It is hard to think about British music without thinking of Stereophonics. From their debut album ‘Word Gets Around’ released towards the end of the Britpop era, they jumped in on a huge cultural movement, with their own unique blend of gruff vocals and the traditional British rock that had topped the charts for the previous years, Stereophonics garnered an immediate presence.

And how could they not? Songs like ‘Local Boy in the Photograph’ and ‘Last of the Big Time Drinkers’ got them their place on the UK charts, topping at number 6.

And now, 13 studio albums, and nearly 30 years later, the Welshmen are back with their latest, ‘Make ‘em Laugh, Make ‘em Cry, Make ‘em Wait.’

From the get-go this album struck me, the first single, “There’s Always Gonna Be Something” is a hopefully optimistic ballad, paired with the gruff and raspy vocals of Kelly Jones, it instantly gets stuck in your head, and for days all I could do was listen to it on repeat and tap my feet to the mid-tempo harmony.

What I couldn’t shake from my mind, is how perfectly the title encapsulates the feeling of this album. ‘Make ‘em Laugh, Make ‘em Cry, Make ‘em Wait’: it hits the nail right on the head, I cried during track 4, ‘Colours of October’, from first look you may expect a dismal, grey tune, but it is quite the opposite. With the beautiful blend of Jones’ acoustic guitar and the almost orchestral violin, everything about this track stood out to me: the hyperbole of a grey skied mid winters day in October; and the raw, and vulnerable, almost blues-like vocals, struck every lyric deep into my heart, and overall creating a lasting impression, and made me fully appreciate the vulnerability on display.

But then, the laughter came, almost like a cowboy slamming open the saloon doors, track 5, “Eyes Too Big For My Belly” kicks off with its piercing guitar and distorted vocals, it is a classic stereophonics tune, and wouldn’t be out of place on something like 2005’s ‘Language.Sex. Violence.Other?’.

This is the track that stuck with me the most, it has it all, hints of the raucous Welshman introduced to the world in 1997, heavy blues influenced guitar symbolic of a Rolling Stones song, and a cowbell beckoning out pretty much all through the exhilarating 3 minutes.

It is the one that made me love this album, and I think is the one that is going to keep pulling me back in for another listen.

Another stand out track is ‘Backroom Boys’. This one feels like a sort of homecoming track for Jones, reflecting on his life, and the events that ultimately made him who he is today; it’s almost like a movie, the picture of a younger Jones going to a concert with his older brother and his friends, which may have been the inspiration for a lot of his music. Again, this track is a lot more heartfelt and brings the band to a more personal and raw level.

And finally, I waited, already after listening multiple times, I now await the next collection from Stereophonics, and I wait eagerly, excited for what is in store next from a band that’s done it all but somehow keeps finding ways to surprise us.

Stereophonics are on tour at the moment, kicking their UK tour off at Neighbourhood Weekender in Warrington, before a string of shows across the country, and it is the perfect time to see them.

Stereophonics: Make ‘em Laugh, Make ‘em Cry, Make ‘em Wait – Out 25 April 2025 (EMI)

– There’s Always Gonna Be Something