Panic! At The Disco - The Ballad Of Mona Lisa (Single Review)
Panic! at the disco are back! Well, two of them are anyway. But that didn't stop the two remaining members, Brendon Urie and Spencer Smith, from creating yet another power rock masterpiece; which is bound to become an instant favourite of all panic fans around the world.
Written by: Sophie Monk | Date: Monday, 14 February 2011
Civet – Love & War (Album Review)
Whether you like it or not, being in an all-girl, or even just a female-led, punk rock band is going to expose you to all those lazy but inevitable comparisons with the likes of The Distillers and Bikini Kill etc. Indeed, trying to simply carve yourself a reputation as a unique and identifiable artist seems almost impossible under these circumstances, despite the fact that many such groups have been among the most distinctive in the genre. This is likely to be the same categorization that will be applied to LA all-girl punk group Civet. However, while the raspy growl of vocalist Liza Graves does bear some similarities to that of Brody Dalle, the music to be found on the band’s latest album ‘Love & War’ sounds more in tune with the likes of Rancid and The Offspring, due to its distinguishing use of melodic guitar riffs and gang vocals.
Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Monday, 14 February 2011
The Strokes - Under Cover Of Darkness (Single Review)
Well this single certainly has something to prove. With most The Strokes’ members having followed successful solo projects or secondary bands during this lengthy hiatus, this, the first single in five years really needed to prove there was still a need for The Strokes to exist. Too right there's still a need for The Strokes! With imitators reforming for cash pay-offs *The Libertines* the masters of the spikey indie sound come out of a storm of anticipation and smash it out of the park.
Written by: Rhys Morgan | Date: Thursday, 10 February 2011
Leigh Mary Stokes - Your Smile (Single Review)
Another female vocalist makes her way onto the already heaving scene. You can’t move for Adele, Eliza or Ellie and their tales about quests of the heart, so who cares what the new girl has to say?
Written by: Hayley Taylor | Date: Thursday, 10 February 2011
Gay For Johnny Depp - What Doesn’t Kill You, Eventually Kills You (Album Review)
At 22 minutes long, Gay For Johnny Depp’s latest release really goes down the road of quality over quantity for their 11 track release, ‘What Doesn’t Kill You, Eventually Kills You.’
Written by: Heather McDaid | Date: Wednesday, 09 February 2011
Frankie & The Heartstrings - Hunger (Album Review)
Sunderland five-piece Frankie & The Heartstrings already have a pretty impressive CV. Support slots with Edwyn Collins, Florence & The Machine and fellow "Mackems", The Futureheads. Gracing stages at Glastonbury, Reading & Leeds, Latitude and Summer Sundae. And even having the honour of being the first band in 5 years to have a one-off single released on Rough Trade Records. When it came to a more permanent record label however, the band side-stepped the typical label war in favour of setting up their own label and archive, PopSex Ltd, as a way to make fans' experience with the bands music much more personal.
Written by: Katie Territt | Date: Wednesday, 09 February 2011
Telekinesis - 12 Desperate Straight Lines (Album Review)
Seattle indie rockers Telekinesis follow up their critically acclaimed self titled debut with '12 Desperate Straight Lines', an album sprinkled with powerful and catchy indie pop nuggets, a lot of fuzz, occasional distortion and straight forward, heartfelt lyrics. The fact alone that the record was even made is testimony to the bands founder Michael Benjamin Lerners belief in his own song writing.
Written by: Patrick Gormley | Date: Tuesday, 08 February 2011
The A Train - Beginning (EP Review)
The A Train are a London based alt-folk band who seem to be bang on trend at the moment. With the rise of bands such as Mumford & Sons and the highly anticipated albums from the likes of Noah and The Whale, alternative folk inspired music seems to be the genre to tap into.
