Cinematic Sunrise are apparently calling it quits...
Saturday, 31 October 2009
News - Dashboard Confessional Cancel Tour With New Found Glory
Dashboard Confessional have had to cancel their tour with New Found Glory:
"We have some bad news. Due to a family situation that is beyond our control, we have to cancel our upcoming tour with New Found Glory, Never Shout Never, Meg & Dia and Single File (we are still playing with the Louisville Orchestra on November 7th). We don’t take this lightly but family has to come first. As this is a last minute development, we are still figuring out what we will do- as soon as we know, you will know. We apologize to everyone who planned on coming to the shows. We will find a way to make it up to you.
--Chris, John, Scott, Mike / Dashboard Confessional"
News - New Sick Tuneage For The Kids!
Forever The Sickest Kids have posted a new song on their MySpace page.
News - We Came As Romans Full Album Stream
We Came As Romans’ new album "To Plant A Seed" is streaming on their MySpace page. The album is due out on the 3rd of November.
News - Artist Vs Poet’s Lost Studio Update
Check out Artist Vs Poet’s lost studio update on their MySpace page.
News - Motionless In White - Rob Zombie Cover Song
Motionless In White have just released a cover of Rob Zombie’s "Dragula" on their MySpace page.
Friday, 30 October 2009
News - This Is Hell Are On The Rise
Rise Records have signed This Is Hell. The band will release their 3rd full length in Spring 2010.
News - Varg Sign To...
Varg have signed to Nuclear Blast Records. The new album "Blutaar" will be out on the 22nd of January 2010.
"We`re proud to be part of the family without having to hide the wolf in sheep`s clothes. Nuclear Blast approached us honestly and have the balls to kick ass together with us. This powerful alliance makes us happy! Let`s fight against nazis and the haters who wanted to see us in the rightwing corner - the wolves are hunting again!"
News - It’s Time To Throwdown!
Throwdown has inked a deal with Nuclear Blast Records for all European countries and Russia. Their new album "Deatless" will be released in Europe on the 25th of January 2010.
News - Overkill Join Nuclear Blast
Overkill have signed to Nuclear Blast Records. Their new album "Ironbound" will be out on the 1st of February 2010.
Track Listing:
1. The Green And Black
2. Ironbound
3. Bring Me The Night
4. The Goal Is Your Soul
5. Give A Little
6. Endless War
7. The Head And Heart
8. In Vain
9. Killing For A Living
10. The SRC
News - Cathedral Start Work On Album Number Nine!
Submitted: "Cathedral are ready to commence work on their ninth studio album. The band will enter the Chapel Studios together with producer Warren Riker in November to record "The Guessing Game".
Some song titles have alsalready been revealed: ’Journeys into Jade’, ’The Casket Chasers’, ’Funeral Of Dreams’, ’Death Of An Anarchist’, ’La noche del buque maldito (aka Ghost Ship Of The Blind Dead) and ’Open Mind Surgery’. The artwork will once more be supplied by longtime Cathedral cover artist genius Dave Patchett.
"The Guessing Game" is scheduled for a spring 2010 release."
News - Fightstar: A City On Fire
Fightstar will release new single "A City On Fire" on the 7th of December through Search & Destroy Records.
Remaining tour dates:
Oct 31 London Shepherds Bush Empire
Nov 2 Portsmouth Pyramids
Nov 3 Leeds Met University
Nov 5 Dublin Academy 2
Nov 6 Belfast Spring and Airbrake
News - Cannabis Corpse 2010 UK Tour
Cannabis Corpse will tour the UK in February 2010:
MON 15 FEB BRIGHTON ENGINE ROOMS UK
TUE 16 FEB KINGSTON FIGHTING COCKS UK
WED 17 FEB LEEDS JOSEPHS WELL UK
THUR 18 FEB NEWCASTLE OUSEBURN REGENERATION CENTRE UK
FRI 19 FEB SHEFFIELD CORPORATION UK
SAT 20 FEB LONDON SOUTH OF BORDER UK
Thursday, 29 October 2009
Review - Friends of Friends - Deep Search
Friends of Friends - Deep Search
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9 out of 10
I think this might actually be my record of the year, and that’s saying something considering some of the amazing albums I’ve heard since January 1st 2009. I do love punk rock, but a lot of the time it can be a bit staid and unexciting - it’s not exactly the most innovation filled genre, it must be said. And it’s also fair to say that Friends of Friends aren’t the most innovative band in the world - there’s nothing really new brought to the table here.
Imagine a band that’s grown up with No Idea staples like Hot Water Music and Small Brown Bike, and maybe just a hint of Uncle Tupelo and a big dollop of Avail. That isn’t afraid to let their 90s indie influences (Archers of Loaf, maybe a bit of Sonic Youth) shine through, as well as a nubbin of Leatherface and a soupçon of Kid Dynamite.
Imagine that, then imagine it being better than you imagined. Tricky though that may seem. Vocals that have just the right balance of gravel and melody. Intertwining buzzsaw guitars and gentle, almost Mogwai-esque harmonies, held together by twisty basslines and pounding drums which veer from hardcore pummelling to complex delicate fills at the drop of a hat. Anthemic choruses that get the blood pumping and the fists in the air. And if you think it all sounds a little bit disparate then prepare to be disillusioned - it all fits together with a coherence and style that most bands can’t manage in a much more straightforward album.
Listen: www.myspace.com/tallyfriends
Tracklist:
1. Stillness Illness
2. I am the Catalyst
3. Some Kind of Fake
4. Desert Bed
5. The Search for the Perfect Wage
6. Land of Left Behind
7. Endless Bummer
8. Restless Legs
9. Path of Logic
10. Enough Was Enough
Review - Io Monade Stanca - The Impossible Story of Bubu
Io Monade Stanca - The Impossible Story of Bubu
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9 out of 10
Last weekend I was invited out by my friends. Typical Friday night activities that come with living in a rubbish city; rubbish cheap chain pub, full of people who went to your school that you don't want to see. Real exciting stuff. However, instead of going out, I decided to spend my Friday night indoors. Not out of some stand against the concept of 'Fridays Nights' or pubs or whatever, it was no moral or ethical stand. No, I had to do a job application. A Friday night spent applying for a job that you know you won't get, that you're more than capable of doing, and that, if you did get offered it, you probably wouldn't want it anyway. That was my Friday night. How is this relevant I hear you ask? Good question. Analogously, if Io Monade Stanca were in my shoes, they would not have chosen to stay in. Not only would they have gone to the pub, they would have got there, drunk their body weight in cheap spirits, kicked over all the tables, made out with one of the underage clientele, jabbered like a drunk vagrant, made everyone nervous, thrown some stools around, got in a fight with the overzealous barman, left and eaten a shitty kebab on the way home, after which they were sick everywhere. My point is not that Io Monade Stanca are a group of beer swilling lager louts, but that 'The Impossible Story Of Bubu' is an insane record. It really is. It's completely deranged. And it's pretty damn awesome.
Mixing the driving, clunking riffs of Shellac with the schizo-pop of Deerhoof, Io Monade Stanca have produced a record of spazzy rock record that manages to channel both the terrifying ramblings of the crazy drunk you'd avoid on the bus with the awe-inspiring rock behemoth that every guitarist dreams of joining. I do not know who or what Bubu is, but their story makes for a truly confusingly intriguing record, one that grabs your attention from the start and never lets up. It's truly original sounding record. It's rare for things to sound fresh and interesting, but Io Monade Stanca manages it with no sweat. Get this.
Listen: www.myspace.com/iomonadestanca
Tracklist:
1. Abete 43211234
2. Vogrig è sufficiente
3. Federico Borelli
4. Datemi subito 10 euro
5. Roncea
6. Cacciaviti
7. Cristiani non siete cresciuti
Review - Brand New - Daisy
Brand New - Daisy
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5 out of 10
The mixed emotions that arrived when I got my grubby little paws on this album were completely astounding. I have loved Brand New since the tender age of 16, and their first long-player "Your Favorite Weapon" will always hold a very special place in my heart. However, having seen them play an (at best) mediocre set at Glastonbury earlier this year, I really didn't set my hopes too high.
