Nervous Twitch release their new album, The Day Job Gets In The Way, the first since 2022’s Some People Never Change via Spinout Nuggets

They say ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’… why try to change something that is already working perfectly? The trio, consisting of Erin Hyde – Vocals, Bass Guitar; Jay Churchley – Guitar, Backing Vocals and Chris Cooper – Drums are a band who effortlessly blend Punk with Indie Pop, with their new album showcasing their own particular flavour of first-wave CBGBs punk meets scuzzy C-86 pop; singing tales of joy and feelings of frustration, with sharp character observations. Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a rehash of any of their previous albums, there’s still plenty for long term fans and new listeners alike.

The Day Job Gets In The Way is a blast from the start with Don’t Get In Touch. It’s a ball of energy which see’s Hyde telling it like it is and not mincing her words which I thought would lead directly into more of the same but Game You’re Playing wrong footed me, with its middle eight and more measured close.

The title track comes early in the proceedings, just third in the Bakers Dozen. A track which many can relate to, especially I imagine many here at LTW (hopefully no one from my employer is reading!) Knitting With Anger is my favourite song on the album, and in all honesty my favourite Nervous Twitch song up to this point. I’m hoping it gets released as a single with a video featuring the band literally acting out the title. It’s got just the right pace of guitar, the right level of ‘surfness’ and a great vocal performance too.

After the opening salvo of songs warning people off and venting their album Love 4 Me 2 is a love song with additional organ before Funny Bones, calling out those who think their funny, but really aren’t.

Some People Have It All marks the albums mid-point with a 50 second track which see’s Hyde letting off steam. Things continue with the wonderfully titled My Mum’s An Anarchist before the excellent Rolling With The Punches. It feels like a slight departure from your usual Twitch fare, slightly glam rock in style and, as the title suggests, has them lyrically coming out fighting. If we still lived in a world where chart positions were ‘a thing’ and releasing a single offered the opportunity of getting on TV, then this would definitely be a contender. One to watch for live too.

We’re back with Erin telling it like it is for You Really Let Me Down… It is generally at this point after listening to the album a few times, especially with so many tracks where Erin is voicing her frustrations, I am hoping it’s not a thinly veiled ‘Indie’ version of Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours which contains various songs dealing the bands relationship turmoil, especially as the only couple in the band are Erin and Jay!

The Man With His Head In The Sand is another slight departure from standard sound, a little more moody and mid-paced. Another favourite. Alright John I feel must be a homage to someone the band know, a drummer who just loves to drum…  The Day Job Gets In The Way ends with Minor Characters, which, while Hyde questions where she fits in, also draws a full stop on all the observations and frustrations voiced throughout.

In a world where so many of us have to navigate the 9-5 grind, or the dreaded night shift via awkward customers and demanding bosses; the sixth album from Nervous Twitch certainly shows the world that they never let the day job get in the way. Anyone thinking that a band after six albums would be getting tired and repetitive then forget it, this is the best collection Nervous Twitch have delivered to date and suggests there’s plenty more to come…

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