Twin Atlantic have announced a headline tour and
the release of their new single "You’re Turning Into John Wayne". The single is coming out on the 7th of September.
These are their headline tour dates:
SEP 11: INVERNESS, Ironworks
SEP 12: ABERDEEN, Moshulu
SEP 13: DUNDEE, Fat Sams
SEP 17: YORK, Fibbers
SEP 18: STOKE, Sugarmill
SEP 19: LIVERPOOL, Korova
SEP 20: NOTTINGHAM, Bodega
SEP 21: BIRMINGHAM, Hare & Hounds
SEP 24: CARLISLE, Brickyard
SEP 25: HULL, Lamp
SEP 26: SOUTHAMPTON, Joiners
SEP 27: CARDIFF, Clwb Ifor Bach
SEP 29: LONDON, Old Blue Last
SEP 30: LONDON, Garage (w/ The Joy Formidable)
OCT 01: OXFORD, Bullingdon Arms
OCT 02: EDINBURGH, Studio 24
Friday, 31 July 2009
News - Twin Atlantic Whizz Round The UK
News - Papa Roach Announce UK Tour
Papa Roach have announced their UK and European tour dates, starting in September. Madina Lake & Heavens Basement are the support acts confirmed.
Tue-Sep-29 Weisbaden GERMANY Schlachthof
Thu-Oct-01 Tilburg NETHERLANDS O13
Fri-Oct-02 Dortmund GER FZW- VISIONS PARTY!
Sat-Oct-03 Berlin GERMANY Huxley’s
Sun-Oct-04 Stuttgart GERMANY Longhorn
Tue-Oct-06 Wolverhampton ENGLAND Wolverhampton Civic
Wed-Oct-07 Nottingham ENGLAND Rock City
Fri-Oct-09 Glasgow SCOTLAND Academy
Sat-Oct-10 London ENGLAND Brixton Academy
Sun-Oct-11 Manchester ENGLAND Academy
Tue-Oct-13 Newcastle ENGLAND Academy
Wed-Oct-14 Sheffield ENGLAND Academy
VIP tickets will be available on Saturday 1st August as presale exclusively through www.paparoach.com and for general sale from Wednesday 5th August.
News - Four Year Strong Invade UK & Europe!
Starting in October Four Year Strong will be embarking on The Eastpak Antidote Tour with Anti-Flag, Alexisonfire, and Ghost Of A Thousand on the following dates:
Oct 07 Cambridge, UK - Junction
Oct 08 Norwich, UK - UEA
Oct 09 Oxford, UK - Academy
Oct 10 Nottingham, UK - Rock City
Oct 11 Bristol, UK - Anson Rooms
Oct 14 London, UK - Forum
Oct 16 Glasgow, UK - ABC
Oct 17 Leeds, UK - University Refectory
Oct 18 Manchester, UK - Academy
Oct 20 Birmingham, UK - Academy
Oct 21 Portsmouth, UK - Pyramids
Oct 23 Luxembourg, LUX - Den Atelier
Oct 24 Berlin, DE - Postbahnof
Oct 25 Prague, CZ - Roxy
Oct 27 Leipzig, DE - Werk 2
Oct 28 Stuttgart, DE - Longhorn
Oct 29 Munich, DE - Backstage Werk
Oct 30 Pratteln, CHE - Z7
Nov 01 Vienna, AUT - Gasometer
Nov 02 Milan, IT - Musicdrome
Nov 04 Marseille, FR - L’espace Julien
Nov 05 Barcelona, ESP - Apolo
Nov 06 Madrid, ESP - Joy Eslava
Nov 07 Bilbao, ESP - Kafe Antozoki
Nov 09 Paris, FR - Elysee Monmarte
Nov 10 Weisbaden, DE - Schlachtof
Nov 12 Antwerp, BE - Hof Ter Lo
Nov 13 Cologne, DE - E Werk
Nov 14 Amsterdam, NLD - Melkweg
Nov 15 Hamburg, DE - Docks
Nov 17 Gothenburg, SWE - Brew House
Nov 18 Stockholm, SWE - Klubben
Nov 20 Seinajoki, FIN - Rytmikoriaamo
Nov 21 Helsinki, FIN - Nosturi
Thursday, 30 July 2009
News - The Holloways: No Smoke, No Mirrors
The Holloways will release their new album"No Smoke, No Mirrors" on the 5th of October through Madfish.
Wednesday, 29 July 2009
News - Kids In Glass Houses Live Video Feed
Submitted: "Kids In Glass Houses fly out to El Paso, Texas this coming weekend to begin recording their follow up to debut album 'Smart Casual' with former A member and The Blackout producer Jason Perry. The album is tentatively scheduled for release first quarter of 2010.
They will have a live studio feed to stream that will go live at 8pm each day from August 3rd through to the August 14th and can be viewed at the following location
www.ustream.tv/channel/kids-in-glass-houses---studio-report
News - Callahan: The Dive
Callahan have uploaded a brand new song called "The Dive" from their upcoming "Summer Sampler EP" to their MySpace. The EP will be on sale from the 24th of August.
Tuesday, 28 July 2009
Review - No Consequence - In The Shadow of Gods
No Consequence - In The Shadow of Gods
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8 out of 10
Many moons ago - I wandered to Alton in Hampshire; a quiet town with a community centre. This was where I first bumped into the world of No Consequence... 3 songs (one of which was the theme to the Fresh Prince). Since then I’ve kept an eye on the world of NC but in the main their recorded output has passed me by a little.
Until now (handily).
In the Shadow of Gods is (like the name suggests) a very confident and well crafted album. True, you can see a few of their influences, both from bands past and present - the luminaries of the British tech-metal scene. But unlike quite a few of the more modern bands, they’ve concentrated on one thing above all else. Songs.
Nothing on this album is there for the sake of it. You feel that everything has been planned down to the last cymbal hit - there’s a place for everything. With a lot of albums of this ilk - I find myself wondering why something was in there - find myself looking for something to latch onto. Don’t get me wrong this isn’t an immediate album - but it has enough hooks to keep you listening.
The other thing that strikes me about this album is the quality of the drumming - a true strength of the album enhancing every tune with some nice clever fills - never over complicating a song but adding enough to make you think...wow.
The only slight downsides (for me) were in places the clean vocals seemed a bit stretched, but as they’re only in the odd track you don’t really notice. Also the beatdown count was a little high at times - but that’s just my general picky behaviour.
Give this a go. Seriously - I don’t think you’ll regret it.
They’re not quite standing at the shadow of gods, but they’re not standing at the bottom of Mount Olympus looking for a foothold either...
Listen: www.myspace.com/noconsquence
Tracklist:
1. Ocular Gyro Crisis
2. The Arrival Of Predators
3. Forged
4. The Fallen
5. Age Of Fear
6. Synaesthesia
7. Ashes
8. Longitudes
9. Latitudes
10. Shallow Be Thy Name
11. Inevitable Silence
Review - YouNoGoDie - II
YouNoGoDie - II
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7 out of 10
This is good. I like this. I like YouNoGoDie. I like Fugazi as well...so by proxy I like YouNoGoDie.
First track "In Fools On The Dancefloors" - reminded me of hearing "Repeater" for the first time. I couldn't believe it was from the same bloke who screamed "Did you fucking get it?" at me in Minor Threat - this had..."Groove".
Rolling drum breaks and post-punk bass lines - YouNoGoDie bring a new dimension to the "post-fuckoffwiththisposteverythingnonsense-core" scene. YouNoGoDie kick out the jams and keep the listener interested - from the afro-beat guitar's and dub basslines to the drumming on which is tight as a cats gruff. The production is sparse which leaves the vocals out for inspection, which a few more late nights and a pack of Marlboro's will sort that out. The last track is an instrumental workout that shows the cogs ticking in the TNGO collective brain and I can't wait to see if these guys can pull it off live (there myspace page has cobwebs on it - sort it out! C'mon put some effort in, the new album is out!).
Be ahead of the game and get some YouNoGoDie in your life. Oh and while your out, bring me the heads of Vampire Weekend.
Listen: www.myspace.com/younogodie
Tracklist:
1. In Fools On The Dancefloors
2. Far
3. The Wind Changed
4. Last Night A DJ Saved My Wife
5. Chalk Marks
6. Hate It
7. Three Flights
8. Right Way Is Wrong
9. Patients
10. T.V.
11. ------
Review - Dials - Fix This Imbalance
Dials - Fix This Imbalance
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6 out of 10
Shrewsbury four-piece Dials have been gigging around the midlands since early 2008, and this EP (out in August) is a neat little showcase of the charged up post-punk melodies and canny lyrics that have got people intrigued on webzines and in crowds across the region, even if it doesn't set the world alight.
Opener 'There Are Worse Things' takes the post-punk revival sound of fellow midlanders Editors and adds Minus The Bear's most shimmering qualities and some (almost literal) introspection - "staring at the insides of my eyes". 'House With The Red Door' and 'Gloria Knudson' are more unusual. The Placebo-style angst is familiar, but the staccato drum rhythms, occasional math-rock guitar solos and post-rock mini-moments definitely aren't from Brian Molko's lot.
The semi-acoustic title track has an endearing melancholy ("It's no way to be if you're only happy when you're asleep") but ultimately; 'Fix This Imbalance' sounds like a band that could benefit from coming out of their comfort zone.
Listen: www.myspace.com/dialsband
Tracklist:
1. There Are Worse Things
2. Gloria Knudson
3. House With The Red Door
4. Fix This Imbalance
Review - Missill - Mixshake
Missill - Mixshake
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8 out of 10
This mammoth, globe-spanning mix from Parisian DJ/designer/graffiti artist Missill is proof that Ed Banger Records and Daft Punk aren't the be all and end all of French dance music. Not that this an exclusively French affair. For the follow-up to her a debut LP 'Targets', Missill has gathered tracks all over the world to create a bonkers mix of house, electro rock, bassline, crunk, drum & bass, kuduro, fight-ready hip-hop, clever/dumb lyrics screeches 'n' squelches. The whole thing moves at a rapid pace, there's only about minute of most individual tracks, so nothing outstays its welcome as on some other mixes.
In among the 40 songs here, the real revelations though are Australian (via Belize and Uganda) hip-hop duo Killa Queenz and Berlin pair CLP, who update Arabian Prince's filthy mind and Missy Elliott's revolutionary beats. Calling In Sick's ramped-up rave and Computer Club's cover of Ministry are also provide two of the most exhilarating moments (and there are a few on here).
And while 'Mixshake' is full of names from various global underground scenes, there are a few familiars as well, such as the late J. Dilla appearing on EdIT's elelctro-rock thump; Kelis' 'Bossy' being (even more) sexed-up by SebastiAn; 29 bubbling seconds of Mr Oizo and a furious Lil' John sample spread across Bobmo and A. Track. The Count & Sinden's should-have-been hit 'Hardcore Girls' gets a cyber-carnival remix, and The Count's (aka Herve's) dance supergoup makes two appearances, with 'Drop It To The Floor's' bizarre trancehall and a snarling double-remix of 'Beat Bang' by DJ Mujava and Herve.