Opener "Vices" is absolutely inspired. There is a 1950's female vocal which is tender, beautiful and melodic which then launches into a Jesse Lacey-onslaught of thrashing vocals and guitars. The actual arrival of this change made me jump, but it soon brought with it a certain element of excitement, and all I wanted was for this sheer delight to continue throughout the record. However, disappointment was just around the corner, and I'm devastated.
"At the Bottom" has certain elements of the Brand New I know and love in the form of a very strong chorus with vocal passion by the bucket-load, but quite frankly, that's where it ends. The record drones somewhat and it's almost an effort to get all the way through the album in its 11 track entirety, especially when a few tracks really do sound like they've been recorded in a garden shed in the middle of a war zone.
"You Stole" is dull; "Be Gone" is more pretentious than I can put words to, and "In a Jar" is plain bloody awful. "Sink" has moments of brilliance, but that's precisely my problem - it's just elements of greatness throughout an all-around disappointing album.
Having predecessors like "Deja Entendu" and "The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me" Brand New have set the standard pretty high, and after listening to this album 3 or 4 times, I genuinely wouldn't recognise them for about 85% of this record. There's pretention slapped all over it, and I honestly don't know how to express my disappointment here.
If this album was by any other band, it would be ignored, and put to the back of the cupboard with a comment along the lines of "C+ - must try better next time". However, because it's Brand New, it's a truly shattering blow, and they're simply no longer the band I fell in love with 7 years ago. No doubt there will be rave reviews for such an "experimental" and "explorative" album from certain reviewers who are about as pretentious as some of the tracks on display here, but the bottom line is that this album is average at best, and Brand New's worst effort in their 10 year history.
Listen: www.myspace.com/brandnew
Tracklist:
1. Vices
2. Bed
3. At the Bottom
4. Gasoline
5. You Stole
6. Be Gone
7. Sink
8. Bought a Bride
9. Daisy
10. In a Jar
11. Noro
Review - Balance and Composure - Only Boundaries
Balance and Composure - Only Boundaries
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9 out of 10
The four tracks on offer here suggest a far more mature band than one would imagine from a bunch of teenagers - Balance and Composure’s average age is only 19. Often what young bands lack in maturity and songwriting skill (and indeed balance and composure!) they make up for with passion and enthusiasm. Well, Balance and Composure lack nothing in passion or enthusiasm, but they also have a nous that’s all too rare nowadays. They seem aware that not every song has to be played at a million miles an hour or be chock filled with complex riffs and that sometimes allowing a song room to breathe allows the more pensive, gentle moments to shine through, and the moments of fury and thunder an even greater impact.
Balance and Composure’s passion and songwriting ability is tempered further with the cockiness of youth, which luckily is more than vindicated by their musical ability. If ever there were a band I wanted to hear a full length album by - this is it. Powerful, insightful punk rock with hints of Small Brown Bike, Small Arms Dealer and a tiny bit of Planes Mistaken for Stars.
Listen: www.myspace.com/balanceandcomposure
Tracklist:
1. I Can’t Do This Alone
2. Only Boundaries
3. Show Your Face
4. What’s Wrong With Everything
Review - Lipona - Pigeonholed
Lipona - Pigeonholed
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7 out of 10
Lipona play rough, raw punk rock, very much in the vein of Unravelling era Rise Against. In fact, if you imagine Rise Against having followed the path set on The Unravelling (and to a lesser degree Revolutions Per Minute) rather than going off in some horrible MOR emo shit direction as they appear to have then they might sound like Lipona do now. That’s a compliment.
Iron Maiden / early Thrice style guitar licks roll over pummelling hardcore drums and bass whilst singer Yamil Velez’s rich vocals have a raspy soulfulness of their very own. One for fans of old Rise Against, A Wilhelm Scream and The Swellers.
Listen: www.myspace.com/lipona
Tracklist:
1. Beginning of the Dynamite Era
2. Tragedy of the Commons
3. Hawks
4. Shooty Hoops
5. Reverberations
Review - Les Savy Fav - All Tomorrow's Parties: The Film screening with Les Savy Fav - The Deaf Institute, Manchester, 23/10/09
Les Savy Fav - All Tomorrow's Parties: The Film screening with Les Savy Fav - The Deaf Institute, Manchester, 23/10/09
View The Review
8 out of 10
There are two reasons why All Tomorrow's Parties is the best festival around. The first is beds, the second is showers. For the uninformed, punters at ATP stay in chalets, rather than the typical festival accommodation of tents. A prospect of a decent night's sleep in a proper bed followed by a nice shower in the morning can make almost anything bearable; even the most hardened of Glastonbury fans would probably admit that a bed would be preferable to a sleeping bag on some rocks in a cheap tent. Somehow, what is ATP's greatest selling point doesn't really feature in the ATP film. But then a ninety minute shot of an empty chalet complete with basic cooking facilities, lounge and the aforementioned bed and shower wouldn't make for a great film.
What ATP: The Film does manage to capture the sense of community that develops at their events. With the festival having a capacity of around 9,000, coupled with the fact that there are only two bars, the audience and bands are all pretty much stuck with each other. Compared to Reading Festival, where there's a strong divide between VIP areas and the 180,000 fans, ATP sometimes comes across as one big happy family. Moments such as Grizzly Bear playing an acoustic set on the beach or Lightning Bolt playing an afternoon set outside of John Peel's chalet capture the festival's relaxed attitude and its lack of band/audience divide, which is at odds to the standard festival approach of band's only turning up for their allotted set times and disappearing as soon as they're done. Appearing in footage cribbed from the 2004 Dirty Three curated weekend, Warren Ellis confirms this 'bands as fans' approach by spending most of his camera time chasing after the various bands he booked for the weekend.
Compiled from both professional and amateur footage collected over the last ten years of the festival, shots of bands and punters are cut in with footage from the 1950s. The film opens with Battles' performance of 'Atlas' from the 2007 weekend, which is synched up with snippets of dancing campers from Butlins' heyday, replacing the typical ATP audience of beards and flannel shirts. Whilst ATP: The Film is very visually appealing, it doesn't necessarily act as complete history of the festival, which is hardly surprising as to condense 10 years worth of music festival into an hour and a half would be a tall order. What ATP: The Film serves best as is an advert, or a briefing for the festival. The shots of indie kids watching obscure bands in the comfort of a holiday camp don't always communicate the whole ten-year long history of the festival, but they certainly make you want to be a part of it. Until May 2010, I'll have to make do with watching the film.
Also making an appearance in the film are tonight's headliners Les Savy Fav. Les Savy Fav's Tim Harrington knows how to put on a rock show. Opening with 'The Equestrian' he charges into the slightly muted audience, crawls around the floor and possibly humps someone at the front. The band plays on completely unfazed. The next song sees Harrington scale the balcony and then the rafters of The Deaf Institute, where he perches himself for a while, only to carefully climb back down to the balcony, as if he can hear everyone collectively thinking "don't fall down, don't fall down." He ends his brief trip with a backflip onto the stage. Despite announcing that it was "awesome", the rest of the band plays on completely unfazed. The rest of the set sees Harrington in various states of undress, spending more time in the audience than on the stage, swapping t shirts with one (un)lucky punter and generally rendering all other rock and roll front men completely obsolete. During all of this, the rest of the band plays on completely unfazed by what's going on around them. For the encore, having whipped the crowd into a frenzy, Les Savy Fav have a lot to deliver the final blow. Delivering a final one-two punch of 'The Sweat Descends' and 'Je T'aime', which sees Harrington crowd surfing on a mattress he produced from back stage, Les Savy Fav confirms themselves as one of the best live acts around. Meanwhile, the rest of the band plays on completely unfazed.
Film = 7/10
Band = 8/10
Website: www.myspace.com/atpfilm
Tracklist:
News - What Happened In Vegas To Records With Casey Bates
What Happened In Vegas will be recording their new EP with Casey Bates (Chiodos, Pierce the Veil, This Providence, Daphne Loves Derby, Forgive Durden).