Written by: Steve Wellman | Date: Tuesday, 08 February 2011
Maceo Plex - Life Index (Album Review)
Maceo Plex set sail on his musical journey in 1993, a whole 18 years ago. Through this time he has taken many pseudonyms including ‘Maetrik’ and ‘Mariel ito’ unveiling a vast array of musical concoctions with the help of labels such as Cocoon, Audiomatique, Mothership, Dumb Unit and now Crosstown Rebels. So the man is a journeyman of the industry if you like, not quite hitting the big time. Will this latest offering pave his way into the mainstream?
YOAV - A foolproof Escape Plan (Album Review)
The well-travelled Yoav has graced us with his new album ‘A Foolproof Escape plan’. The Israeli born, Cape Town raised and now London resident has, as suggested, spent a majority of his years travelling the globe exploring the diverse cultures the world has to offer.
Gregg Allman – Low Country Blues (Album Review)
This may come as a surprise to some, but Kings of Leon are not, in fact, the original band of brothers to hail from Nashville, Tennessee. That honour would arguably go to the Allman Brothers Band, who were churning out Southern rock classics like ‘Jessica’ – aka “the Top Gear theme tune” – long before the Followills were even in nappies. Gregg Allman has fronted the group ever since their formation in 1969 and, despite the tragic loss of his brother Duane in 1971, continues to do so today. He’s also managed to build up an impressive, if sporadic, solo career over the past forty years and fans will no doubt be pleased to hear that he’s back with a brand new album, no less than fourteen years after his last offering, 1997’s ‘Searching for Simplicity’.
Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Tuesday, 08 February 2011
The Duke Spirit – Kusama EP (Review)
Looking back a few years to around the time of their first two albums, 2005’s ‘Cuts Across the Land’ and 2008’s ‘Neptune’, London four-piece The Duke Spirit were being praised for their blending of garage rock with more experimental music. The band’s frontwoman Leila Moss was even drawing comparisons to the likes of Debbie Harry, Karen O and PJ Harvey. However, for their new EP ‘Kusama’, it seems that such associations cannot be made. While Moss may still retain some of her Blondie-esque vocal attributes in places, there is certainly nothing here that could be described as particularly innovating or even especially praiseworthy.
Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Monday, 07 February 2011
The Joy Formidable – Bristol Thekla – 2nd February 2011
“There’s a few of you here,” The Joy Formidable’s frontwoman Ritzy Bryan observes at one point during tonight’s performance in Bristol. She’s not wrong. As the seemingly endless flow of people continues to squeeze further forwards into the city’s boat venue the Thekla, it’s definitely worth wondering whether tonight’s headliners would have been more suited to one of Bristol’s larger gig halls. Only a week after the release of their debut LP ‘The Big Roar’ and the album is clearly creating excitement of such immense proportions that it seems to be outdoing the expectations that were held back in October, when this tour of modestly-sized British venues was first announced.
Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Friday, 04 February 2011
Sea of Bees – Songs for the Ravens (Album Review)
In the past, Julie Ann Baenziger – aka Sea of Bees – has preferred to define her music using the term “freak folk”, a genre previously associated with the likes of Animal Collective and Devendra Banhart. However, although it doesn’t have quite the same ring to it, the name “psych-country” seems far more appropriate after listening to her debut album ‘Songs for the Ravens’. Finally bringing her first long-player over to British shores, the Californian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist introduces us to a strangely unique blend of haunting country music, pleasant-sounding folk and electronic psychedelia, all centred around Julie’s gentle but imposing voice. The songs themselves have each been given titles that, although short, are suitably representative of the beautiful and often weird music that they convey.
Mike Marlin - Nearly Man (Album Review)
An album 25 years in the making, 'Nearly Man' is the debut record by singer-songwriter Mike Marlin, a man who is very much the sum of his influences. Marlin’s vocals particularly zigzag: there is Damon Albarn’s frankness, Ian McCulloch’s drawl, even David Bowie-esque vibrato.