Missill provides a few of her own tracks, including a pair with fellow French DJ Loris, that rival the brightly lit, vodka Red Bulls-in-the-air arena dance of Justice and Daft Punk, hinting that she could be a star with her own music and other's.
Listen: www.myspace.com/djmissill
Tracklist:
1. Missill - Intro Mixshake
2. Bassnectar - Heads Up (California Style remix)
3. EdIT - The Game Is Not Over (featuring J. Dilla)
4. EdIT/Kraddy - Android Porn
5. Mochipet - Rambunktion (featuring 215TKF, Mike Boo & TaiwanKid) (Boreta remix)
6. Kelis - Bossy (SebastiAn remix)
7. Killa Queenz - Bitches
8. CLP - Dip Shorty
9. CLP - Ready Or Not
10. Shadow Dancer - Cowbois (Strip Steve remix)
11. DJ Gero - Graffiti Boy
12. Mr Oizo - Erreur Jean (featuring Error Smith)
13. Nadastrom - Tween Me + U (featuring Blaqstarr)
14. Machines Don't Care - Drop It To The Floor
15. DJ Manaia - Pull Up (Rave 2009)
16. Zombie Disco Squad - Eurovision (Mowgli remix)
17. Oh Snap - Sweater (Hostage remix)
18. Machines Don't Care - Beat Bang (DJ Mujava remix/Herve re-edit)
19. Mochipet - Banana Split (featuring E Da Boss & Bicasso) (Fliami Vice remix)
20. Detboi - Y'all Want Mo' (Sinden remix)
21. Bobmo - To The Bobmobile
22. A. Track - Frenchie Act A Fool
23. DJ X-Change - Party Like A Rock Star
24. DJ Funk - Who Run This MF
25. Raziek - She Proud
26. Kaptain Kadillac - Say Yeah
27. DJ Funk - Bang Da Floor
28. Missill & Loris - Not Ur Bitch
29. Missill & Loris - Moboroshi
30. Lady B - When It Comes To The Beat
31. T.R - We Won't Stop
32. Missill - We Don't Care (featuring BluRum13)
33. The Count & Sinden - Hardcore Girls (featuring Rye Rye) (JC remix)
34. Designer Drugs - Back Up In This
35. KS - Down Widdit
36. Calling In Sick - Console
37. Huoratron - Hoedown
38. Missill - Chuppa
39. Computer Club - Just One Fix
40. Milez Benjiman - Chop That Wood
Review - Broadway - Kingdoms
Broadway - Kingdoms
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3 out of 10
"It's boring me to tears," sings Broadway singer Misha Camacho on the penultimate track on 'Kingdoms', 'Same Thing We Do Everyday Pinky'. He's obviously not singing about his own record, but it's a feeling that became easy to empathise with a few songs ago. The post-hardcore/emo troupe have got the music-channel songs and magazine cover-friendly looks but it's difficult to see how Broadway are going to stand out from the rest.
There's little to distinguish Broadway from Alexisonfire, Madine Lake or the whole Victory Records lot. All the boxes are ticked: nasal vocals; growly vocals; crunchy guitars; Warped Tour-here-we-come chanty bits; twiddly heavy metal bits (on 'Meg Ryan Would Play You In The Movie'); jokey song titles; and textbook High School/teen outsider feelings ('Prom Queen Has No Friends').
There are moments of variety, but they're brief and all gathered in the middle of the record. A short lived flurry of metalcore on 'We Are Paramount', the atmospheric electronica interlude, Metrostation-style faux-electro on 'You Bring The Thunder, I'll Bring The Lightning' and fitting Southern rawk swagger bookending 'Gotta Love That Southern Charm'. But vapid piano slowie 'AWOL' is far more representative of this colourless record.
Listen: www.myspace.com/broadwayfl
Tracklist:
1. Intro
2. Redeeming A Monster
3. The Last Saturday
4. Meg Ryan Would Play You In The Movie
5. Don't Jump The Shark Before You Save The Whale
6. We Are Paramount
7. Interlude
8. Gotta Love That Southern Charm
9. You Bring The Thunder, I'll Bring The Lightning
10. AWOL
11. Same Thing We Do Everyday Pinky
12. Prom Queen Has No Friends
Review - Micall Parknsun - First Second Time Around
Micall Parknsun - First Second Time Around
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7 out of 10
Now, Micall, you need to earn a living like the rest of us and you want people to buy your first record since 2005's 'The Working Class Dad', but while having your son say, "You're listening to Micall Parknsun... don't bootleg my dad's CDs," is cute the first time, it get's annoying when it happens every few minutes (although, kudos for coming up with a novel anti-piracy strategy). And even though the infant interruptions on the promo copies of 'First Second Time Around' over the top the music becomes a drag, it does help put family at the forefront of the record.
In mainstream hip-hop, only Eminem raps about fatherhood, and that's usually either soppy or involves nasty things happening to his (twice) ex-wife Kim; whereas Parknsun's songs are about family life, hip-hop and how the two mix together. On 'Done', he says, "My life is much more than beats and rhymes." Nowhere more so than a few songs earlier, on 'So Far', where he tells us about phoning his mum and how he doesn't have a car (his wife does the driving). You're not going to hear that kind of humility from 50 Cent, are you?
As with most YNR Productions, there's plenty of collaboration with other artists on the label, including founder Jehst, who brings out Parknsun's dark side on the menacing 'Come Again', 'BANG!' and 'Movementz'. While, on the 'Illmatic'-esque 'Wordz From The King', Kyza's lines rhyming "emo" with "Beano" have Parknsun laughing out loud.
There are also tracks with American soul singer Tiffany Paige and rising Australian producer M-Phazers, on the rousing if cheesy 'All 4 Hip-Hop'. There's a lot of messy, party music on 'First Second...', among the heavier subject matter, like on the bold and brassy 'The Good, The Bad And Da Dutty', and the summery, soulful 'Turn It Up' and 'The Get Thru'. There aren't many rappers that can get your head nodding and thinking at the same time, but Micall Parknsun is one of them.
Listen: www.myspace.com/micallparknsun
Tracklist:
1. First Second Time Around
2. New
3. Turn It Up
4. Holdin' It Down
5. Come Again (featuring Jehst)
6. The Get Thru
7. Dis Iz Real (featuring Caleb)
8. Everday (featuring Tiffany Paige)
9. BANG! (featuring Jehst)
10. The Good, The Bad And Da Dutty (featuring Dubbledge & Joker Starr)
11. Beats 'N' Rhymez
12. Still Here
13. C'mon
14. Wordz From The King (featuring Kyza)
15. So Far
16. Movementz (featuring Jehst & Kashmere)
17. All 4 Hip-Hop
18. Done
Review - Joshua Radin - One Of Those Days (Single)
Joshua Radin - One Of Those Days (Single)
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5 out of 10
A pleasant little breathy ramble through a Beck B-side as he takes an airbrush to Iron & Wine. Radin has famous friends, so expect to hear more of him as the likes of Rick Rubin and Zach Braff casually drop his name into interviews. I'm just thankful he's not another James Blunt or Jack Johnson but who knows? One sleb friend too many and we may have another sentimental car-crash smeared in shit on our hands.
Listen: www.myspace.com/joshuaradin
Tracklist:
1. One Of Those Days (Radio Edit)
Review - Eels - Hombre Lobo-12 Songs of Desire
Eels - Hombre Lobo-12 Songs of Desire
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5 out of 10
I put my hands up! I'm sorry, I don't get Eels. I've heard the singles, dipped into the more well-known albums, but I've always thought of Mr "E" as Beck without the funk, charisma or in this new album's case - ideas. Is he troubled?
I'm sure Eels fans will think this is a "fabulous return to form", questioning how Mark Oliver Everett "manages to push the envelope so far". Not me. "Hombre Loco" isn't bad in the sense that gravel isn't bad, but I have had to push myself to give it several repeat listens and I after a seventeen year career of E's work - I seemed to have not missed a thing.
So Eel's fans, buy this and remain trapped in your beige box of mediocrity listening to all three Shrek soundtrack's that he's appeared on - anyone that likes to be challenged when listening to music, please avoid. 5 out of 10 resembles my indifference for this album, Eels and Mr E. In fact, I pity the fool...
Listen: www.myspace.com/eels
Tracklist:
1. Prizefighter
2. That You Look You Give That Guy
3. Lilac Breeze
4. In My Dreams
5. Tremendous Dynamite
6. The Longing
7. Fresh Blood
8. What's a Little Fella To Do
9. My Timing Is Off
10. All The Beautiful Things
11. Beginners Luck
12. Ordinary Man
Review - Karl Culley - Bundle of Nerves (Single)
Karl Culley - Bundle of Nerves (Single)
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4 out of 10
Karl Culley sings and plays acoustic guitar. With such a packed market as that, his PR takes a scattergun approach to his 'influences', naming almost every famous male acoustic singer/songwriter and chucking in Tori Amos, too. For a laugh, presumably, because what we have here is Viv Stanshall on speed, minus the fart noises and worm-eating but plus Richard Thompson in a hurry. 'It's just too much for me', Culley opines throughout. Same here. And, strangely, not enough.
Listen: www.myspace.com/karlculley
Tracklist:
1. Bundle of Nerves
Review - Mel Keith & The Strombachs - Mel Keith & The Strombachs
Mel Keith & The Strombachs - Mel Keith & The Strombachs
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3 out of 10
Everyone who has heard Mel Keith seems to want to immediately compare her to Sheryl Crow. Understandable; she's American, she's a singer, she sings ball-achingly tedious rock songs. Sure, her heart's in the right place and live the band may be incendiary but on this album we have a squelch-up between a tired Alanis Morrisette and Alannah Myles, backed by Katrina's Waves (Wikipedia may be your friend at this point).
Where there should be power, there's shrieking (Don't Walk Away). Where there should be swing, there's stodge (You Shine). Where it should be gripping, it's awaiting the results at a battle-of-the-Americana-bands competition somewhere. Still, US shitcoms must have their choons. As Mel herself says in Amazing - 'I think I'll go out for a while. . .'
Listen: www.myspace.com/melkeithandthestrombachs
Tracklist:
1. Is Anyone Here
2. Don't Walk Away
3. Amazing
4. Did You Steal The Money
5. Just Like Kathleen
6. You Shine
7. You're Not Here
News - Shizzle Your Nizzle, It’s Lethal Bizzle...
Lethal Bizzle will release their new single "Going Out Tonight" on the 21st of September through Search and Destroy.