News - Say Anything Full Album Stream
You can stream the new Say Anything album entirely on their MySpace page now.
News - Copeland Announcement...
Copeland are splitting up:
"Dear friends,
We have come to an extremely difficult decision. It has come time for us to move on from Copeland and follow other paths in our lives. We are absolutely grateful to have been able to make music for as long as we have. In the last 9 years we’ve been able to see parts of the world that we never dreamt we would see. We have shared the stage and built friendships with immensely talented artists. We’ve been afforded the opportunity to make 4 records that we’re extremely proud of. Most of all, we feel honored that people have cared so much for our band and for our art. We appreciate every listener who has allowed our music to be a part of their lives. We want to offer our deepest thanks to every individual who has supported us on this ride. It has profoundly impacted our lives.
To put your minds at ease, we assure you this is not a bitter break up. We all individually feel Copeland has run its course in our lives and it's time for us to pursue what is next. We couldn't end things without a proper goodbye, so we are planning a final farewell tour in the US this coming Spring, as well as one final jaunt around the world to some of our favorite countries. We are really excited about seeing you all one more time, and we hope it turns out to be the best Copeland tour ever.
It has been discussed and we are not ruling out the possibility of recording one more album sometime in the future. However, this spring tour will be our last.
From the bottom of hearts, thank you for all of your love and support.
Aaron, Bryan, Jon & Stephen"
News - Armor For Sleep Are Dead
Armor For Sleep have officially broken up:
"D.Neeht,
it’s been a little over a year since our last tour and some of you out there have kind of figured out whats been going on with us. we never wanted to burden you all with a formal announcement of any kind and cause some type of commotion- we just thought it would be better to kind of drift away nice and easy. i am writing this strictly speaking for myself and i honestly don’t really know how pj anthony and nash will react to me being the one to write this, but i feel like it should come from me because ultimately it was me who decided it was best to leave things where they were. to me a song is like a snapshot of a moment, real or made-up, and the band that takes that snapshot is like a camera. i was really happy and proud of the pictures that came out of our little camera, but i would have much rather put in on a shelf for me and all of us to look at with fond memories than to feel this intense need to make it take high-def panoramic mosaics when maybe it was constructed to handle polaroid film. it’s as simple as that. i guess someone could examine our inter-personal relationships and weird habits and attribute them to the reason for this decision, but we were like brothers and no clash was ever too great to slow us down. i hope that time won’t obscure that fact.i know it won’t for me. that being said, i think the real and only reason i am writing this is for you who have been fans of armor for sleep. even though it hasn’t been a secret that we are not working on an album or touring, it has felt really weird to not come out and say that the needles been lifted from the record. you have always been so amazing to us and i know through all of our fancy little internet avenues we will always be able/willing/not creeped out/ to talk about life, death, armor tabliture, the needler, whatever your little hearts desire. pj anthony and nash are all amazing people who i’ve witnessed first hand probably more than anyone in the world as being super talented at whatever they do and i know whatever they choose to do will be amazing. i know you’ll have their backs just as i will. as for me, i have been hard at work cooking something up. i have a new camera. i never like to blab about stuff until its ready and for this reason i wasn’t giving play by play updates when it was still in its complete infancy.but i will get into it more very soon. i’m really excited, and for me as someone who has been working a long time at the art of writing songs and having these weird visions about how i see a band being presented, i feel like i’ve put lots of pieces together from the terabytes worth of experiences i’ve lived through.i know some people will probably always want to hear dream to make believe or something no matter what i’m doing, which is fine, but time is an arrow and i’m not going to try and argue with that.i know i will always be myself and no matter what camera i’m behind i know you’ll always recognize the hands holding it. thank you to everyone who’s been supportive and listened to anything i’ve been a part of in any facet. i can’t wait to tell you more about things to come. Check back in about a week for something new.
-ben"
News - Letter To The Exiles Sign To Strike First Records
Letter To The Exiles have joined the Strike First family.
The band is currently writing material for their first full length album to be released by Strike First Records in spring 2010.
News - The Haunted To Support Slayer!
The Haunted have been confirmed as the main support to Slayer on their upcoming UK tour.
November
Wed 18 Nottingham Rock City 0871 3100 000
Thurs 19 Birmingham Academy 0844 477 2000
Fri 20 Manchester Academy 0161 832 1111
Sun 22 Glasgow Barrowland 0871 230 7131
Mon 23 Leeds Academy 0844 477 2000
Wed 25 London HMV Forum 0844 847 2405
Thus 26 London HMV Forum 0844 847 2405
Frontman Peter Dolving had this to say:
"This is great beyond words. Since the very first The Haunted record we’ve enjoyed great support from Slayer and we’ve talked many times about how cool it would be to support our favorite band in the world. Slayer are without competition the one band that’s inspired and motivated us over the years. In many ways Slayer personify the measure by which we live and act as a band, and to finally get to head out with these dudes is awesome, and fucking beautiful! This is going to be utter complete fucking mayhem!"
News - Merry Xmas Everybody - Slade Party Hits
Slade have a special christmas album coming out on the 23rd of November called "Merry Xmas Everybody - Slade Party Hits". It will be released through Universal Music and has the following track listing:
1. Merry Xmas Everybody
2. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
3. Mama Weer All Crazee Now
4. Let The Good Times Roll / Feel So Fine
5. Coz I Love You
6. Gudbuy To Jane
7. Were Really Gonna Raise the Roof
8. C'mon Feel The Noize
9. My Baby Left Me But That's Alright Mama
10. Skweeze Me Please Me
11. Let's Have A Party
12. Hey Ho Wish You Well
13. Let's Dance
14. I'm A Rocker
15. My Oh My
16. Standing On the Corner
17. Do You Believe In Miracles
18. All Join Hands
19. Oaky Coaky
20. Here's To the New Year
News - Skindred European 2010 Tour
Skindred have announced a UK and European tour for 2010:
Feb 5 Moscow Glavclub
Feb 6 St. Petersburg Glavclub
Feb 16 Amsterdam Melkweg
Feb 17 Tilburg 013
Feb 18 Hamburg Logo
Feb 19 Gothenburg Sitcky Fingers
Feb 20 Stockholm Gote Kallare
Feb 22 Helsinki Tavastia
Feb 24 Copenhagen Loppen
Feb 25 Berlin Magnet
Feb 26 Leipzig Conne Island
Feb 27 Prague Palac Akropolis
Feb 28 Wien Flex
Mar 2 Zurich Avart
Mar 3 Munich 59:1
Mar 4 Stuttgart Universum
Mar 5 Cologne Underground
Mar 6 Rotterdam Watt Basement
Mar 7 Brussels AB
March 9th Portsmouth - Wedgewood Rooms
March 10th Derby - The Royal
March 11th Colchester - Arts Centre
March 12th Woking - The Quake club
March 13th Prestatyn - Hammerfest
March 15th Preston 53 Degrees
March 16th Edinburgh studio 24
March 17th York Duchess
March 18th Birmingham Academy 2
March 19th Newport TJs
Tickets for the UK shows are available from 10am Friday 30th October via www.kililive.com, www.seetickets.com, 0871 230 5595 + usual outlets
News - Nirvana Competition
A fun game/competition has gone live as a facebook/bebo app - it's a 'Name That Riff' game and you stand to win a Fender classic player Jaguar Special, as played by Kurt - Nirvana T-Shirts as runner up prizes! Links to the game below:
Facebook: http://apps.facebook.com/nirvana-namethatriff/
Bebo: http://apps.bebo.com/nirvana-game/
Wednesday, 28 October 2009
News - Let’s Love Alesha Dixon Again!
Alesha Dixon’s new single "To Love Again" will be released on the 16th of November. The track will be on her album "The Alesha Show - Encore" that will follow on the 23rd of November.