Written by: Jonny Rimmer | Date: Thursday, 03 February 2011
The Boxer Rebellion - The Cold Still (Album Review)
The Boxer Rebellion, a multi-international four-piece based in London, are about to deliver their third studio album. That's right, most people wouldn't even know of their prior six year existence. They're a band that have received acclaim outside of the mainstream while not really forcing themselves onto your radio. But with 'The Cold Still', that is all likely to change.
Written by: Rhys Morgan | Date: Thursday, 03 February 2011
Emily Jane White - Ode To Sentience (Album Review)
To call 'Ode to Sentience' a “road album”, could perhaps seem a little insulting, given its Americana tinge, but it is certainly a rewarding journey.
Architects - The Here And Now (Album Review)
It's staggering to think that this five piece from Brighton are a band who, since 2006, has released a total of four full length albums and an EP. This, combined with the fact that front man Sam Carter is a mere 21 years of age must leave those with even a basic knowledge of this industry fairly gob smacked.
Written by: Owen Sheppard | Date: Thursday, 03 February 2011
Sleeper – ‘Smart’/‘The It Girl’ (Re-issue Reviews)
Pulp are reforming, Ocean Colour Scene are re-issuing and touring ‘Moseley Shoals’ and Suede are playing their first three albums live in May. It’s the return of Britpop. But what could come next? After the reunions of Cast and Blur over the last couple of years, it was probably about time Sleeper made a reappearance of some kind as well. However, as there’s been no sign of a reunion announcement yet, we’ll all just have to make do with these Deluxe Edition re-issues of their two biggest albums ‘Smart’ and ‘The It Girl’.
Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Tuesday, 01 February 2011
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes – Go Down Under (EP Review)
Following their previous adventures having a ball, blowing in the wind and ruining Jonny’s Bar Mitzvah, Hawaiian shirt-wearing, punk rock covers band and supergroup Me First and the Gimme Gimmes are back with their latest EP ‘Me First and the Gimme Gimmes Go Down Under’. This time around, having already covered the ‘70s, the ‘60s and Broadway as well as both R&B and country music, the five-piece have chosen to take on and pull apart some hits from the wonderful world of Oz.
Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Monday, 31 January 2011
Hold Your Horse Is - Forgive And Forget (Single Review)
Hampshire/Surrey trio Hold Your Horse Is are making a name for themselves with catchy, off-kilter alt-rock anthems. Last year’s ‘Rammin’ It Home’ EP was their first release on Big Scary Monsters and earned them praise from numerous quarters, much like their energetic live performances.
Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Monday, 31 January 2011
N*E*R*D – The Best of N*E*R*D (Album Review)
The “Best Of” album is a curious thing nowadays. Sorry to get all nostalgic, but the “Best Of” album used to represent a well thought out selection of classics by a band that had been around long enough to qualify for such a thing. These days, however, it seems that anyone with a handful of singles to their name can arguably release their own “Best Of”. That certainly seems to be the case with this latest compilation from Pharrell Williams’s N*E*R*D. Especially as, depending on your own definition of the “Best Of N*E*R*D”, it doesn’t even encompass the full extent of the trio’s chronology. What this is, in fact, is a “Best Of” the two albums that N*E*R*D released on Virgin Records, therefore excluding 2008’s Top 20 album ‘Seeing Sounds’ and last year’s ‘Nothing’. Hardly a genuine “Best Of”, some may argue, but if you were only really a fan of N*E*R*D’s biggest hits then this could be for you.
Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Friday, 28 January 2011
Glamour Of The Kill - 'The Summoning' (Album Review)
It would be fair to say that since their formation in 2007, Glamour of the Kill have had their share of achievements with just EPs in their back catalogue. Since supporting big names such as Avenged Sevenfold and Bullet for my Valentine and opening the main stage at Download ’08, the band have been working on their first studio release ‘The Summoning’.
Written by: Heather McDaid | Date: Thursday, 27 January 2011
Lemmy: The Movie (DVD Review)
Motorhead's Lemmy Kilmister, love him or hate him you cannot deny that he is one of the greatest rock'n'roll icons of all time. With rock biopics being turned out left right and centre in recent years, Iron Maiden's 'Flight 666', Saxon's 'Heavy Metal Thunder' and Anvil's 'The Story Of Anvil' to name but a few, the arrival of a documentary – or should that be 'ROCKumentary' – profiling Lemmy comes as little suprise.