Live dates:
October 2009
Wednesday 7th - Liverpool Academy 2
Thursday 8th - Bristol Academy 2
Friday 9th - Birmingham Academy 2
Sunday 11th - Sheffield Academy 2
Monday 12th - London Islington Academy
Ticket prices are £8.00 (£10.00 London)
Doors are 7.00pm
News - Catch The Glint
Glint will release their debut UK self-titled EP on the 3rd of August.
Live dates:
30-Jul Thursday Belfast, Auntie Annies
3-Aug Monday Liverpool, O2 Academy 2
4-Aug Tuesday Birmingham, 02 Academy 3
5-Aug Wednesday Bristol, O2 Academy 2
6-Aug Thursday London,02 Academy 2
7-Aug Friday Oxford, 02 Academy 2
8-Aug Saturday Nottingham, Stealth
9-Aug Sunday Newcastle, 02 Academy 2
13-Aug Thursday Derby, Rockhouse for Club NME
News - Breathe Carolina New Song Online
You can check out Breathe Carolina’s new song "Hello Fascination" on their MySpace page now.
News - The Blackout Invade London
The Blackout will release their third single "Save Our Selves (The Warning)" off their album "The Best In Town" on the 3rd of August. To celebrate the band are playing a show at The Barfly in London on release day.
Live dates:
1st August- Hevy festival, Folkstone
3rd August- Barfly, London
5th August- Relentless Boardmasters, Newquay
25th August- Kasbah, Coventry
27th August- Fibbers, York
28th Agust-Leeds Festival
29th August- Reading festival
News - The Defiled Sign To In At The Deep End Records
The Defiled have signed to In At The Deep End Records. Their mini-album called "1888" will come out on the 5th of October.
News - History Of Guns - Free Download Single
History Of Guns released their new double-A side single "When You Don't Matter" / "Slice Up Your Wife" with B-side "Forever" via Line Out Records on the 20th of July.
You can download the 3 track single for free on Line Out Records website www.lineoutrecords.com/downloads/HistoryOfGuns_WhenYouDontMatter
News - Young Guns v.s L'Amour La Morgue
Young Guns have made a version of their track "The Weight Of The World" available for free download. The L'Amour La Morgue remix of the track is available now from www.musicglue.com/younggunsuk.
Live dates coming up:
JUL 29: GLASGOW, ABC (w/ Taking Back Sunday)
JUL 30: LIVERPOOL, Academy (w/ Taking Back Sunday)
JUL 31: CARDIFF, University (w/ Taking Back Sunday)
AUG 01: SONISPHERE FESTIVAL, Jagermeister Stage
AUG 02: LEEDS, Metropolitan University (w/ Taking Back Sunday)
AUG 05: LONDON, The Garage (w/ The Used)
AUG 06: COLCHESTER, The Twist
AUG 07: CAMBRIDGE, Man On The Moon
AUG 08: GUILDFORD, Boileroom
AUG 09: NOTTINGHAM, Rock City
AUG 10: EDINBURGH, GRV
AUG 11: GLASGOW, Ivory Blacks
AUG 12: DUNDEE, Dexters
AUG 13: ABERDEEN, Tunnels
AUG 15: ARBROATH, Viewfields
AUG 16: LIVERPOOL, Barfly
AUG 25: MANCHESTER, Academy (w/ Lostprophets)
AUG 26: WOLVERHAMPTON, Civic Hall (w/ Lostprophets)
AUG 27: NEWPORT, Newport Centre (w/ Lostprophets)
SEP 05: HIGH WYCOMBE, Blues Loft (w/ Attack! Attack!)
SEP 13: MANCHESTER, Moho Live (w/ Deaf Havana)
SEP 14: LONDON, Underworld (w/ Deaf Havana)
SEP 15: BRIGHTON, Engine Rooms (w/ Deaf Havana)
SEP 16: READING, Face Bar (w/ Deaf Havana)
SEP 17: SOUTHAMPTON, Joiners (w/ Deaf Havana)
SEP 18: MILTON KEYNES, The Pitz (w/ Deaf Havana)
SEP 19: LEEDS, Rios (w/ Deaf Havana)
SEP 20: ABERDEEN, Snafu (w/ Deaf Havana)
SEP 21: GLASGOW, Capitol (w/ Deaf Havana)
SEP 22: NEWCASTLE, The End Bar (w/ Deaf Havana)
SEP 24: PETERBOROUGH, The Park (w/ Deaf Havana)
SEP 25: DERBY, The Vic Inn (w/ Deaf Havana)
SEP 26: COLCHESTER, The Twist (w/ Deaf Havana)
SEP 27: NORWICH, Marquee (w/ Deaf Havana)
SEP 28: LIVERPOOL, The Pickett (w/ Deaf Havana)
SEP 29: HIGH WYCOMBE, The Nags Head (w/ Deaf Havana)
News - H2O European / UK Tour
H2O have the following live dates coming up:
Jul 31 Viveiro, Spain - Resurrection Fest (w/ Napalm Death, Folsom, Madball)
Aug 02 Lindau, Germany - Club Vaudeville (w/ Madball)
Aug 03 TBA
Aug 04 Pfarrkirchen, Germany - Bogaloo (w/ Madball)
Aug 05 Stuttgart, Germany - LKA (w/ Agnostic Front, Folsom, Madball)
Aug 07 Leisnig, Germany - Sucks’n’ Summer Festival (w/ AGNOSTIC FRONT, DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR, DYS ,EVERGREEN TERRACE ,FINAL PRAYER .HEAVEN SHALL BURN , LIONHEART , MADBALL, & More)
Aug 08 Germany - Pressure Festival (w/ Agnostic Front, Evergreen Terrace, Death Before Dishonor, Folsom, Madball, Walls Of Jericho)
Aug 09 Blackpool, United Kingdom - Rebellion Festival (w/ Agnostic Front, Napalm Death,)
Aug 10 Bristol, United Kingdom - Croft
Aug 11 Plymouth, United Kingdom - The White Rabbit
Aug 12 Kingston, United Kingdom - Fighting Cocks
Aug 13 Peterborough, United Kingdom - The Park
Aug 14 London, United Kingdom - Underworld
News - Wake Up, It’s Breed 77 Time!
Breed 77’s new single "Wake Up" will come out on the 24th of August. It is taken from their new album "Insects" which is due for release on the 19th of October.
News - Placebo & The Never-Ending Why
Placebo will release their new single "The Never-Ending Why" on the 7th of September.
You can keep up with 'Placebo Summer 2009' on the Video Blog section of the bands website www.placeboworld.co.uk/blog.php or on their Official Vimeo channel - www.vimeo.com/5492237
News - Broadway Calls Album + The Offspring Shows
Broadway Calls are set to release new album "Good Views, Bad News" on the 17th of August through Side One Dummy Records. Their single "Be All That You Can't Be" is going to be released on the 10th of August.
Track Listing:
1. Midnight Hour
2. Be All That You Can't be
3. Election Night
4. Basement Royalty
5. To The Sheets
6. Give Up The Ghost
7. Sundowners
8. Tonight Is Alive
9. Best Year
10. Wake Up Call
11. At The End
12. Call Out (VINYL ONLY)
Live dates are as follows:
August 2009:
25th London Brixton Academy with the Offspring
26th Manchester Academy with the Offspring
29th Leeds Festival (NME / Radio 1 Stage)
30th Reading Festival (NME / Radio 1 Stage)
September 2009:
4th Southampton Joiners with Polar Bear Club
5th Album launch show - The Fighting Cocks, Kingston
News - Loom - Full Album Stream
Loom’s upcoming album "Selva Molhada" can be previewed in it’s entirety at DecoyMusic.com now. The album is available through Exigent Records.
Monday, 27 July 2009
News - Take It Back! - Rumors Of Revolt EP
Take It Back!’s new EP "Rumors Of Revolt" will be released on the 18th of August through Facedown Records.
Only 1000 copies are being made of this limited edition EP and it features 3 brand new songs and 2 covers (No Innocent Victims To Burn Again and Black Flags Rise Above).
You can pre-order it from here: http://facedown.merchnow.com/products/bycode?code=PE
News - The Swellers New 7"
Submitted: "The Swellers’ new 7" will be available for order tomorrow in The Fueled By Ramen Webstore. It features two new songs and is being released by Fueled By Ramen and Paper+Plastick. The vinyl itself won’t ship for a little while but everyone who orders will get to download both songs instantly!"
News - This Providence On MTV’s Discover & Download
Submitted: "This Providence have been named one of MTV’s Discover & Download artists. An interview with the band and a free download of an acoustic version of ’Letdown’ are available now on the Discover & Download site. To celebrate, we’ve dropped the price of the album in our webstore to only $8 and FYE is selling it in stores for only $9.99!"
News - Jennifer’s Body Soundtrack
Submitted: "The soundtrack to the new Diablo Cody film ’Jennifer’s Body’ starring Megan Fox will be available for preorder tomorrow in The Fueled By Ramen Webstore. It features new songs from Panic! At The Disco, All Time Low, Dashboard Confessional, Cobra Starship and Hayley Williams along with songs from Black Kids, Silversun Pickups, Lissy Trullie and White Lies."
News - Panic! At The Disco Get A New Perspective
Submitted: "Panic! At The Disco new single ’New Perspective’ will be posted tomorrow on MySpace! It’s the lead single from the Jennifer’s Body Soundtrack and the band’s first full music since they’re lineup change announced earlier this month. The lyrics to the song are available now on the PATD website."
News - Ian Brown - Stellify
Ian Brown’s single "Stellify" is being released on the 21st of September through Fiction. The album "My Way" follows on the 28th of September.
Ian Brown has been confirmed as a very special guest on the main stage at the 2009 Reading and Leeds festivals. More dates will be announced shortly.
News - BrokeNCYDE Return To The UK
BrokeNCYDE have announced a one off show in London.
The band checked in with this message:
"UK! brokeNCYDE is coming back to the UK and we can't wait. We had such an awesome time last time but didn’t get to play London so we're really excited about finally playing the capital of England. Come down to the Barfly on 24th August and get your crunk on with us. See you there!"
Their new album "I'm Not A Fan But The Kids Like It" is out now on Breaksilence Records.
News - Alberta Cross - FREE Download
Submitted: "Alberta Cross have today unveiled a brand new track from their long awaited debut LP. Entitled 'Leave us and Forgive Us', the track is available to download for FREE from the band's web site, www.albertacross.net."
News - Hollywood Undead Headline UK Tour
Hollywood Undead have announced a six-date UK headline tour.
November 30th - O2 Academy 2, Birmingham
December 1st - The Garage, Glasgow
December 2nd - Metropolitan University, Leeds
December 4th - O2 Shepherds Bush Empire, London
December 5th - Academy 2, Manchester
December 6th - Waterfront, Norwich
Their album "Swan Songs" is out now through A&M/Octone Records.