Tour dates:
October
30th - Manchester Apollo
November
2nd - Cambridge Corn Exchange
3rd - Birmingham Symphony Hall
4th - Bristol Coulston Hall
6th - Folkstone Leas Cliff
10th - Southend Cliffs Pavillions
12th - London Shepherds Bush Empire
16th Lincoln Engine Shed
17th- Southampton Guildhall
18th - Brighton Dome
News - The Chemists To Support Skunk Anansie
The Chemists are gearing up for the release of their album "Theories Of Dr. Lovelock" this coming Monday with the news that they will be supporting Skunk Anansie on their upcoming dates in November.
21 Nov 2009 LEEDS ACADEMY, LEEDS
22 Nov 2009 GLASGOW ACADEMY, GLASGOW
24 Nov 2009 MANCHESTER ACADEMY, MANCHESTER
25 Nov 2009 WOLVES CIVIC, WOLVERHAMPTON
26 Nov 2009 BRIXTON ACADEMY, LONDON
News - White Belt Yellow Tag - Remains EP
White Belt Yellow Tag’s "Remains EP" will be released on the 2nd of November through Distiller Records. The band have also been confirmed as main support for Broken Records’ show at London’s Bush Hall on the 5th of November.
News - Daniel Merriweather: Water & A Flame
Daniel Merriweather will release his new single "Water & A Flame" featuring Adele on the 2nd of November through Columbia/Allido.
Tuesday, 27 October 2009
News - North Atlantic Oscillation: Callsigns
North Atlantic Oscillation’s debut EP "Callsigns" will be out on the 26th of November through Kscope.
Track Listing:
1. Cell Count (Radio Edit)
2. Ceiling Poem
3. I Only Have Eyes for You
4. 77 Hours (Engineers Remix)
North Atlantic Oscillation are going to be touring with Cymbals Eat Guitars next month:
NOVEMBER
Thu 12 London, The Lexington
Sat 14 Dublin, Crawdaddy
Sun 15 Belfast, Auntie Annie’s
Mon 16 Edinburgh, Sneaky Pete’s
Tue 17 Manchester, Night & Day
Wed 18 Birmingham, Academy
News - The 69 Eyes Return To The UK
The 69 Eyes will be playing four shows in March 2010:
09th - London - Islington Academy
10th - Manchester - Academy 3
11th - Glasgow - King Tuts
12th - Nottingham - Rock City
Frontman Jyrki 69 had this to say:
"After showing to the Americans some good times for Halloween in the name of our new album "Back In Blood", it’s very welcoming to do the same on the Old Continent! Since Dracula arrived to Whitby, Andrew Eldrich re-invented the sunglasses in Leeds and Hanoi Rocks made London a place for sleaze rockers to pilgrimage, UK has a great importance for The 69 Eyes. We have a fantastic hardcore following there, every time we play there, it’s like one of those rock’n’roll dreams coming true again. We’re proud to represent our new album live, UK vampires know how to rock!!!"
News - La Roux - The Gold Tour 2010
La Roux has announced a UK tour for spring 2010.
26/4 Reading Hexagon
28/4 Brighton Concert Hall
29/4 Cambridge Corn Exchange
30/4 Bournemouth 02 Academy
02/5 Glasgow Academy
03/5 Sheffield 02 Academy
04/5 Manchester Academy
06/5 Cardiff University
07/5 London Brixton Academy
Tickets go on sale on Friday October 30 at 9am via: www.livenation.co.uk, www.gigsandtours.com, www.gigsinscotland.com
Monday, 26 October 2009
News - Steel Panther 2010 UK Shows
Steel Panther have announced the following UK shows for 2010:
March
THURSDAY 18 - O2 ACADEMY NEWCASTLE
FRIDAY 19 - O2 ACADEMY BRIXTON
Tickets go on sale 9am on Wednesday 28th October 2009, priced at £16.00 London and £13.50 regionally and are available from www.livenation.co.uk
News - Brick By Boring Brick With Paramore
Paramore will release their next single "Brick By Boring Brick" in the UK on the 23rd of November. The track is taken from their latest album "brand new eyes", which is out now.
Live dates:
December
Thu 10 Glasgow SECC £20 SOLD OUT
Fri 11 Birmingham NIA £20 01217804141 www.thenia.co.uk
Sat 12 Dublin O2 Point ?35.80 +353 (01)819 8888 www.theo2.ie
Mon 14 Cardiff Int'l Arena £20 SOLD OUT
Wed 16 Manchester MEN £20 SOLD OUT
Thu 17 Brighton Brighton Centre £20 SOLD OUT
Fri 18 London Wembley Arena £20 SOLD OUT
News - Lady Gaga Announces ’The Monster Ball’ UK Tour
Lady Gagga has announced a major UK arena tour for February - March 2010 called "The Monster Ball".
Thursday 18 February Manchester MEN Arena
Wednesday 24 February Liverpool Arena
Friday 26 February London O2
Monday 1 March Glasgow SECC
Wednesday 3 March Cardiff CIA
Thursday 4 March Newcastle Arena
Friday 5 March Birmingham LG
Sunday 7 March Sheffield Arena
Monday 8 March Nottingham Arena
Tickets go on sale Friday 30 October at 9am and are available from www.aeglive.co.uk or via the 24hr hotline 08444 775775.
Her revamped album "The Fame Monster" is due for release on the 23rd of November. It includes the entire album "The Fame" plus eight entirely new songs, including the new single "Bad Romance".
News - Cancer Bats Tour Changes...
Cancer Bats’ Leeds Academy and Nottingham Rock City dates were postponed due to a member of Billy Talent being unwell. These two dates are now re-scheduled for:
Mon 02 Nov 2009
Leeds
Academy W/Billy Talent
Tue 03 Nov 2009
Nottingham
Rock City W/Billy Talent
Cancer Bats’ headline shows stay the same for the exception of their York and Bournemouth dates. These two dates still comes from the support of The Computers but will now be re-scheduled for:
Mon 07 Dec 2009
York
Fibbers
Tue 08 Dec 2009
Bournemouth
Ibar
In addition to all this Cancer Bats are getting into the spooky festive spirit and playing a special 'Halloween' show at:
Nottingham Rock City Basement
Saturday 31st October
Halloween All Nighter
Doors 10pm - 6am
£5 in adv
18+
News - Flyleaf: Memento Mori
Flyleaf will be releasing their new album "Memento Mori" on the 9th of November through A+M/Octone Records.
News - Alberta Cross Take Control!
Alberta Cross will release their new single "Taking Control" on the 23rd of November through Ark Recordings.
Live dates:
November
11 Bristol The Cooler
12 Leeds Cockpit
13 Glasgow Captains Rest
15 Manchester Ruby Lounge
16 Birmingham Birmingham Bar Academy
17 London Bush Hall
News - Fall Out Boy - Greatest Hits
Fall Out Boy are set to release a greatest hits album called "Believers Never Die" on the 16th of November through Mercury Music Group.
Track Listing:
1. Dead On Arrival
2. Grand Theft Autumn
3. Saturday
4. Sugar, We're Goin Down
5. Dance, Dance
6. A Little Less Sixteen Candles, A Little More "Touch Me"
7. This Ain't A Scene, It's An Arms Race
8. Thnks fr th Mmrs
9. The Take Over, The Breaks Over
10. I'm Like A Lawyer With The Way I'm Always Trying To Get You Off (Me & You)
11. Beat It
12. I Don't Care
13. Americas Suitehearts
14. What A Catch, Donnie
15. Alpha Dog
Bonus Tracks
From Now On We Are Enemies
Yule Shoot Your Eyes Out
Growing Up
Also included will be a DVD with Fall Out Boy’s 14 Greatest Hit videos with exclusive band commentary.
News - Calories (ex-Distophia) New EP
Calories (ex-Distophia) will release their new 4 track EP "’Lets Pretend That We’re Older" through Big Scary Monsters Records on the 9th of November.
