" off 2007's Hats Off to the Buskers. While the band's sound has matured, they've retained their knack for hooky anthems, a skill that helped them reach the Top 20 of the U.K. Albums Chart with 2009's Which Bitch?, 2011's Bread and Circuses, and 2012's Cheeky for a Reason. The Strokes' Albert Hammond produced their fifth album, 2015's Ropewalk. Coming off a five-year hiatus, the View returned to the Top Ten with 2023's Exorcism of Youth. The View members Kyle Falconer (vocalist), Kieran Webster (bassist), Pete Reilly (guitarist), and Steven Morrison (drummer) -- were still teenagers when they got together in their native Dundee in 2005. They initially cut their teeth as a cover band, but were soon writing their own songs while practicing in the back of a local pub. They signed with the Dundee-based independent Two Thumbs label and in March 2006, released an eponymous EP. The album caught the attention of several BBC Radio 1 and 2 presenters who began giving the band airplay. A high-profile appearance at the Reading and Leeds Festival also helped build the group's fan base. That same year, the band signed with 1965 Records, a label distributed by Columbia and run by James Endeacott (who had worked with similar red-hot acts, from the Strokes to the Libertines). Buzz began to build around the band's promise and peaked with the international release of 2007's Hats Off to the Buskers, a confident debut album that topped the U.K. charts and spawned the hit singles "Wasted Little DJ's," and "Same Jeans," the latter of which reached number three in the U.K. The View's sophomore release, Which Bitch?, arrived in February 2009 and featured a more ambitious, polished sound. Anchored by the singles "5Rebeccas," "Shock Horror," and "Temptation Dice," the album debuted at number four on the U.K. Albums chart. More tours followed, including an appearance at the Isle of Wight Festival. In 2011, the View returned with Bread and Circuses, which was produced by Youth (the Verve, Primal Scream). It spawned the singles "Grace" and "Sunday," the latter of which was also included on the Cutting Corners EP that same year. Returning quickly, the band delivered its fourth studio album, 2012's Cheeky for a Reason, featuring the singles "How Long," The Clock," and "Tacky Tattoo." The album again reached the Top Ten in the U.K. and became their third to reach number one in Scotland. A compilation, Seven Year Setlist -- so called due to all the tracks being live favorites -- was released in mid-2013. In 2015, the View announced they were back in the studio, this time with the Strokes guitarist Albert Hammond, Jr. and Gus Oberg (the Strokes' Angles) handling production duties. The resulting album, Ropewalk, was slated for release in June of that year, but was delayed until September, due to lead singer Falconer's difficulties with an ongoing illness. Heralded by the single "Marriage," it reached 21 on the U.K. charts. In February 2017, the View marked their tenth anniversary playing a six-night stint at Glasgow's King Tut's Wah Wah Hut. However, that same year they went on hiatus as Falconer prepped his debut solo album. It would be five years before the band reunited for 2023's Exorcism of Youth. Once again produced by Youth, it was the group's first without Morrison who'd decided not to return to the band. He was replaced by drummer Jay Sharrock. Buoyed by the single "Feels Like," the album debuted at number six on the U.K. Albums chart and topped the charts in Scotland. ~ Matt Collar & Tammy La Gorce, Rovi

20 Rocks Dundee 2013

The View

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