News - Reverend And The Makers Guerrilla Acoustic Tour
Submitted; "Reverend and The Makers are celebrating the release of their new album A French Kiss In The Chaos with a series of guerrilla acoustic shows across the north of England.
The band will be hitting 14 towns in 4 days, playing impromptu shows at the most random of places and will keep fans updated via twitter @JonMcClure with the locations of the shows.
Monday 27th
12.30pm Leeds
1.40pm Barnsley
2.45pm Doncaster
4pm Sheffield
8pm Manchester
Tuesday 28th:
1.30pm Sunderland
5pm Newcastle (Instore Performance @ HMV)
8.45pm York
Wednesday 29th:
12.15pm Liverpool
5pm Nottingham (Instore Performance @ Fopp)
7.40pm Chesterfield
Thursday 30th:
12.30pm Birmingham
5pm Bristol(Instore Performance @ HMV)"
Sunday, 26 July 2009
Review - Dolores O’Riordan - The Journey (Single)
Dolores O’Riordan - The Journey (Single)
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6 out of 10
The voice of The Cranberries, Dolores O'Riordan is back with her second album No Baggage and the first release from the album is this 2 track download only single, The Journey. The song itself is good but doesn't really set any standards and is great for those people who want more stuff like The Cranberries. I can't actually make out what The Journey is about except the very obvious fact 'this is my life' and 'that this is my moment' according to Delores anyway. Second track Loser is more of the same, both very well produced and I still have a small part of my teen years in the back of my mind where I wanted to do naughty things with Dolores so I liked it if only for my aging memories.
Listen: www.myspace.com/doloresoriordan
Tracklist:
1. The Journey
2. Loser
Review - Maxïmo Park - Questing, Not Coasting (Single)
Maxïmo Park - Questing, Not Coasting (Single)
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6 out of 10
Maximo Park's latest single Questing, Not Coasting is an odd one, starting with an almost melancholic manner but quickly bursting into a rapid fire chorus. I can't help but hear New Order when listening to this, this is probably due to the mix of synths and bass line. Not that that detracts from the tune, but with lyrics that hold very little meaning to me, this track is like I said, a bit odd. It doesn't really strike out at me even though it should. The production is top and the hooks are all there, it just doesn't hit.
Listen: www.myspace.com/maximopark
Tracklist:
1. Questing, Not Coasting
Saturday, 25 July 2009
News - Death Before Dishonor - Full Album Stream
Death Before Dishonor’s new album "Better Ways to Die" will be released on the 27th of July through Bridge Nine Records and it’s streaming in full on their MySpace page now.
Friday, 24 July 2009
News - Daniel Merriweather October UK Tour
Daniel Merriweather has a tour in October.
2nd Oct 2009 Bristol O2 Academy
4th Oct 2009 Oxford O2 Academy
6th Oct 2009 Birmingham O2 Academy
7th Oct 2009 Glasgow ABC
9th Oct 2009 Manchester Academy
10th Oct 2009 London O2 Shepherds Bush Empire
Tickets are on sale now.
News - Reverend And The Makers: A French Kiss in the Chaos
Reverend And The Makers’ new album "A French Kiss in the Chaos" is out on Monday the 27th of July.
There will be a series of instore gigs and signings next week:
Monday 27 July, 5.00pm - signing only
hmv Sheffield High St. - 14-18 High Street, Sheffield, S1 2GE - tel:
01142 723302
Tuesday 28 July, 5.00pm - live & signing hmv Newcastle - 56
Northumberland Street, Newcastle, NE1 7AE- tel: 01912 300626
Wednesday 29 July, 5.00pm - live & signing Fopp Nottingham - The
Frontage, Queen Street, Nottingham, NG1 2BL - tel: 0115 934 9910
Thursday 30 July, 5.00pm - live & signing hmv Bristol Broadmead -
24/26 Broadmead & Upper Floors, 26/28 & 30 Broadmead, Bristol BS1 3HA
tel: 01179 342900
Thursday, 23 July 2009
Review - Yawning Sons - Ceremony To The Sunset
Yawning Sons - Ceremony To The Sunset
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4 out of 10
Like all the best laid plans, what started as something simple (on paper at least) ended up becoming more complicated than first expected. However in the case of Yawning Sons that complication was something positive.
Kent based instrumental riffers Sons Of Alpha Centauri had employed the talents of desert rock/yawning man Gary Arce as producer. They flew him over and get him to record the album, but that album ended up being a collaboration that didn’t belong under either band’s banner. The result is Yawning Sons.
Anyone familiar with the aforementioned bands or the whole desert rock thing should instantly feel at home with "Ceremony To The Sunset" and its drawn out instrumentation, constant feel of something building and its jammed out manner. Songs build and build from laid back, tom led drumming into chiming guitar chords and droning bass. But they keep building, ratcheting it tighter each time, giving the constant feeling of something just out your reach, approaching each time but never quite getting there.
If you have been a desert rock follower then you already know the Desert Sessions Volumes. If you know those then you know that someone else will always be involved. This time Gary Arce has roped in his buddies to help out in the vocal department. Scott Reeder, Mario Lalli and Wendy Rae Fowler all add another little element to their chosen tracks but they can’t outshine the Yawning Sons vision on this one. Certainly a welcome entry into the desert rock club.
Listen: www.myspace.com/yawningsons
Tracklist:
1. Ghostship / Deadwater
2. Tomahawk Watercress
3. Wetlands
4. Whales In Tar
5. Meadows
6. Garden Sessions III
7. Japanese Garden
Review - Echo Screen - Goodbye Old Life
Echo Screen - Goodbye Old Life
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6 out of 10
Echo Screen's latest EP supposedly showcases 5 tracks of pop-punk goodness, and all the signs seem good; before you listen to it. Facing a struggle, as most bands these days do, Echo Screen went their separate ways to allow the creative spark to come back to their song writing process. Employing Ace Enders of Early November fame to produce their comeback effort will help increase their appeal to those who still miss TEN. This however is not a typical Enders album, and nor should it be, Enders' job here is to allow Echo Screen to sound as good as they can do and this is achieved, Echo Screen are obviously a band who knows their craft, and the move away from their older sound has been handled seamlessly, however, that does not mean this is a great EP.
EP opener I Amsterdam has a certain, quirky charm to it, but it begins to grate eventually. While it bounces along similar to Ben Folds song, it just lacks a certain something, a theme that is repeated again during the course of this short EP. Closing on The Sun the album rather limply falls across the finishing line, with an attempted piano ballad that musically has some comparisons to a poor Oasis song. The Sun is the worst song on the CD without doubt, lacking any hooks or memorable features whatsoever. So the album is bookended with weak songs, what about the stuff in the middle?
Well to continue the theme, Bombs Away is an improvement but still not a great song, but at least it has a pretty catchy hook. The acoustic guitar work is fair, but the songs strength lies in the dual vocal work that carries the song. Bombs Away would make a perfectly fine album track on a full-length but the scrutiny is increased on an EP of just 5 tracks and this song falls down on repeated listens.
So far it seems I mostly have negative things to say about this album, and while it does contain two OK tracks and one bad track it is saved by one great track and one song that I literally cannot find a bad thing to say about it. When I Escape (L.A.) is a great song, mixing a breezy electric guitar line with the acoustic it flows nicely before really picking up when it reaches its chorus. Utilising vocal harmonies again, this is Echo Screen showing a maturity and flair for writing good pop music. However, song of the album, and probably the best song Echo Screen have written, goes to The Ballad of Jack Shephard (Battle Chorus), a driving rock track with a pulsing bass line and some soaring vocals. This song sticks in the head, and it will stay there, the chorus employs another dual vocal track that allows the track to sound far "bigger" than it should (kudos to Ace). It is a song that would sound at home in a packed stadium and this is the sound Echo Screen should try and work with.
That being said, this EP has 3 weak tracks to 2 good ones. It balances up and is worth getting a hold of for the two stronger tracks. If Echo Screen can take their sound forward then the rock scene will be better off for having got them back together.
Listen: www.myspace.com/echoscreen
Tracklist:
1. I Amsterdam
2. The Ballad of Jack Shephard (Battle Chorus)
3. When I Escape (L.A.)
4. Bombs Away
5. The Sun
Review - Def Leppard - Adrenalize (Deluxe Edition)
Def Leppard - Adrenalize (Deluxe Edition)
View The Review-cd.jpg)
7 out of 10
"Do you wanna get rocked?"
Round 3 of the Def Leppard "Deluxe Edition" trilogy arrives and we are now revisiting the post-"Hysteria" come down of "Adrenalize". How do you follow Hysteria in the first place? An album recorded after the horrific accident involving drummer Rick Allen and the loss of his arm; producing seven hit singles and eventually selling 20 million copies. No easy feat.and then guitarist Steve Clark dies. With the record company breathing down their necks demanding "Hysteria 2", this can't have been the easiest album to record. But it was "Hysteria 2".and that's the problem.
"Lets Get Rocked" starts the album, proving they were still an American chart bothering megaforce. It is overly American but a brilliant first track. Then comes "Heaven Is" and "Make Love Like A Man", it's going well so far, Hit Hit Hit - this is Leppard! Then some filler.oh well. A power ballad called "White Lightning", probably taken seriously be the whole world, apart from the white-piss drinking Brits. Especially the line "You've got both ends burning, like a moth to a flame". Now we know what makes Joe Elliot tick - 3 litres of Frosty Jacks and a Vindaloo.
It's a good thing "Stand Up (Kick Love Into Motion)" came on, as I would have never made it to "Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad". Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the song that could bring nations together under one glitter ball - slow dancing into the night. I dare you to listen to this and not be moved in some way. This is the definition of power ballad - it could knock a chastity belt off at 100 yards.
Mutt Lange should have bought the co-written "I Wanna Touch U" off the Leps and saved it for Shania Twain. The song could have been a hit all over the world, but it's stuck at the tale end of the album. He could have bought another country with the profits.
The second disc includes some live tracks from which without Mutt's polish, sound pretty ropey - Joe Elliot sounds like he's about to die at some points; the introduction to "Women" particularly. The inclusion of two covers; "You Can't Always Get." and "Little Wing" with Hothouse Flowers no less.which are fine but pointless. Some more live songs.and the jewel in the crown - "Two Steps Behind You". This should have been a huge hit for them as well, performed at open-mic nights around the world forever more. I first heard it on the Last Action Hero soundtrack whilst scout camp when I was 12.I must find that tape! *cough
"Adrenalize" is a good album; if a little too "Hysteria"-cal (it does work, trust me). It is also a shame it's backed with a polished turd of a second disc when compared to the "Pyromania - Deluxe Edition". Out of the three remasters, "Adrenalize" gets bronze.
