This came out in 2003 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
Stereophonics frontman Kelly Jones claims he wrote many of these songs in a day each and recorded some vocals on the first take. Whether he’s telling the truth or not, there’s no denying that his band’s fourth album, You Gotta Go There To Come Back, is their most positive and immediate offering in some time.
While 2001’s Just Enough Education To Perform found Jones introspectively musing with his acoustic guitar, the 13-cut You Gotta Go… marks a welcome return to the electrified Britrock this Welsh trio does best. Jones’ scratchy vocals recall Rod Stewart in his prime, while his Beatles-inspired hooks, wah-wah guitar licks and arena-sized choruses could make Noel Gallagher envious. Toss in some searing Brown Sugar-flavoured groove-rawkers, a few Zeppelinish crunchers and some strings and horns to add a layer of civilization, and you’ve got a disc that packs plenty of punches without pulling many. Wherever Jones had to go to come back with this, he ought to consider a return trip.
