While occasionally, with the right sound, timing and more than a little luck, a band will get a fast track ticket to the big time (if you missed The 1975 last year, you were clearly asleep), for others (and perhaps most) it’s a far more slow burning process from the conception of a band to (hopefully) the big break. The Cornerstones haven’t had that big break yet, but with the release of Stand In Line, the follow up to 2010’s well received debut Begin To End: Volume 1, they should certainly be edging closer to it.

 

With unprecedented advances in technology and home recording equipment in the last ten years, to be able to produce a well-polished record is an achievable, though no means easy, aim for an unsigned band. That The Cornerstones have managed to do so twice in three years (whilst continuing to tour and build a following) tells you something of their dedication and belief in what they’re doing. And it’s certainly not unfounded.

 

Hailing from Uxbridge just inside the M25, this four piece bill themselves as an ‘Official London based band’. The second album from the band opens with ‘Drag Me Down’. With slow building, jangly guitars and purposeful harmonies, it’s a solid if unglamorous opener but proves to be a great base for what follows.

 

The record builds nicely through the next few tracks and each one is strong and well written. The upbeat 'My Mind', filled with echoey keys and a big chorus, leads on to the title track, 'Stand In Line', and the impressive but repetitive 'Ground'. By the time you reach 'End Of Everything' your well and truly into this record.

 

The bands influences are easy to find with several nods to James, Noel Gallagher and I Am Kloot (in particular the vocal on 'End Of Everything' and 'Smack Me In The Face'; singer Richard Ruth almost sounding like he could put Johnny Bramwell out of a job). 'Try To Hide' ventures into Americana / Alt. Country territory and there’s more than a touch of Ryan Adams to be found in the lyrics and harmonica which floats through the song.

 

The record does feel slightly too long at 12 songs and a good album could possibly have become very very good if the fat had been trimmed a little more aggressively.  The final line of the record is also the title of the final track, ‘this is how it ends’; with a bit of luck on their side, The Cornerstones should find that this is just the beginning.