Listen: www.myspace.com/defleppard
Tracklist:
Disc One
1. Let's Get Rocked
2. Heaven Is
3. Make Love Like A Man
4. Tonight
5. White Lightning
6. Stand Up (Kick Love Into Motion)
7. Personal Property
8. Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad
9. I Wanna Touch U
10. Tear It Down
Disc Two
1. Hysteria - In The Clubs In Your Face - Bonn 29/05/92
2. Photograph - In The Clubs In Your Face
3. Pour Some Sugar On Me - In The Clubs In Your Face
4. Let's Get Rocked - In The Clubs In Your Face
5. You Can't Always Get Want You Want - B-Side
6. Little Wing w/ Hothouse Flowers - B-Side
7. Tonight (Version 2 - Demo Version) - B-Side
8. Now I'm Here (Live) - B-Side
9. Two Steps Behind Me (Acoustic) - B-Side
10. Tonight (Acoustic) - B-Side
11. Too Late For Love (Live) - B-Side
12. Women (Live) - B-Side
Review - Shinedown - The Sound Of Madness
Shinedown - The Sound Of Madness
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8 out of 10
After a storming performance at this year's Download Festival, Jacksonville Florida's Shinedown have released their long awaited third album The Sound of Madness. With it being two years in production the wait it seems is finally over. This album certainly doesn't hold back by ripping into major single Devour that stomps and swaggers all over the stereo. Frontman Brent Smith has a distinct twang to his raw, throaty vocals that carry the pummelling metals riffs over especially into the title track of the album.
Shinedown endeavours to be able to produce solid hard rock tunes but yet able to go the more mellow areas of their musical repertoire. This can be seen with new single the soaring Second Chance and the Pearl Jam-influenced The Crow And The Butterfly. This is post-grunge influenced metal but done well.
Listen: www.myspace.com/shinedown
Tracklist:
1. Devour
2. The Sound Of Madness
3. Second Chance
4. Cry For Help
5. The Crow And The Butterfly
6. If Only You Knew
7. Sin With A Grin
8. What A Shame
9. Cyanide Sweet Tooth Suicide
10. Breaking Inside
11. Call Me
Review - Paul Steel - Moon Rock
Paul Steel - Moon Rock
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7 out of 10
Here is the second album from an obviously talented and inventive singer/songwriter, bursting with hooks and harmonies. So why isn't he better known? He's from Brighton. His voice has l'eau de Mika about it. Perhaps he's too gay. Perhaps he's not gay enough? Such a fine line. Are you Easy Glistening types never satisfied? This album oozes Beach Boys and Pulp. It's totally Super Furry. Even the artwork is a Katamari / Miffy mashup. Perhaps he doesn't know the right 'people'. Whatever the reason, Paul Steel shows that writing unashamed pop music doesn't have to be excruciating.
Listen: www.myspace.com/paulsteel
Tracklist:
1. In A Coma
2. Moon Rock
3. Oh No! Oh Yeah!
4. I Will Make You Disappear
5. Rust & Dust
6. The Way You Are
7. Your Loss
8. Crossed The Line
9. Hole In Your Heart
10. Summer Song
11. Cry Away
Review - So Long, Pluto - Come Revisit El Paso!
So Long, Pluto - Come Revisit El Paso!
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3 out of 10
Here's something for those of you who think Ben Folds isn't nearly Folky enough, or that Weezer need their remaining testicle removing and replaced with a wind-up chicken playing the drums. Decidedly average in terms of imagination and execution, with vocalists who manage the twin heights of being both twee and dull. Heaven Knows is the only track to approach anything like swing (and I don't mean in the sense of either a big-band or cricket), Ode to Allies has pleasant piano / violin before kicking off into something quite unpleasantly chirpy and the rest needs dropping in a vat of tartan paint. If you want a band to open your school fete, though, I can't recommend So Long, Pluto highly enough.
Listen: www.myspace.com/solongplutomusic
Tracklist:
1. Yes, I'm Back
2. Downtown Scene
3. Moving
4. Come Revisit El Paso!
5. Murphy's Song
6. Sleep Wakeup Sleep
7. Constantinople
8. Heaven Knows
9. Ode to Allies
10. Last Night's Dream
Review - Lucky Elephant - Star Sign Trampoline
Lucky Elephant - Star Sign Trampoline
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8 out of 10
Given the current obsession with all things female let loose in the dressing room of a local primary school (Bat-ty Florence and her Little Boots etc.), the likes of Lucky Elephant may have to wait for some well-deserved exposure and success. In the meantime, enjoy this debut. Its summer release is ideal, since its childlike whimsy, plastic surrealism and tuneful uplift are made for sunny evenings. Let's hope we get some. . .
The band may be lumped together with the Bees, simply by virtue of also coming from the Isle of Wight (French vocalist Manu excepted), however the similarity between the two bands ends here. Manu's voice is entirely distinctive, with music to match, although you may hear echoes of the Flaming Lips, Radiohead (in their more sensitive moments) and the Super Furries. They are simply echoes, however. Lucky Elephant are as simply unique as you're likely to find.
Listen: www.myspace.com/luckyelephantmusic
Tracklist:
1. Lucky Elephant
2. Edgar
3. Red Ties vs. The Bees
4. The Pier
5. Modern Life, Changing People
6. Reverend Tilsley & His Magic Lantern
7. Burn Down The Acres
8. The Beginning
9. When You Fall To Earth
10. Neptune
11. Timebomb
Review - Century Man - Marauder (Single)
Century Man - Marauder (Single)
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7 out of 10
Century man's debut single Marauder is a stomping blast of indie rock with a very catchy chorus. It screams of influence by Kasabian, plus it's sometimes difficult to distinguish the lyrics over the guitars and when you can they don't make a huge amount of sense. But Nevermind that though, because it rocks and for the most part has a lot of 'singalongability'. Second track Comedown is straight out of the Book of Oasis and final track Mirrors is back to the Kasabian influence, but both have a lot more going on to make them individual.
A final thought about Century Man is that they seem to be using the vocals as a part of the melody rather than it sitting on top of the music. Instead they interweave with the rest of the music, which might account for why they are sometimes difficult to discern and why they might not follow a normal path of making sense.
Listen: www.myspace.com/centuryman
Tracklist:
1. Marauder
2. Comedown
3. Mirrors
Review - The Cat Empire - Live On Earth
The Cat Empire - Live On Earth
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8 out of 10
So summer is here at last and a soundtrack always makes a summer. If there is one band that makes a superb summer soundtrack it is Australia's The Cat Empire. Probably one of the hardest working bands around to date and one of the best current musical exports from Down Under, the Melbourne troupe have a reputation for producing a spectacular live show. This is presented in a whopping 22- track double album - a treat for any fan to say the least.
Very rarely is such live energy captured on record so clearly. So many styles are blended into an impressive cocktail of sound. The cubanised latin beats of the Buena Vista Social Club are a clear influence but at the same time so many influences such as blues, funk and reggae are added to the alt rock blueprint. A good percentage of the Aussies catalouge is covered on Live On Earth. Its hard to pick any top tracks because they are all so damn good. Though the title track of second album Two Shoes and homecountry smashit singles Hello and The Car Song have that wow factor that makes you wanna dance around your bedroom or brighten up the dreariest of days.
If you are kicking yourself like me on missing The Cat Empire latest UK tour this captures the electric atmosphere of a gig. Despite never being a big fan of live albums this certainly swayed me as one of the best releases this year so far.
Listen: www.myspace.com/thecatempire
Tracklist:
1. Fishies
2. The Car Song
3. So Many Nights
4. Lonely Moon
5. How To Explain?
6. Days Like These
7. Dumb Things
8. The Lost Song
9. The Rhythm
10. The Wine Song
11. All That Talking
12. The Chariot
13. Til The Ocean Takes Us All
14. Sly
15. Hello
16. Hotel California
17. Rhyme and Reason
18. Two Shoes
19. In My Pocket
20. No Longer There
21. The Darkness
22. Sunny Moon
News - Three Trapped Tigers UK Tour
Three Trapped Tigers have just announced a UK Tour in August supporting their new EP called "EP2" which is out through Blood Biscuits on the 17th of August.
AUGUST
17 Newcastle Head Of Steam
18 Nottingham Bodega
19 Sheffield The Harley
20 Manchester The Deaf Institute
23 Brighton Freebutt
24 Bristol Thekla
25 London White Heat
News - Before There Was Rosalyn Are Victorious!
Before There Was Rosalyn have signed to Victory Records. The band’s next release is scheduled to come out on the 27th of October.
News - Thrice: The Leak!
Thrice have posted a message on their website regarding the leak of their new album "Beggars" which wasn’t due out until the 13th of October!
"Hey guys,
By now, we're sure you're aware of what happened yesterday/late Monday night, and we're sorry we weren't able to comment until now, but we didn't want to address the issue without taking a day to regroup and discuss our options in dealing with this unfortunate situation. Thanks for your patience in that regard.
Obviously, we're incredibly disappointed with what happened. We understand that records leak constantly and that it's almost entirely unavoidable nowadays, but we never thought we'd have to deal with a record leaking three months before it's release date, and certainly never thought we'd have to deal with a leak before anyone in the band had even gotten a master reference of the record, or before the artwork for the booklet had even been completed. We're also disappointed that you're hearing the record for the first time, watermarked, with a Vagrant Records voiceover over every song. And we're disappointed that the leak has thrown a massive and immovable wrench into the efforts that many people have made to prepare for the three months leading up to release. That said, what's done is done, and we're moving forward.
"Beggars" will be available for download, legally and voiceover free-the way it was intended to be heard-as soon as we can possibly make it happen. Leaks happen overnight. Changing an entire retail marketing plan doesn't.
Finally, we'd like to thank those of you who have resisted the urge to download this leak, those of you who have been supportive of us in online forums as this thing began to spread yesterday, and those of you who have heard the record and are sharing kind words about it. We always appreciate your support, but even more so right now.
-Thrice"
News - Mayday Parade Song Clip
Mayday Parade have posted a clip of a new song on their MySpace page.
News - A Day To Remember Pull Out Of Reading/Leeds
A Day To Remember have had to pull out of Reading and Leeds festival this year due to an unspecified member of the band requiring surgery.
The band are still expected to support Bring Me The Horizon on their UK tour in October.
October 22nd - Glasgow Barrowlands
October 23rd - Manchester Academy
October 24th - Birmingham Academy
October 25th - London Roundhouse
October 26th - Norwich UEA
News - Mansions Enjoy A Spot Of Thyme Travel
Mansions are set to release a "Thyme Travel" a 4-song Cassette-only release through Cougar Child Tapes and it is limited to 200 copies.
Track Listing:
1. Unwell
2. Family Dinner Week
3. All Those Dreams
4. Lost in Space
Order it through this link: www.doghouserecords.com/v11/store/thymetravel/
News - John Nolan Is In The Doghouse
John Nolan (Straylight Run, Taking Back Sunday) has signed to Doghouse Records. His debut solo release called "Height" will be released on the 27th of October.