Live dates:
27.10 - London, The Scala (w/ Dananananaykroyd)
28.10 - Brighton, Audio (w/ Dananananaykroyd)
04.11 - York, City Screen (w/ Youves)
05.11 - Nottingham, The Bodega (w/ Youves)
06.11 - Brighton, The Freebutt (w/ Youves)
07.11 - Southampton, Lennons (w/ Youves)
08.11 - Reading, Oakford Social Club (w/ Youves)
09.11 - Birmingham, The Flapper (w/ Youves)
10.11 - London, The Barfly (w/ Youves)
News - The Temper Trap 2010 UK Tour
The Temper Trap have announced a UK tour for 2010:
April
27th Bournemouth O2 Academy 08444772000
28th London O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire SOLD OUT
29th London O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire 08444772000
May
1st Cardiff University 02920781458
3rd Nottingham Rock City 08713100000
4th Birmingham O2 Academy 08444772000
5th Norwich UEA 01603660352
7th Liverpool O2 Academy 08444772000
9th Manchester O2 Academy 01618321111
10th Newcastle O2 Academy 08444772000
11th Leeds O2 Academy 08444772000
13th Glasgow ABC 08444999990
14th Edinburgh HMV Picture House 08444999990
Tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday 30th October through all usual outlets / box offices priced at £13.50 outside London and £15.00 in London (subject to booking fees).
News - RazorBladeKisses: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Scar
RazorBladeKisses’ album "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Scar" is now available from iTunes and all major download sites.
01/11/09 - Dingwalls, Camden Town, London - main support to Faith and the Muse
28/11/09 - The Face Bar, Reading - Devolution Xmas Party
Sunday, 25 October 2009
Review - Tell It To The Marines - Fireworks (Single)
Tell It To The Marines - Fireworks (Single)
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7 out of 10
Tell It To The Marines are not a band who struggle to find a genre to classify themselves. Christening their band as 'ambient-post-pop-punk' TITTM seems to have a lot to cram into a 3:34 song to achieve this and truthfully, it would have been more honest of them to have simply put 'pop-punk'.
But semantics aside TITTM are a highly polished, professional sounding outfit with a sound that, while not as original as their genre suggests, is not wholly generic or clichéd. The song itself is a well written rock song, the chorus has a good hook and the song structure is not completely formulaic. It is clear to see that TITTM are not content to stick to the same song writing conventions that can dog modern pop-punk and that a lack of ambition is never going to be a problem for this quintet.
Fireworks sounds a bit like a slightly heavier My Awesome Compilation with, maybe a hint, of Fightstar thrown in thanks to the slightly shouty vocals on the outro chorus. All in all, it is a solid effort from a band that seems to have the ambition to go quite far.
Listen: www.myspace.com/tellittothemarines
Tracklist:
1. Fireworks
Review - A Rocket To The Moon - On Your Side
A Rocket To The Moon - On Your Side
View The Review
1 out of 10
There was once a band called Northstar. They released a frankly brilliant debut album called 'Is This Thing Loaded?', however, it was plagued by piss-poor production that kind of made it sound that you were listening to it through a sock. Northstar then released their follow up called 'Pollyanna', arguably one of my favourite albums of all time. This time the production was perfect, the vocals came to the fore, allowing the lyrics to really shine. The guitars were polished but still had enough bite to them to not seem over-produced.
This progression was down to super-producer Matt Squire, who also produced this album. Unfortunately he got it all a bit wrong on this. What he should have done, was urinate on the mixing desk, and burn all the master copies, because this is some of the biggest tosh I have ever heard.
This saccharine sweet, vacuous attempt at pop-rock may have actually given me aural diabetes. The music itself is so lifeless and phoned in that it seems like it was written to be played in elevators. Every song on the album sounds exactly the same and blends together into one homogeneous blob of blandness. But this is true for quite a few bands in this genre, and really that would only justify a score of 3 or 4 out of 10. But there is reason why this (scrapes) a 1 out of 10: the lyrics. Oh god the lyrics.
Anyone who has read one of my reviews before (hi Mum!) knows that I am pretty picky when it comes to lyrics. So just to give you a flavour of the 'talent' on display here, let's sample the outro chorus of the frankly shit 'Dakota':
"Oh Dakota, I know our love is new.
I barely know you.
I've fallen over you.
It's the way you do the things you do
that make me fall in love with you.
Oh Dakota, are you in love with me too.
I'm in love with you, are you in love with me too?"
Now as somewhat of a novice songwriter myself, I feel I am pretty comfortable with the basic 'do's and don'ts' of song-writing. I always remember that you shouldn't try and use really simple rhymes all the time, and also that rhyming a word with itself doesn't ever work. Looking at the above, it seems that all this pretty sensible advice has been thrown out of the window as the rhymes are "New, You, You, Do, You, Too and Too". I have seen better lyrics on absolutepunk.net forums and that shit is terrible.
Rarely does music make me angry, but this album succeeded. I always have to defend the music I listen to to my friends. I say: 'No you're wrong, it's not all wimpy and boring, with crappy lyrics about relationships and girls all the time', but this album just highlighted that actually, people have a point.
This is the antithesis of good music, this is a fourteen year old girl's journal masquerading as music over a soundtrack of greyness, this is just flat out abysmal. And to be fair, it's not A Rocket To The Moon's fault, fair play to them, at least they get to live out their dreams, I blame the record label for putting this faeces out.
Terrible.
Listen: www.myspace.com/arockettothemoon
Tracklist:
1. Annabelle
2. Mr Right
3. She's Killing Me
4. On A Lonely Night
5. Dakota
6. Life Of The Party
7. Like We Used To
8. Where Did You Go
9. Sometimes
10. Baby Blue Eyes
11. Give A Damn
Saturday, 24 October 2009
Review - Cuddly Shark - Cuddly Shark
Cuddly Shark - Cuddly Shark
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8 out of 10
After casually tossing off two of the finest singles of this year in Woody Woodpecker and The Sheriff of Aspen Way, Cuddly Shark raised hopes for their debut long-player. I am more than happy to report that said album contains more high-quality, low-fidelity punches against the seemingly-endless tide of bland tripe most iTunes store zombies seem more than happy to fork out for. The band may have to pull the staples from such meaningless-muso labels as 'indie', 'punk' or 'punk indie', 'indie punk' or 'Scottish' but I'm sure this will only serve to sharpen their riffs and lyrical bile. And if a certain Mr. Holland had a genuine regard for new music then he would get them on his show based on track nine alone.
Listen: www.myspace.com/cuddlyshark
Tracklist:
1. Bowl of Cherries
2. Woody Woodpecker
3. The Punisher of IV30
4. Mannybix
5. What Goes Around
6. Whiteoaks
7. Boney Fingers
8. 12 Months
9. Jamie Foxx on Later With Jools Holland
10. The Sheriff of Aspen Bay
11. Instru-Mentalist
12. Shakey Baby
Review - Mew - No More Stories
Mew - No More Stories
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9 out of 10
Experimental Danish rockers Mew are back with a slice of even more outstanding tracks with their new album 'No More Stories'. The opening track 'New Terrain' explodes straight into an atmospheric hole that can only be compared to the expansive greatness of a band such as Sigur Ros. It is clear that Mew are still on the same track that they were on years ago - nothing but sheer brilliance.
'Repeaterbeater', one of the most stand-out tracks on the entire album opens yet again with a dramatic riff shared between guitars and drums followed by stunning lyrics. It is nothing short of what you would expect from Mew.
No More Stories marks a more mature Mew not only is this packed with absolutely beautiful songs it is also an evolution from their previous work - which lets face it is already amazing. If you want an album that creates the most magical atmosphere whilst oozing amazing musical capability then this is a definite.
Listen: www.myspace.com/mew
Tracklist:
1. New Terrain
2. Introducing Palace Players
3. Beach
4. Repeater Beater
5. Intermezzo 1
6. Silas The Magic Car
7. Cartoons And Macrame Wounds
8. Hawaii Dream
9. Hawaii
10. Vaccine
11. Tricks
12. Intermezzo
13. Sometimes Life Isn’t Easy
14. Reprise
Review - Ingrid Michaelson - Maybe (Single)
Ingrid Michaelson - Maybe (Single)
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3 out of 10
Ingrid Michaelson must be cursing the producers of Friends for ending the show, as she appears to be musically distilled from a cauldron full of Ross n' Rachael DVD box-sets. Or maybe not, as I notice from her publicity bumph that her inoffensive, quirk-by-numbers bland-o-rama has been snapped up by the producers of Grey's Anatomy. Ho hum. If you're missing Torn-period Natalie Imbruglia or find Suzanne Vega a bit old-fashioned and cerebral, then give Ms. Michaelson a listen. She's done it all on her own, you know.