Written by: Jon Stickler | Date: Thursday, 27 January 2011
Travis Barker - Can A Drummer Get Some (Single Review)
To most Travis Barker is a pop-punk icon but in a side-step from Blink-182, he has been working on an ambitious solo album aiming to flaunt his eclectic influences. With an impressive list of collaborators including Tom Morello, Lil Wayne and Corey Taylor, Barker has definitely left expectations high for his upcoming album 'Give The Drummer Some'.
Written by: Heather McDaid | Date: Monday, 24 January 2011
Cold War Kids - Louder Than Ever (Video Review)
Cold War Kids returned at the end of 2010 with ‘Louder Than Ever’; a teaser taste of the Californian band’s third LP, ‘Mine Is Yours.’
Written by: Hayley Taylor | Date: Sunday, 23 January 2011
Hospitality - Drum And Bass 2011 (Compilation Album Review)
‘Hospitality Drum and Bass 2011’ is the newest and freshest mix album to come out of the Hospital Record steam engine, and it packs as much as punch, pace and pulse as any of the heavyweight CDs they’ve put out in the past!
Written by: Elliott Batte | Date: Thursday, 20 January 2011
Tally Koren - 72 Names (Album Review)
Israeli vocalist Tally Koren’s sophomore record could best be summed up as a frustrating learning curve. '72 Names' is a puzzling album that doesn’t quite know what it wants to be; it features western electronic influences, as well as a percussive, middle-eastern undercurrent. Sure, the production is absolutely meticulous (it’s co-produced by Yoad Nevo of Pet Shop Boys fame), and this record is definitely, um, varied.
Written by: Jonny Rimmer | Date: Wednesday, 19 January 2011
Two Door Cinema Club - Tourist History (Album Review)
"It’s going to be a fast paced, electro pop album. That’s our aim." Well it's been almost a year, and I think it's pretty safe to say, that Two Door Cinama Club have managed to achieve their aim.
Written by: Sophie Monk | Date: Wednesday, 19 January 2011
Ollie Stewart - ‘Night Bell’ (EP Review)
The end of 2010 sees the launch of an interesting singer/songwriters career. Looking to further bridge the gap between modern mainstream pop, experimental electronic sounds and 70’s, 80’s 90’s influences Ollie Stewart comes into the frame with his debut EP ‘Night Bell'.
Written by: Tom Austin | Date: Wednesday, 19 January 2011
Sleepwalkers - 'Pause' (EP Review)
Right now there seems to be loads of 'electronic' bands making an appearance on the scene. New technology becoming a lot more accessible to the masses means your limits are endless. The main problem is most of these bands sound the same. They lack originality and for all the effort of trying to stand out, it's heard to distinguish them just by listening to them. Sleepwalkers are no such a band. Comprising of talented midlanders Richard Siddall-Jones and Ben Marsden, they have been making music together since they where schoolboys but only now have things started to get serious. Creating that all important individual style they come to the fold with their debut EP 'Pause'.
Amplifier - The Octopus (Album Review)
Starting with atmospheric swells of noise and electronic beeps, 'The Octopus' is a complicated beast to say the least. It’s taken Amplifier four years to make and it’s a behemoth of a record. Over two full discs, Amplifier have brought the music world a double album of overwhelming proportions.
Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Wednesday, 19 January 2011
Eliza Newman - Ukulele Song For You (EP Review)
Icelandic singer Eliza Newman first grabbed attention with her appearance on Al Jazeera News to perform her song 'Eyjafjallajökull' in the aftermath of the ash cloud. Although the word is still a mouthful, the video of her appearance garnered hundreds of thousands of views within a week from those attempting to pronounce the name themselves.