Wednesday, 22 July 2009
News - Are You Abel?
Abel will release their new EP called "The Honest Love" on the 1st of September through Dreamt Music.
News - Monotonix: Where Were You When It Happened?
Monotonix will release their new album "Where Were You When It Happened?" on the 31st of August through Drag City.
Track Listing:
1. Flesh And Blood
2. I Can't Take It Anymore
3. My Needs
4. Something Has Dried
5. Set Me Free
6. Spit It On Your Face
7. As Noise
8. Hunt You Down
Live dates:
16-Aug Leicester, Summer Sundae festival
17-Aug Norwich, The Marquee
18-Aug York, Fibbers
19-Aug Edinburgh, Fringe festival (Sneaky Pete's)
20-Aug Glasgow, Stereo
22-Aug Bristol, Start the Bus
23-Aug Brighton, The Engine Room
24-Aug London, The Garage (upstairs)
News - Showbread Have Lost Connection
Showbread have uploaded their track "Lost Connection With The Head" to their MySpace page. The song is the single from their forthcoming album "The Fear of God" which is being released through Tooth & Nail Records on the 11th of August.
News - them:youth - Halo
them:youth will release their new single "Halo" through Dirty Boots Records on the 21st of September.
Live dates:
Fri 31st Jul The Aftershow, MOHO, Manchester
Fri 2nd Oct Club NME, KOKO, London
Sat 3rd Oct Lennons, Southampton
Sun 4th Oct The Flapper, Birmingham
Mon 5th Oct Portland Arms, Cambridge
Tues 7th Oct King Tuts, Glasgow *main support to the Detachments
Weds 8th Oct Cockpit, Leeds
Thurs 9th Oct The Masque, Liverpool
Fri 10th Oct Stealth (Club night), Nottingham
News - JLS 2010 UK Tour
JLS’ debut single "Beat Again" came out on the 13th of July and they have a tour planned for 2010 with the dates as follows:
FEBRUARY
Monday 1st Ipswich Regent 01473 433100
Tuesday 2nd Nottingham Royal Centre 0115 989 5555
Wednesday 3rd Newcastle City Hall 0191 261 2606
Friday 5th Birmingham LG Arena 0844 338 8000
Saturday 6th Manchester Apollo 0844 477 7677
Sunday 7th Sheffield City Hall 0114 278 9789
Tuesday 9th Brighton Centre 0844 847 1515
Wednesday 10th Bournemouth BIC 0844 576 3000
Friday 12th Brentwood Leisure Centre 01277 262616
Saturday 13th London HMV Hammersmith Apollo 08448 444 748
Sunday 14th Liverpool Empire 0870 606 3536
Wednesday 17th Plymouth Pavillions 0845 146 1460
Thursday 18th Bristol Colston Hall 0117 922 3686
Friday 19th Cardiff CIA 029 2022 4488
Sunday 21st Glasgow Clyde Auditorium 0844 4999 990
Tickets go on general sale Friday 24th July at 10am
24hr cc hotline: 0871 2200 260 / buy online www.gigsandtours.com
News - Elektralux Don’t Want To Miss Out
Elektralux’s brand new single "Missing Out" is out on the 10th of August through Naim Edge Records. Their video is online here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5IH1ylw3w8
News - The Chemists Video Stream
The Chemists are releasing their single "A Love Like No One Else" on the 27th of July through Distiller Records. The single is online here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oUNsFHCkUc
News - The Word Alive "Empire" EP
The Word Alive’s new EP "Empire" is now available in stores and online.
News - New Morrissey Show Announced...
Morrissey has announced a new show at Alexandra Palace on Thursday the 5th of November.
Tickets for the new date are £35 and are on sale Friday 24th July at 9am. Maximum eight tickets per person. Special guests, Doll & The Kicks.
News - To Catch A Thief Feel Curious
To Catch A Thief will release their new EP "Curious Tales and Fierce Beasts" on the 10th of August through Colour Records.
Live dates:
12th August | The Doghouse - Dundee
15th August | Deenfest - Aberdeen
17th August | Actress & Bishop - Birmingham
18th August | Barfly - Cardiff
19th August | Jilly’s Rock World - Manchester
20th August | I-Bar - Bournmouth
21st August | Windsor - Neath
22nd August | Royal Park Cellars - Leeds
23rd August | Classic Grand - Glasgow
News - Raygun - London Shows
Raygun are playing some london shows over the coming weeks:
London Water Rats - 28th July
London Water Rats - 6th August
Their debut single "Just Because" is out on the 3rd of August. Checkout the video here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=abCl4Dwp9ys
News - Portugal. The Man Release Date
Portugal. The Man will release their new album "The Satanic Satanist" on the 3rd of August through the band’s own Approaching AIRBallons imprint within Equal Vision Records.
News - Revere: As The Radars Sleep
Revere’s new single "As The Radars Sleep" was released on the 20th of July this week.
News - Frank Turner Hits The Road
Frank Turner will be releasing his brand new download-only single "The Road" on the 31st of August through Xtra Mile Recordings/Epitaph Records.
Live dates:
The Offspring US Tour
JULY
16 Hard Rock, Orlando, FL,
17 St Augustine Amphitheater, Jacksonville, FL,
18 Pompano Beach Amphitheater, Miami, FL,
23 Chetltenham Town Hall (2000 Trees makeup show)
24 Queens Hotel, Weymouth
25 Camp Bestival
31 Y-Not Festival, Matlock
AUGUST
1 Kendall Calling Festival
13 Café 1001 Brick Lane Takeover MacMillan Charity gig
15 Leicester Summer Sundae
23 Beautiful Days Festival
27 Kingston New Slang
28 Cabaret Voltaire, Edge Festival, Edinburgh
29 Leeds Festival Radio1/NME stage
30 Reading Festival Radio1/NME stage
The Gaslight Anthem Tour USA
SEPTEMBER
13 The Ogden Theater, Denver, CO,
16 The House Of Blues, San Diego, CA
17 Henry Fonda Theater, Los Angeles,
20 The Fillmore, San Francisco, CA,
22 Berbati’s Pan, Portland, OR,
23 Showbox, Seattle, WA,
24 Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver, ,
26 Edmonton Event Centre, Edmonton,
27 MacEwan Ballroom, Calgary, Al,
29 Riddell Center, Regina, Sa
OCTOBER
1 Garrick Center, Winnipeg, Ma
3 The Cabooze, Minneapolis, MN
4 Turner Hall, Milwaukee, WI
5 The Intersection, Grand Rapids, MI
6 Andrew’s Hall, Detroit, MI
13 Dublin, Academy 2
14 Belfast Stiff Kitten Club
15 Glasgow QMU
16 Manchester Academy 2 SOLD OUT
17 Newcastle Uni
18 Nottingham Rock City
19 Wolverhampton Wulfrun Hall
20 Oxford Academy
22 Leeds Met University
23 Cambridge Junction
24 Plymouth University
25 Exeter Lemon Grove
26 Bristol Anson Rooms
27 Cardiff University
28 Winchester Guildhall
29 London Shepherd's Bush Empire
Tuesday, 21 July 2009
News - Bananarama Sign New Record Deal...
Bananarama have signed a new record deal with Fascination Records. Their new album will be out on the 14th of September and their next single "Love Comes" will preceed it on the 7th of September.
News - Confide - Shout The Truth Re-Release
Confide will re-release their album "Shout The Truth" on the 25th of August through Tragic Hero Records.
News - Owen - New Leaves
Owen will release their new album called "New Leaves" on the 22nd of September through Polyvinyl Record Co.
Track Listing:
1. New Leaves
2. Good Friends, Bad Habits
3. A Trenchant Critique
4. Never Been Born
5. Amnesia and Me
6. Brown Hair in a Bird’s Nest
7. Too Scared to Move
8. The Only Child of Aergia
9. Ugly on the Inside
10. Curtain Call
News - Twin Atlantic V.S Taking Back Sunday
Twin Atlantic are confirmed as main support to Taking Back Sunday.
26 JUL: DUBLIN, Academy (w/ Taking Back Sunday)
27 JUL: BELFAST, Spring & Airbrake (w/ Taking Back Sunday)
29 JUL: GLASGOW, ABC (w/ Taking Back Sunday)
30 JUL: LIVERPOOL, Academy (w/ Taking Back Sunday)
31 JUL: CARDIFF, University (w/ Taking Back Sunday)
01 AUG: SONISPHERE FESTIVAL, Bohemia Stage
02 AUG: LEEDS, Metropolitan University (w/ Taking Back Sunday)
08 AUG: BELLADRUM FESITVAL, Hothouse Stage
News - Steel Panther Invade The UK!
Steel Panther will be releasing their new single "Community Property" through Island Records on the 14th of September
Live dates:
Sunday 13 September - Birmingham Academy 2
Monday 14 September - Manchester Club Academy
Tuesday 15 September - Glasgow G2
Wednesday 16 September - London Electric Ballroom
Tickets will priced at £11 regionally and £13.50 in London and will go on sale, this Friday 24th July at 9am.
News - Evita - Basick Records Tour
Evita are part of the Basick Records Tour with No Consequence and A Dark Orbit on the following dates:
JULY
31 Luton, UBSU
AUGUST
01 Colchester, The Twist
02 Brighton, Freebutt
03 Middlesborough, Uncle Alberts (All Dayer)
04 Sunderland, Independent
05 Manchester, Jabez Clegg
06 Stoke, Harry's Bar
07 Milton Keynes, The Pitz
08 Camden Underworld METALFEST 3 (w/ Sylosis, The Eyes Of A Traitor & more)
15 Glasgow, METALFEST (w/ Your Demise/It Prevails & more)
29 Kilmarnock, Killiefest (w/ The Eyes of A Traitor, Paige & more)
News - Lullaby The Storm (ex From Autumn To Ashes) Album
Lullaby the Storm the new project from ex-From Autumn to Ashes guitarist Scott Gross, have announced that they will be releasing their debut album "3 Lanes Painted Red" through 567 Records on the 13th of October.
Monday, 20 July 2009
Review - The Stone Roses - Five Singles
The Stone Roses - Five Singles
View The Review
8 out of 10
In advance of their 1989 debut's uber-release, the Stone Roses whet the appetite of their considerable fan-base with a handful of singles in a nice collector's box. Which you've probably missed out on - it came with the first release, earlier in July. Sorry and all that. If you download them you get extra tracks not on the CDs or vinyl, though - Untitled 1, Untitled 2, Untitled 3 - well, you get the idea. Forgotten masterpieces? Brand new tracks? Unreleased bobbins? Can't help you there, either, I'm afraid. It's not going well so far, is it?