Listen: www.myspace.com/ingridmichaelson
Tracklist:
1. Maybe
Review - Squid Ninjaz - Revenge of the Blowfish
Squid Ninjaz - Revenge of the Blowfish
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4 out of 10
I was once in a band where the bass player turned up to rehearsal with a tape that, he promised, contained the most amazing music ever made. He'd made it the night before, just him and his bass. Of course it was simply a recording of him, stoned, hitting the same note on his bass, croakily saying 'Woww.' and giggling. This album is for him, with a side helping of Portishead necking a crate of Special Brew. 'I smoked hashish in my incubator' growls one of the many MCs during yet another interminable groove loop. Thanks for that. Pity it hasn't mellowed you out.
Listen: www.myspace.com/squidninjaz
Tracklist:
1. Bars
2. Bongorock
3. Filthy Granny
4. Mimic
5. Crave Dusties
6. Tramadol
7. Luna Disco
8. Seekin Budah
9. R Type
10. Kush115
11. Blotterz
12. Yayo Thugs
13. Wowzers
14. Middle Finger Music
15. Spark Osram
16. Rocky Dash Outro
Review - Crimea X - Chorne More EP
Crimea X - Chorne More EP
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6 out of 10
Pleasant vintage-sounding clubbage from Italy. Unlike most Balearic / Ibiza / whatever bobbins it doesn't bass-pummel your brain into mush or make you want to bugger off rather than boogie. And it's genuinely timeless, rather than hopelessly retro. It would seem DJs Rocca and Reveberi have chosen the correct label for their wares.
Listen: www.myspace.com/crimeax
Tracklist:
1. Jurij
2. Varvara
3. Liubov
Friday, 23 October 2009
Review - Rise Against - Savior (Single)
Rise Against - Savior (Single)
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7 out of 10
2008s ’Appeal To Reason’ didn’t quite bring the success to Chicago’s Rise Against that many thought it would, especially after the critical acclaim and commercial success of ’The Sufferer and the Witness’. However it proved beyond doubt that Rise Against are the best at what they do, writing passionate, political hardcore/punk songs that attract the dedicated and entertain the more casual rock fans. The band return to these shores next month for a number of large shows, bringing Thursday and Poison The Well with them, and to support this tour they are releasing ’Savior’.
Whilst it is far from the best song on the album, it works well as a showcase for the band. It starts off slowly, leading you to believe it’s going to be one of the slower tracks that tend to show up at the end of Rise Against albums. However, thunderous drums and the addition of crashing guitars herald a typical Rise Against number. The trademarks that make the band so unique are present, the chorus that demands to be screamed at the top of your lungs, verses that make you throw yourself about with reckless abandon and the bridge that slows it all down before the final chorus. Despite this, it lacks a certain passion, the vitriol that makes Tim McIlrath such a compelling vocalist is not as prominent as in their best work, and instead there is more emotion, which is slightly at odds with the pace of the song.
The success of Rise Against is well deserved; however, whilst this is representative of the bands work, it is far from their best. The fact that the single is a download only release is perhaps an admission that this is a relatively pointless release, coming a whole year after the album on which it features. If you’re already a Rise Against fan then you’ll surely already have this, if the band has thus far passed you by then this is well worth checking out before visiting the bands superb back catalogue.
Listen:: www.myspace.com/riseagainst
Tracklist:
1. Savior
Review - The Saturdays - Forever Is Over (Single)
The Saturdays - Forever Is Over (Single)
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6 out of 10
On a scale of bad to brilliant, The Saturdays generally hover dangerously close to brilliant; they've had a solid run of singles (excluding 'Just Can't Get Enough' obviously, although the video more than made up for the aural assault), a sold out tour and the kind of bona-fide pop star gloss that makes you want to read about them in the weekly gossip mags.
So the choice of 'Forever Is Over' as the lead single from their second album 'Wordshaker' has left me more than a little discombobulated! Yeah it's moody and prime for some fist of emotion action, with diva-in-the-making vocals from Vanessa and rock star growls from Una, not to mention all the glum pouting, door slamming and throwing-whatever-I'm-holding antics in the video, however, all that fails to outweigh the lack of a catchy chorus and minimal sing-along factor.
But fear not The Saturdays haven't lost it; 'Wordshaker' is packed full of pop gems that definitely don't disappoint, notably the killer title track, so fingers crossed it's the next single! In the meantime, check out Una Healy's solo version of 'Forever Is Over', with backing vocals from her rugby star boyfriend Ben Foden: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=152qQAPohcs.
Listen: www.myspace.com/thesaturdays
Tracklist:
1. Forever Is Over
Review - Jackie Leven - The Haunted Year : Autumn
Jackie Leven - The Haunted Year : Autumn
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7 out of 10
Jackie Leven's final seasonally-themed re-release has something for everyone; live tracks, studio tracks, banter, humour - if you prefer your music unadulterated by the marketing bullshit of modern popular 'culture', you should find plenty to love, here. At first glance something for hardcore JL fans only, Greek Notebook repays a listen or three. There's an insight into Leven's songwriting process, ideas come spinning out of the air whilst someone does the housework in the background. And the man himself can always find a copy should he mislay his actual notebook.
Disc two is a usual Leven mixed bag, with the outstanding point being his voice - whether singing, speaking or swearing. Sting's Dead is a particularly cringe-worthy example of why Leven has so many stories to tell: most people don't try and move an intrusive train passenger by lying about the death of a pop star. But it makes for yet another rough diamond tale - and Jackie Leven has no shortage of those.
Listen: www.jackieleven.co.uk
Tracklist:
Disc 1 : Greek Notebook
33 Tracks, named 'Island One', 'Island Two', etc.
Disc 2 : Only The Ocean Can Forgive
1. Little Brown Box
2. Woman In A Car
3. Autumn Song
4. Classic Northern Diversions
5. Extremely Violent Man
6. My Philosophy
7. Sting's Dead
8. Paris Blues
9. Barefoot Days
Review - Nell Bryden - What Does It Take?
Nell Bryden - What Does It Take?
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5 out of 10
Perfectly adequate, Radio Two-friendly Country-lite. Would be a shoe-in for a guest spot with Jools H, only it looks like Nell doesn't have a crack habit or live in the East End. There are no surprises here, so you're safe giving it to your Dad for his birthday. There's even a song where Ms. Bryden gets all needy and desperate for some evening attention (Late Night Call) - this might be ironic but Dad's probably going to miss that. And she's entertained troops in Iraq, so you'd be a terrorist not to buy this.
Listen: www.nellbryden.com
Tracklist:
1. What Does It Take
2. Not Like Loving You
3. Where The Pavement Ends
4. Helen's Requiem
5. Goodbye
6. Only Life I Know
7. Second Time Around
8. Meridian (I Love The Same)
9. Green Dress
10. Tonight
11. Late Night Call
Review - Pearl Jam - Got Some / Just Breathe (Single)
Pearl Jam - Got Some / Just Breathe (Single)
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7 out of 10
A fair pair of cuts from the 'Jam's recent Backspacer album; Got Some will, no doubt, thrash live in a suitable manner - recorded, it's like the Police pumped full of testosterone. Just Breathe is a beautiful piece of Beatles-y country-rock, tastefully orchestral and with just the right amount of uplift in the chorus. So, Pearl Jam not quite ready for the elephants' graveyard just yet.
Listen: www.pearljam.com
Tracklist:
1. Got Some
2. Just Breathe
Review - The Scratch - Whatever Happened To Friday Night?
The Scratch - Whatever Happened To Friday Night?