Written by: Heather McDaid | Date: Tuesday, 18 January 2011
The Joy Formidable – The Big Roar (Album Review)
For any band that has been single-handedly trying to build themselves a successful career brick by brick over a number of years, it must be a huge and welcome relief to finally reach the stage of your first full-length album. This is almost certainly the case for North Wales trio the Joy Formidable who, after several years of gigging, self-recording, playing the festival circuit and just generally making a big noise, will at long last be delivering their debut album ‘The Big Roar’ at the end of the month. In fact, the Joy Formidable have become so familiar over the past twelve months or so, it may even come as a huge surprise to discover that this is only their first long-player. Listening to the album for the first time, it’s also easy to confuse them for a much more experienced and established band.
Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Sunday, 16 January 2011
Mogwai – Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will (Album Review)
It's been three years since Mogwai released 'The Hawk Is Howling', which has given everybody plenty of time to grow that disgusting looking post-rock facial hair. 'Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will' is the bands seventh studio album which has yet another elegantly intelligent title and is about to bring post-rock smashing into 2011.
Written by: Rhys Morgan | Date: Saturday, 15 January 2011
Avril Lavigne - What The Hell (Single Review)
At 26, Avril Lavigne has a new offering in the form of ‘What the Hell?’, her first single from her fourth studio release 'Goodbye Lullaby'. It’s become an accepted fact that Avril has moved on greatly from her debut 'Complicated', but you can’t deny the lyrics sound like that of a relatively hormonal teenager looking for a good time.
Written by: Heather McDaid | Date: Thursday, 13 January 2011
Brother - New Years Day (Single Review)
Slough. Not exactly the epicentre of rock ‘n’ roll. Or the hub of “cool”. No, it’s most recent route to fame has been as the home of Wernham Hogg, the fictitious workplace of David Brent and co. in 'The Office'. But wait, all that is about to change with Slough’s newest export, the UK’s “next big thing”, 4-piece indie rock ‘n’ rollers, Brother. It’s been a while since a new band has swanned in and staked their claim on being the new owners of Britain’s indie-rock crown, and I’ve certainly not seen such hype or excitement from the music industry and press since the early days of the Arctic Monkeys.
Written by: Katie Territt | Date: Wednesday, 12 January 2011
My Chemical Romance - Sing (Single Review)
Through the release of their much anticipated fourth album ‘Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys’, My Chemical Romance have made their triumphant return to music and, with it, completely reinvented themselves once more. Performing this time with a more futuristic and upbeat concept, they have blown fans away with a new, colourful incarnation of themselves.
Written by: Heather McDaid | Date: Wednesday, 12 January 2011
The Decemberists - The King Is Dead (Album Review)
Dust off your fob watch, gather a group of merry comrades and crank your gramophone up to eleven, for The Decemberists are back with their latest studio album, ‘The King Is Dead’. The band last emerged in a grand form for their 2009 release, ‘The Hazards of Love’, an epic rock-opera of otherworldly historic tales, wrapped up with all the lyrical grandeur that lead singer Colin Meloy could muster. Luckily for the less theatrical members of their fanbase, the band have chiselled away their more indulgent side for ‘The King Is Dead’, opting instead for a stripped-back and reserved sound, bringing together every ounce of their folk-rock charm to form their most impressive record yet.
Written by: James Conlon | Date: Wednesday, 12 January 2011
Beady Eye - The Roller (Single Review)
The hype around Beady Eye has been building steadily over the last few months with details of debut album ‘Different Gear, Still Speeding’ surfacing along with two of the albums tracks being made available to listen to. Now comes the first official release, ‘The Roller’.
Written by: Dave Ball | Date: Monday, 10 January 2011
A Drummer's Perspective (Book Review)
Pretty much every music fan has sat and wondered what it must be like to look out from a stage at a packed crowd hanging on your every move. Well wonder no more as David Phillips’ newly released book ‘A Drummer's Perspective’ gives you the best view in the house.