Thankfully, the music remains timeless. Fools Gold in particular should send shivers down the neck of any self-respecting music-lover. Baggies of a certain vintage will be wetting their flares. The band embody the 'tight but loose' ethos like few others, so if you can't find the wedge necessary for the 'four deluxe formats' of the album (or even just the one), then these tracks are a decent compromise.
Listen: www.thestoneroses20.com
Tracklist:
Elephant Stone (released 6th July)
1. Elephant Stone
2. The Hardest Thing In The World
Made of Stone (released 13th July)
1. Made of Stone
2. Going Down
She Bangs the Drums (released 20th July)
1. She Bangs The Drums
2. Standing Here
Fools Gold (released 27th July)
1. Fools Gold
2. What The World Is Waiting For
One Love (released 3rd August)
1. One Love
2. Something's Burning
Review - Koko Von Napoo - June
Koko Von Napoo - June
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3 out of 10
Listening to this band had me thinking of the future. Not because Koko Von Napoo are ahead of their time, you understand. The opposite is true - the first three-quarters of this EP sounds like a Bow Wow Wow tribute act. Polly just about saves things, with its Gallic whimsy and potential for misheard-lyric humour (Sample: 'horse, you behave like a real horse'). No, my thoughts were that, with all this shameless raiding of previous decades going on, what's going to happen in 2029? Or 2019, even? Oh wait, pop will go on eating itself. Sorry, I forgot. Me and my foolish hopes for creativity and the new. I blame the Ting Tings. Curse their shrieking, spangly sound-sick.
Listen: www.myspace.com/kokovonnapoo
Tracklist:
1. June
2. Rocky
3. Baden Baden
4. Polly (Chateau Marmont Remix)
Review - Fukkk Offf - Love Me Hate Me Kiss Me Kill Me (Single)
Fukkk Offf - Love Me Hate Me Kiss Me Kill Me (Single)
View The Review
5 out of 10
Despite the name, this is fairly inoffensive techno which could come from anywhere and any time. This should make it timeless, of course, but I think 'nostalgic' is more apt. SCNDL take the bare bones of the original and give them a shimmer of rave. Disco of Doom goes all ZX-Spectrum on its arse. Polymorphic squeeze a bit more out, with a crashing industrial treatment which could damage eyeballs at the correct volume. Overall, though, as with the track's inspiration - Hamburg's Reeperbahn - it's 'never mind the quality - feel the length'.
Listen: www.myspace.com/fukkkofff
Tracklist:
1. Love Me Hate Me Kiss Me Kill Me (Original Mix)
2. Love Me Hate Me Kiss Me Kill Me (SCNDL Remix)
3. Love Me Hate Me Kiss Me Kill Me (Disco of Doom Remix)
4. Love Me Hate Me Kiss Me Kill Me (Polymorphic Remix)
Sunday, 19 July 2009
Review - The Undertones - Hypnotised
The Undertones - Hypnotised
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8 out of 10
I'm not even going to try to write a review about The Undertones without mentioning Teenage Kicks. John Peel once proclaimed it the perfect pop song, and it's hard to disagree. However, it's not on this album, and that's not necessarily a bad thing.
How's that? Well, with a song like Teenage Kicks the rest of the album can easily pale into insignificance, and that would be a real shame here, 'cos Hypnotised is a great album in its own right. Every song is a beautifully crafted pop gem, with both the 3 minute punk gems of the previous album (Hypnotised, My Perfect Cousin, Whizz Kids) and some gentler paced, more mature numbers, like the rather plaintive Wednesday Week or The Way Girls Talk. There's also a surprisingly enjoyable cover of Under The Boardwalk.
If Teenage Kicks is as far as your knowledge of The Undertones goes, then this re-release - with bonus B-Sides and Peel Sessions, as well as a video for My Perfect Cousin - is a better place than most to start finding out more.
Listen: www.myspace.com/theundertonesmyspace
Tracklist:
1. More Songs About Chocolate and Girls
2. There Goes Norman
3. Hypnotised
4. See Thet Girl
5. Whizz Kids
6. Under the Boardwalk
7. The Way Girls Talk
8. Hard Luck
9. My Perfect Cousin
10. Boys Will be Boys
11. Tearproof
12. Wednesday Week
13. Nine Times Out of Ten
14. Girls That Don't Talk
15. What's With Terry
16. Hard Luck (Again)
17. I Don't Wanna See (You Again)
18. I Told You So
19. The Positive Touch
20. You're Welcome
21. When Saturday Comes
Enhanced CD: Video for My Perfect Cousin
Review - Black President - Black President
Black President - Black President
View The Review
6 out of 10
There's quite a European scuzzy rock and roll vibe to this record, mixed with American punk and just a hint of Southern rock. Musically it's not bad - there are some nice moments, but mostly it's pretty forgettable. Lyrically the bands sentiments are certainly admirable, if often expressed a little clumsily and perhaps with overuse of rock cliché.
The band cite 60s American soul as a major influence, but to be honest I can't really hear it - I'd sooner namecheck bands like Motorhead, Adam West and Sick of it All, with maybe a little bit of Clutch and Discharge in there too. The band features ex members of bands as diverse as Sepultura, Nausea, Amebix and Goldfinger (often the same member, the drummer) and some of these - particularly the tribal rhythms of Sepultura - can be heard in the music.
I don't mind this record; I just can't get excited by it either. Have a listen before you buy would be my recommendation.
Listen: www.myspace.com/blackpresident
Tracklist:
1. Intro
2. Last Fucking Hope
3. So Negative
4. Not Enough
5. Short List of Outspoken Suspects
6. Neon
7. Who Do You Trust?
8. Watch Your Drink
9. Vacate the Vatican
10. Hallelujah
11. Not Amused
12. Ask Your Daddy
Review - Albino - One More Drink
Albino - One More Drink
View The Review
3 out of 10
I quite like getting these releases with no press release and thus no clue as to what they're going to sound like. It's even better when they turn out to be something completely different to what I usually get to review. But then I realise that it sounds like a cross between the Smiths and the Wurzels, and it all falls apart a bit.
Listen: www.myspace.com/therealalbino
Tracklist:
1. One More Drink
2. Lady Boredom
3. Misery is the New Happiness
4. Quorn
Review - Dan Whitehouse - You Can’t Give Me Anymore (Single)
Dan Whitehouse - You Can’t Give Me Anymore (Single)
View The Review
7 out of 10
I actually quite like this, even if it is a little bit advert music-ish. There's some lovely Ben Folds-esque piano, and Dan has a nice voice, if a little bit over earnest in places. What really makes it though are the lyrics - very honest and close to the bone, in a way that belies the summery breezy feeling of the music.
Listen: www.dan-whitehouse.com
Tracklist:
1. You Can't Give Me Anymore
Friday, 17 July 2009
News - Set Your Goals Full Album Stream
You can stream the new album "This Will Be The Death Of Us" by Set Your Goals on their MySpace page now.
News - Thrice: Beggars
Thrice have announced that on the 12th of October they will be relasing their new album "Beggars" through Vagrant Records.
Track Listing:
1. All The World Is Mad
2. The Weight
3. Circles
4. Doublespeak
5. In Exile
6. At The Last
7. Wood & Wire
8. Talking Through Glass
9. The Great Exchange
10. Beggars
Review - Lovvers - OCD Go Go Girls (Single)
Lovvers - OCD Go Go Girls (Single)
View The Review
8 out of 10
This is more like it. Deliciously sloppy garage flavoured punk rock from the Nottingham 4 piece, like Flipper making out with The Germs. The intro sounds a little like Steppenwolf's 'Born To Be Wild' but ignore that - 'OCD Go Go Girls' is a slice of fried gold, a treat of surf guitar riffs and fuzz laden vocals buried way deep in the mix. It sounds like the Sub Pop Singles Club all rolled up into a convenient three and a half minutes long burst of noise, like Nirvana without the clever production or the Pixies obsession.
Lovvers are proof that being a tight polished band, with audible, hook laden vocal is vastly over rated. 'OCD Go Go Girls' suggests that 'OCD Go Go Go Girls', Lovvers debut record, will be a smorgasbord of fuzz pop goodness. Get excited.
Listen: www.myspace.com/letscommunicate
Tracklist:
1. OCD Go Go Girls
Thursday, 16 July 2009
Review - Four Year Strong - Explains It All
Four Year Strong - Explains It All
View The Review
7 out of 10
I'm going to be honest, I admire what Four Year Strong have done with their latest release, Explains It All.
Many times a band waits too long to release their follow up album, or releases too early, blows their load and annoys all their fans with an album that has a couple of good tracks and too much filler. Then the fans turn around and tell them that they wished they could have lasted longer and the band says how that has never happened to them before. But despite all the protests the fans have gone forever, on to the next band who work a bit longer on their art. So like the metaphorical teenage kid, Four Year Strong have honed their technique before their new album comes out with a 90s cover album, simultaneously keeping fans happy and expectations high - the musical equivalent of foreplay. And like a coddled lover I am basking in the warm glow that only spooning a selection of the "best" tracks of the 90s can give you.
Explains It All has a pretty solid track listing, from the instantly recognisable (Ironic and In Bloom), to the 'Oh I recognise that, I used to love that song' (Semi-Charmed Life and Absolutely (Story Of A Girl)). I personally was delighted to hear the album kick off with the Everclear cover, So Much For The Afterglow and that it contained the Del Amitri classic, Roll To Me.
There is an inherent danger that covers albums contain, and that is that if a person doesn't like, or know, the song being covered chances are they might not like the song regardless. So while I think Fly and She's So High are competently done covers, I have less inclination to repeatedly listen to them than I do for some of the other tracks. But then a covers album isn't supposed to constantly hold your attention, as FYS fully realise, this is just tiding people over before the full length.
FYS have definitely succeeded in putting their own personal stamp on all the tracks while never veering too far from the original recordings. The album starts off incredibly strongly and really the first 7 tracks are easily the best on the album, but again this is personal preference, and someone else will arguably prefer the latter tracks. However, being as objective as possible, the best tracks in regards to the way the covers have been done and in terms of FYS putting their own stamp on the songs, are Roll To Me and Semi-Charmed Life. It is clear that recording all these songs was an incredibly enjoyable exercise, and this sense of fun is reflected in all the tracks recorded.
This album will probably not win FYS too many new fans, but it may make more people tempted to buy their new full-length coming later in the year, and in this regards the album is successful. I have been listening to some of the tracks repeatedly since I got this album and while the lasting value may not be massive, any music from FYS is better than no music at all. I think that they have been very shrewd in releasing this album and that they have obviously worked hard to make this sound as professional and fun as possible. This is no half-assed album, it rocks as hard as Rise or Die Trying and only serves to get me more excited about the music FYS can make.
