Superlative modern pop

This review of the It Doesn't Bother Me single came from Dave McCullough in the 24th November 1979 of Sounds.

THE DISTRACTIONS - 'It Doesn't Bother Me' (Island)

The Distractions are one of the best young pop groups to have emerged this year, and this could well be The One, though it's disappointing seeing them retread a song off their first 'You're Not Going Out Dressed Like That' EP.  Nonetheless, it's fast, zippy, terribly wordy, and asserts that The Distractions are moving into their own pop niche in much the same way as The Undertones have done, only Finney, Perrin and co's scope is much broader and long lasting.  This isn't as fine as their Factory 45, the brilliant 'Time Goes By So Slow', and suggests that the band might have teething problems with Island in the production area (more keyboard, more bass in future maybe?), but even then it's superlative modern pop.  The Distractions remind me of Hovis adverts and Trevor Griffith's play Comedians, so there's still acres to be discovered in there somewhere, and The Distractions are gonna be on your sister's wall in 1984, so be prepared.

(c) Dave McCullough, Sounds.