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5 out of 10
Someone somewhere has said this album 'is simply not a rehash of a music genre that saw its finest hour thirty years ago. . .It's very fresh and very now.' Doublethink at its finest, there. This is not to say the Scratch are a self-deluding 'tribute' to the Buzzcocks in all but name. Far from it. Whiny vocals and scratchy guitars they may have but they lack power and punch, at least as far as this record goes. There are some odd lyrical touches, too. 'You're a good girl / I'm more a girl's world' (Girl's World), for example - if you recall the disembodied, plastic make-up toy of the same name. Other themes include the standard stuff about being an individual and having no truck with the self-obsessed. Very 'fresh' and 'now'. As a debut, however, it still retains enough interest for the band's space to be watched. For the near future, at least, or until Elvis Costello becomes the next big thing.
Listen: www.myspace.com/thescratch
Tracklist:
1. You Want The World
2. Independent Unrepentant
3. Freakshow
4. Against The Grain
5. Destroyed By The Look Of Love
6. Girl's World
7. Flicker
8. Whatever Happened To Friday Night?
9. Freaks of the Daylight
10. Teen Idol
11. Too Busy Thinking About Me
Review - Chris Rea - Still So Far To Go. . .The Best of Chris Rea
Chris Rea - Still So Far To Go. . .The Best of Chris Rea
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1 out of 10
A collection of Chris Rea's finest music. Hmm. OK, let's keep this short. I won't prolong the agony (Chris can do that on his own) but a Best Of from Tesco's-own one-man Dire Straits is not likely to set the musical world on fire. If you're a fan, you'll have these tracks anyway, so there's a couple of newbies to open your wallet for - the last track on each disc. This is a bit like fighting your way through all the level bosses on a video game, only to find the final one is a complete walk-over and shaped like an effeminate Sumo wrestler.
Personally, I could care less that some think Rea 'the world's best slide guitarist' when he isn't. I can't get past the nausea induced by such tracks as Driving Home For Chistmas, The Road To Hell and the gut-flamingly awful Auberge. Right, I'm off to clean my keyboard and attempt to induce memory-loss with vodka.
Listen: www.chrisrea.com
Tracklist:
Disc 1 :
1. Fool (If You Think It's Over)
2. On The Beach
3. Let's Dance
4. Diamonds
5. Loving You
6. I Can Hear Your Heartbeat
7. I Don't Know What It Is But I Love It
8. Stainsby Girls
9. Josephine
10. It's All Gone
11. Loving You Again
12. Joys of Christmas
13. Driving Home For Christmas
14. Working On It
15. Tell Me There's A Heaven
16. Heaven
17. Looking For The Summer
18. Come So Far Yet Still So Far To Go
Disc 2:
1. The Road To Hell (Part 2)
2. Auberge
3. Winter Song
4. Nothing To Fear
5. God's Great Banana Skin
6. Julia
7. You Can Go Your Own Way
8. When Grey Skies Turn To Blue
9. The Blue Café
10. New Times Square
11. Stony Road
12. Easy Rider
13. Blue Street
14. Somewhere Between Highway 61 & 49
15. The Shadow of a Fool
16. Valentino
News - Ian Brown Is Just Like You!
Ian Brown will release his new single "Just Like You" on the 30th of November through Fiction.
Tour dates:
Sun 22 November Belfast, St George's Market (tickets: +353 28 9032 7007)
Mon 23 November Dublin, Olympia Theatre (+353 818 719 330)
Tues 24 November Dublin, Olympia Theatre (+353 818 719 330)
Thu 26 November Castlebar, Theatre Royal (+353 818 300 000)
Fri 27 November Killearney, Inec (+353 64 6671555)
Sun 29 November Leicester De Montfort Hall (0116 233 3111)
Mon 30 November Southend Cliffs Pavilion (01702 351 135)
Tue 01 December Ipswich Regent (01473 433 100)
Thu 03 December Bournemouth O2 Academy (0844 477 2000)
Fri 04 December London Brixton O2 Academy (0844 477 2000)
Sat 05 December London Brixton O2 Academy (8PM-2AM) (0844 477 2000)
Mon 07 December Cambridge Corn Exchange (01223 357 851)
Tue 08 December Sheffield O2 Academy (0844 477 2000)
Thu 10 December Leeds O2 Academy (0844 477 2000)
Fri 11 December Leeds O2 Academy (0844 477 2000)
Sat 12 December Liverpool University (0151 256 5555)
Mon 14 December Newcastle City Hall (0191 261 2606)
Tue 15 December Edinburgh Picture House (0844 4999 990)
Wed 16 December Glasgow O2 Academy (0844 4999 990)
Fri 18 December Birmingham O2 Academy (0844 477 2000)
Sat 19 December Manchester MEN Arena (0844 847 8000)
News - Devil Sold His Soul Sign To Century Media Records
Devil Sold His Soul has signed to Century Media Records. Their as yet untitled new album is being completed by the band right now, and will be released within the first half of 2010.
Live dates:
06.11.2009 (UK) Cardiff - Clwb Ifor Bach w/ SBF + more
11.11.2009 (B) Mechelen - JC Metteko
12.11.2009 (NL) Enschede - Atak *
13.11.2009 (NL) Haarlem - Patronaat *
14.11.2009 (D) Cologne - Underground *
15.11.2009 (NL) Tilburg - O13 *
10.12.2009 (UK) London - Upstairs at Relentless Garage w/ Latitudes, Shapes, March Of The Raptors
* w/ London Burning II
News - Jesse Malin Signs To Side One Dummy Records
Side One Dummy Records has signed Jesse Malin. Jesse is currently recording his new solo album with producer Ted Hutt (The Gaslight Anthem, Lucero, Flogging Molly) at Sonic Youth’s Think Tank Studio for an early 2010 release.
News - Laura Catlow Love Music Hate Racism Tour
Laura Catlow plays the following dates on the Love Music Hate Racism Tour:
10th Nov - Night & Day, Manchester
12th Nov - Golden Fleece, Nottingham
14th Nov - Blue Kat Cafe, Stockport
15th Nov - Northern Monkey, Leeds
Her new single "Skin & Bone" will be out on the 16th of November through 7 Digital.
News - John Mayer Announces January 2010 UK Shows
John Mayer has announced that he will be playing shows in the UK in January 2010. Tickets will go on general sale at 10am on Friday the 30th of October.
January
Thu 15th MANCHESTER, Apollo www.livenation.co.uk
Fri 16th GLASGOW, O2 Academy www.livenation.co.uk
Sun 18th HAMMERSMITH, HMV Apollo www.livenation.co.uk
Mon 19th WOLVERHAMPTON, Civic Hall www.livenation.co.uk
Tickets priced at £28.50 except London priced at £30.00
His new album "Battle Studies" will be out on the 16th of November through Columbia Records.
News - Wyclef Jean: From The Hut, To The Projects, To The Mansion
Wyclef Jean’s new CD "From The Hut, To The Projects, To The Mansion" will be released on the 10th of November through Carnival House via Megaforce/Sony Music.
Track Listing:
1. Interlude - From The Hut, To The Projects, To The Mansion
2. Warrior's Anthem
3. The Streets Pronounce Me Dead
4. Slumdog Millionaire feat. Cyndi Lauper aka Luscious Loo
5. Interlude - Every Now & Then
6. Walk Away
7. More Bottles feat. Timbaland
8. You Don't Wanna Go Outside
9. Toussaint vs. Bishop
10. Interlude - The Struggle
11. We Made It
12. Suicide Love feat. Eve
13. Letter From The Penn
14. Robotic Love
15. Gangsta Girl
16. Interlude - Tell The Kids The Truth
17. The Shottas
Wyclef Jean remains signed to Columbia Records/Sony Music and is set to release his self-titled LP "Wyclef Jean" in Spring 2010.
Thursday, 22 October 2009
News - Attack Attack! Line-Up Changes
Submitted: "Statement from Andrew Wetzel in Attack Attack! re: Nick Barham's recent departure from the band:
Why hello boys and girls!
Thought we’d throw you all a quick little update about what’s currently going on in the AA! lineup.
The band and Nick parted ways recently in a mutually agreed non-explosive fashion, which we all believe is the best for both sides.
Caleb is going to retire his keys and start screaming in the front of the band.
We DO NOT have a new person in our band.