Listen: www.myspace.com/fouryearstrong
Tracklist:
1. So Much For The Afterglow
2. Absolutely (Story Of A Girl)
3. Ironic
4. Bullet With Butterfly Wings
5. Semi-Charmed Life
6. Spiderwebs
7. Roll To Me
8. Fly
9. In Bloom
10. She Really Loved You
11. She's So High
Review - Kevin Devine - Brother’s Blood
Kevin Devine - Brother’s Blood
View The Review
7 out of 10
Brooklyn born singer-songwriter Kevin Devine has had a turbulent music career to date. Brother's Blood is already his fifth album, though his first to be released in the UK, and along the way he has been through a major label break up and a shift away from just him and his guitar to performing and recording with his 'Goddamn Band'.
To this end, Brother's Blood is best described as a schizophrenic album, constantly weaving between soft acoustic numbers, to full band blow outs. Whether this creates a coherent album is up for debate. While some may love the gear-shifts, I find them a bit clunky and really wish that this had been two albums (or EPs). Devine is, on this album, at his best when he plays with his band, allowing his lyrics to be propelled by more than just his guitar.
However, the album somewhat limps out of the starting gate, All Of Everything, Erased is a slightly odd album opener, though lyrically strong, it just lacks a strong hook. Comparisons to Elliot Smith have no doubt been cast before and this song does nothing to make me reassess my comparison. His vocal style is eerily similar as is the somewhat pessimistic tone of the lyrical content. However, the album really gets going with the powerful one-two punch of Another Bag Of Bones and Hand Of God. The former has a simple driving guitar line, with some of the more impressive lyrics you will read this year while the latter is one of the catchiest tracks on the album, but sacrifices none of Devine's penchant for evoking strong feeling with his words. Like his tour mates Brand New and Manchester Orchestra, the topic of religion is often broached, which of course allows for some strong language and imagery to be portrayed, while never feeling preachy or overdone.
However, the two sides of Devine are highlighted when he attempts an epic 8 minute song with the title track. Not that it's a bad song, but it is just far too over-long. Devine may not try to, but his understanding, and ability to craft, pop songs is fantastic, and it is when he moves in the opposite direction that his music begins to suffer. Tracks like Fever Moon and It's Only Your Life don't belong on the same album as Hand of God or lead single, I Could Be With Anyone. They just don't mesh at all, and maybe it's the track listing, but the coherency of this album is definitely disrupted by the constant fluctuations between full-band and solo efforts. The album closes with the shortest track on the album, again just Devine and his guitar, and leaves the album on a typically abstruse lyric.
Kevin Devine has shown throughout his career that he is a man of many styles and talents, but perhaps with this album he has shown too many of his cards at once. I would be happy to listen to an album with all full-band tracks, or an album just him and his guitar (like some of his previous efforts), but this seems to be stuck in an awkward transition. It is not a bad album, in fact it is very good. Devine is a hugely talented song-writer, it's just that he needs now to choose which direction to take his music in, because Brother's Blood has left him at a crossroad, albeit one that many musicians would be envious to be at.
Listen: www.myspace.com/kevindevine
Tracklist:
1. All Of Everything, Erased
2. Carnival
3. Another Bag Of Bones
4. Hand Of God
5. Brother's Blood
6. Fever Moon
7. It's Only Your Life
8. Murphy's Song
9. I Could Be With Anyone
10. Yr Husband
11. Tomorrow's Just Too Late
Review - Crimea X - Phoros EP
Crimea X - Phoros EP
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8 out of 10
If you're enjoying electronic music this summer, £4 and a pack of Space Invaders says your either bouncing in a sweat pit to the dubstep sound of Rusko or Benga otherwise I'll go double or quits on an Uncle Sam's Allstar Burger that it's the minimal techno crafting of Richie Hawtin or Trentemoller that is tugging your weasel and if I'm still wrong then that door better not hit you on the arse on the way out because this won't be for you.
Crimea X have bolted together thoughtful post-rock movements with intrepid explorations of a bleep and beep bastion. Two tracks into this record we encounter possibly the most illogically named song (probably not ever, but it's pretty high on the list) December reeks of summer daze, of that golden haze that is acquired by all. Not one pair of thermal undies spring to mind when this tune is rattling out.
Similarly October does not bring to mind browning leaves a crisping but instead a bongo-driven journey accompanied by synths rushing and fading, battling an unseen current of bassy throb wob.
However it is on Florian Meindl's remix of 10PM that this EP really opens up. His masterfully minimal remittence sees a joyous soundscape constructed out of familiar yet fresh techno contiguity. Enzo Elia & Martin Pantino's version of which starts like an Adam F lounge drum and bass track that then collides with a far more regimented beat and tone combination complimented by floating flute lines.
Listen: www.myspace.com/crimeax
Tracklist:
1. 10PM
2. December
3. October
4. 10PM (Florian Meindl Remix)
5. 10PM (Enzo Elia & Martin Pantino Remix)
Review - Metro Station - Seventeen Forever (Single)
Metro Station - Seventeen Forever (Single)
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2 out of 10
For those of you who don't know Metro Station they are four 19 year olds who look like Bring Me The Horizon fans and take the Top Friends on Myspace too seriously who make 'tween' friendly synthpop.
If you didn't get their previous single "Shake, Shake" stuck in your head for at least a week, then you Sir, are a stronger man than I. It's no wonder singer Trace can pen a limpet of a pop song, given his pedigree. He is the half son of Billy Ray Cyrus. (I'm not even typing the name of his big hit least it attach itself to my brain like an aggressive tumour.) This single is not too far removed from "Shake, Shake" Although apart from lyrics that appear to have been culled from a selection of different hits throughout the ages. ("You feel like heaven when we touch" "You are young and I was scared") it has one thing that really separates the two.
This song is blessedly instantly forgettable. It is for this and no other reason; I give this 2 out ten. Because I have listened to it twice and I couldn't hum a single note. Thank you Metro Station, now can someone please get that boy a damn shirt?
Listen: www.myspace.com/metrostation
Tracklist:
1. Seventeen Forever (Lenny B Extended Mix)
2. Seventeen Forever (Lenny B Instrumental)
3. Seventeen Forever (Original)
4. Seventeen Forever (Instrumental)
Review - Metafonik - Missed Love
Metafonik - Missed Love
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6 out of 10
After a short swim over the channel Metafonik arrive with Julie's sensual gasps combining with the pounding electrock sensibilities of Kidedo & Klooz. Equal parts Poe, Jarboe and Radiohead.
Metafonik work much like a well oiled machine; Kidedo & Klootz stoke the fire that keeps Julie's voice thundering along from neuron to neuron via smouldering synapses. Their conjoined effort results in a hopelessly bittersweet dream of Frank Turner's Parisian girl.
So does this transcend, elevate, transform, develop or outdate sound? No, but if you like your music a bit more rocking than Portishead and with more originality than Nouvelle Vague then Metafonik could well be a welcome distraction.
Listen: www.myspace.com/metafonik
Tracklist:
1. Missed Love
2. Day Before you Come
3. The River
4. Last
Review - The Chemists - A Love Like No-One Else (Single)
The Chemists - A Love Like No-One Else (Single)
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1 out of 10
"Landfill Indie" was an OK term that described a lot of bands, but like most musical catch-alls it was picked up on by the Sunday Supplements and became as over played as the acts it described. This being said I couldn't think of a better way to describe the title track of The Chemists new single.
The B side "Sooner or Later" almost faired better, starting off with a lovely up tempo ska tinged feel, reminiscent of early Jack Penate or The Maccabees, but ends with nothing of the clever lyrics or charm the other acts mentioned possessed.
Seeing a remix by Tom Bellamy of label mates White Belt Yellow Tag, former guitarist of the anything but landfill Cooper Temple Clause I had some hope, but it just sounds like a really bad Cooper Temple Clause track. I can find no real redeeming feature except to say it isn't at all offensive, which is exactly what makes it so, ummmm, offensive.
Listen: www.myspace.com/thechemistsuk
Tracklist:
1. A Love Like No-one Else
2. Sooner Or Later
3. A Love Like No-one Else Rhysmix Vs. The Chemists (Alternative Mix)
4. A Love Like No-one Else Rhysmix Vs. The Chemists (Full Vox Mix)
Review - Enter Shikari - No Sleep Tonight (Single)
Enter Shikari - No Sleep Tonight (Single)
View The Review
2 out of 10
I really wanted to like Enter Shikari. I liked how young and enthusiastic they were, I liked how they made older people grumpy and complain about the kids today. I thought, "They're young, they've growing to do, the second album will prove what great musicians they are." The last time I thought this and was proved horribly wrong was The Lost Profits, sorry Prophets. Ironic then, that is exactly who this single sounds like. Exactly. EXACTLY. Ok, I'll admit that Roughton "Rou" Reynolds harsh vocals are considerably better than the guy that used to be a DJ until that wasn't cool then he played guitar. I truly hope this is the low point of the album to come, otherwise their sophomore affair will be truly derivative and under whelming, which would be a waste of some early promise and energy.
Listen: www.myspace.com/entershikari
Tracklist:
1. No Sleep Tonight
Review - The Voodoo Trombone Quartet - .Again
The Voodoo Trombone Quartet - .Again
View The Review
6 out of 10
Perfectly timed to take advantage of the promised summer heat wave (A quick aside - could everyone please calm the fuck down. It's a bit of sun. We are not all going to perish in an inferno), comes the second album from these eight numerically challenged brass-botherers. Though I must admit, I initially asked myself why there had to be eight of them anyway. All of the songs were written by the band's founding member Paul Thorpe (bar one cover), and since it's mostly vocal-less beat and brass-driven dance tunes, there isn't much that couldn't be done with a fancy computer sequencing programme and some samples. As it turns out, the performance of the band is pretty damn good, actually near metronomic, making the theoretical version of the band existing in a laptop case unnecessary, and (I would hope) making the live performances more engaging.
All of the tracks are based around a nice solid beat, backed up with enough horns to give Mark Ronson a raging hard-on. Mostly they lean towards the more funk-laden dance end of the spectrum, like 'Vibrations' and 'Do It Your Own Way', although a few are more laid back, like the soulful lounge/chillout of 'My Name In Food' and 'Double Bluff'. Meanwhile, 'Edgar' does a nice ska-tinged Mescaleros impression right down to the Strummer-esque echo-laden vocals and occasional bits of organ shining through. Like I said, most of the songs don't actually have any vocals, and with the music touching on pretty much any style with a bit of bounce to it, the overall effect is of the perfect background mix for a summer barbeque. And I suppose that's OK, as long as background music is what you're after, and not something you can get lost in.
Listen: www.myspace.com/voodootrombonequartet
Tracklist:
1. Vibrations
2. South Westerly
3. My Name In Food
4. (Hey You) The Rocksteady Crew
5. Do It Your Own Way
6. Edgar
7. Chinese Burns For Free
8. Honey Bee
9. Double Bluff
10. So Innocent
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