Written by: Dave Ball | Date: Friday, 07 January 2011
Seagull Kinevil - To Insanity And Beyond (Album Review)
Emerging with one of the most aptly named albums of the year is Seagull Kinevil, a frenzied troupe from North Wales with tongues rested resolutely in their cheeks.
Written by: Jonny Rimmer | Date: Wednesday, 05 January 2011
James Blake - James Blake (Album Review)
2010 was apparently the year of dub-step. The year of what? The 'D' word is thrown around so much these days it's practically lost all meaning. Any new sound that comes along that cleverly uses bass tones seems to branded with the red hot, dub-step poker.
Written by: Rhys Morgan | Date: Tuesday, 04 January 2011
St Leonards - St Leonards (Album Review)
Middle of the road pop/rock is a trend that will probably never die, and that’s okay as long as its modern disciples at least have the crafty knack of writing a good chorus. The Fray, the Script, OneRepublic, Maroon 5; the list goes on. These bands all throw their emotions at the palette, whilst maintaining a degree of instrumental restraint i.e. it’s all a little bit bland and unimaginative.
Written by: Jonny Rimmer | Date: Tuesday, 04 January 2011
Daft Punk – Tron: Legacy Soundtrack (Album Review)
Daft Punk have been absent from our ears for five years now, and by many, they have been sorely missed. In early 2009 it was announced that the French duo would be scoring Disney's 'Tron: Legacy'. Many questioned whether they had bitten off more than they could chew by opting to soundtrack an entire motion picture. Well they hadn't. This is one of the finest electronic scores in recent memory and it is truly worthy of following on from the legendary score of the original which was composed by Wendy Carlos.
Written by: Rhys Morgan | Date: Monday, 20 December 2010
Wretch 32 - Traktor (Feat. L) (Single Review)
Hype has been building about the grime MC ever since this track arrived on the internet and subsequently the radio. This was mainly due to him being shortlisted for the BBC Sound of 2011 list whose graduates from the school of 2010 were hits such as Ellie Goulding and Marina and the Diamonds so a bright 2011 is surely in store for the Tottenham born MC.
Written by: Steve Wellman | Date: Monday, 20 December 2010
Arcade Fire - CIA, Cardiff - December 9th 2011 (Live Review)
It was quite surprising that a show, put on by one of the most talented bands in the world could sneak up on you like this. Tickets were bought months in advance, but even the day before I was oblivious to the fact I'd be watching these multi talented musicians in 24 hours. Also oblivious to me was just how wide Arcade Fire's fan base was. The crowd was, well, very middle aged. But that didn't stop the crowd being more than energetic.
Written by: Rhys Morgan | Date: Sunday, 19 December 2010
Pint Shot Riot - Hazy Days (Single Review)
Indie rock band, Pint Shot Riot, is composed of Richard ‘Rocket’ Emmerson, Rob Clements, ‘Baby’ Dave Page and Chris ‘Mini Rocket’ Connell.
Written by: Michelle Wright | Date: Thursday, 16 December 2010
Kassidy - Oh My God (Single Review)
This quartet are causing quite a stir around Glasgow with their folky guitars and vocal harmonies. Yes, Mumford & Sons do spring to mind, but it is Take That or The Kooks that reverberate from this poppy single.
Written by: Jonny Rimmer | Date: Tuesday, 14 December 2010
Matt Cardle – When We Collide (Single Review)
X Factor. The yearly Simon Cowell induced singing competition loved by many, loathed by possibly many more. Being a lover of all things “alternative” I guess I should be one of those in the loathing category, but I’m afraid I’m an avid X Factor viewer. I’ve never voted before, I’ve never bought any winners songs, but yes, I watch it regularly. This year has been the first time I’ve had a favourite contestant from day one, and I have to say, it’s made the show that much more enjoyable. I may love anything with a great guitar riff and some fantastic drumming, but I’m also a sucker for a male vocal that can give me goosebumps, and Essex boy Matt Cardle done that for me in X Factor this year.
Written by: Katie Territt | Date: Tuesday, 14 December 2010