Don’t worry, our music will still be full of Caleb’s programming, keys, and all the good things he concocts. It will just be back-tracked live with the 808 samples and other nonsense on my iPod.
Anyways, we’re not gonna stop touring, playing shows, and having a generally wonderful time with all of you.
See you in your town soon!
Love,
Wetzel"
Review - Tubelord - Our First American Friends
Tubelord - Our First American Friends
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8 out of 10
From the Borough of Kingston; Tubelord first hit my radar some years back as a consistent and regular support slot to some of my favourite bands at the time including Meet me in St. Louis, Tellison, and This Town Needs Guns to name but a few. Tubelord more than stood their ground against these excellent acts, in fact you could argue on a good night they were better. Since then they've put in their man hours working and touring, recording and touring and touring then touring. I enjoyed them back then, and I have to say I like them more every time I see them play. Therefore I'd have been really cross if Tubelord's album was anything else than excellent, so cross I'd grab my testicles and scream.
So, right now I'm feeling, well, OK. Perhaps a little disappointed but my balls are fine. The album is good, that's a given. However Tubelord are excellent; and somehow this isn't really put across to the full extent with this record. It's not that Tubelord don't transfer from live to record, in fact their recorded stuff is generally excellent. The problem with this album could just be that they have been spread a bit thin; not wanted to disappoint dedicated fans, they haven't included some of their much loved live songs - which have appeared on previous demos released. Additionally, some of the slower songs, though very enjoyable, do somewhat drag the energy of the album down.
The result we get is a pretty good Tubelord album, but in real terms that still equates to an excellent album, so it's not bad or anything. It includes new material which blends in fantastically well with older tracks such as Propeller, I am Azerad and Night of the Pencils and the re-recordings haven't been diluted whatsoever. The band's ultra tight, precise, precision mathematical aggression is present as ever and brims with unforgivably hooky guitar work, excellent harmonies and wonderful vocal interplay.
I still love the album, but sadly it just doesn't keep me captivated in the same way they have done in the past and live.
You should buy it anyway.
Listen: www.myspace.com/tubelord
Tracklist:
1. Your Bed Is Kind Of Frightening
2. Somewhere Out There A Dog Is On Fire
3. Night Of Pencils
4. Stacey's Left Arm
5. Propeller
6. He Awoke On A Bench In Abergavenny
7. I Am Azerrad
8. Cows To The East, Cities To The West
9. Synthesize
10. Our First American Friends
Review - Orange - Phoenix
Orange - Phoenix
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7 out of 10
It's every young band's dream to be discovered by your hero and signed to his label. This is dream became a reality for California's Orange when they were signed by Rancid's Tim Armstrong to his label Hellcat Records when they were only sixteen back in 2004. Fast forward five years and the young punk upstarts are slugging away still despite losing a rhythm section. Re-energised with a new injection of fresh musicians, Orange has returned with a solid punk record.
Right away the influences are apparent with the Rancid-style song writing. If you don't think vocalist/bassist Joe Dexter sounds like Billie Joe Armstrong - you are clearly in denial. Frequent references about Dexter's battle with cystic fibrosis are hinted throughout the record. Nevertheless this album is full of heart-on-sleeve lyrics, power pop choruses and bubblegum verses.
For those jaded by Green Day's new rock opera sound, this is the modern equivalent of Nimrod and Insomniac. An average yet solid effort.
Listen: www.myspace.com/orange
Tracklist:
1. Each Other
2. Standing Still
3. Everything I Need
4. Never Going Out Again
5. Hold Onto Your Heart
6. I Wish
7. Desperation
8. Happening Today
9. Catching Up
10. Fall Into The Sky
11. Sunday Night
12. Perfect Day
Review - Polite Sleeper - Lake Effect
Polite Sleeper - Lake Effect
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5 out of 10
An intense affair from the start, Lake Effect sees Brooklyn trio Polite Sleeper reflecting on the world around them with near weep-inducing tones of melancholy in this, their second LP. The poetic These Are Not Fall Colours, an opening statement, is drenched in anguish and wonder both melodically and vocally, and it's soon apparent that singer and guitarist, Jason Olovich is far from chirpy as their tracks meander on.
Occasionally vocalist Jason resembles what perhaps a tearful REM may sound like if they fronted Death Cab For Cutie. Then comes title track, Lake Effect which is as vast as the natural elements of it's namesake, followed by high-point Eleven Months. As for how the Lake Effect affects? What a bitter-sweet way to get a message across.
Listen: www.myspace.com/politesleeper
Tracklist:
1. These Are Not Fall Colours
2. Driving Ohio
3. From Waiting List To Walk In
4. Crushed
5. Lake Effect
6. Eleven Months
7. Three Easy Steps
8. My Head Still Hurts
9. So Serious
News - Colour Joss Free
Joss Stone will release her new album "Colour Me Free" on the 2nd of November. Lead single "Free Me" will follow on the 8th of November.
Album track listing:
1. Free Me
2. Could Have Been You
3. Parallel Lines (Ft. Jeff Beck and Sheila E)
4. Lady
5. Y and 20
6. Big Ole Game (Ft. Raphael Saadiq)
7. Governmentalist (ft. Nas)
8. Incredible
9. You Got The Love
10. I Believe It To My Soul (Ft. Dave Sanborn)
11. Stalemate (Ft. Jamie Hartman)
12. Girlfriend On Demand
News - Billy Talent Reschedule Postponed Dates
Submitted: "Following the postponement of their Leeds and Nottingham shows earlier this week, Billy Talent have rescheduled these dates as follows:
November 2 - Leeds Academy (rescheduled October 19 date)
November 3 - Nottingham Rock City (rescheduled October 20 date)
All tickets for the original dates remain valid.
Remaining Tour Dates:
OCTOBER
Fri 23 GLASGOW Barrowland
Sun 25 DUBLIN Olympia
Mon 26 MANCHESTER Academy
Tues 27 BIRMINGHAM Academy
Thurs 29 SOUTHAMPTON Guildhall
Fri 30 NORWICH UEA
NOVEMBER
Sun 1 LONDON Brixton Academy
Mon 2 LEEDS Academy
Tues 3 NOTTINGHAM Rock City"
News - Placebo - Free Tour Bundle
Submitted: "Placebo have put together a free Tour Bundle download which features tracks from all the support bands coming along on the various dates as well as a live version of "Breathe Underwater" performed live by Placebo at this year's Pukkelpop.
The bundle not only features the free tracks, but also offers a PDF booklet which gives fans an introduction to every band appearing on the tour.
To get your free Tour Bundle simply go to: http://tourbundle.placeboworld.co.uk
To get your tickets for the Placebo Winter tour point your browsers here: http://www.placeboworld.co.uk/gigs.php
The track listing is:
1. PLACEBO - 'Breathe Underwater' (Live At Pukkelpop Festival 2009)
2. EXPATRIATE - 'Get Out, Give In'
3. SILVERSUN PICKUPS - 'Panic Switch (Recorded live for KCRW’s "Morning Becomes Eclectic")
4. THE HORRORS - 'Sea Within A Sea'
5. UNITED - 'For What I Feel' (Live At Debaser)
The tour dates are:
December
Tuesday 8th - Birmingham LG Arena
Wednesday 9th - London The O2
Friday 11th - Bridlington Spa
Saturday 12th - Manchester Central
Monday 14th - Glasgow SECC
Tuesday 15th - Dublin Olympia Theatre
Wednesday 16th - Dublin Olympia Theatre"
News - Jennifer’s Body: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
"Jennifer’s Body: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack" is released on the 26th of October through Fueled By Ramen Records.
Track Listing:
1. Kiss With A Fist - Florence and The Machine
2. New Perspective - Panic At The Disco
3. Teenagers - Hayley Williams
4. New In Town - Little Boots
5. Finishing School - Dashboard Confessional
6. Through The Trees - Low Shoulder
7. Time - Cute Is What We Aim For
8. I Can See Clearly - Screeching Weasel
9. Chew Me Up - Cobra Starship
10. Toxic Valentine - All Time Low
11. I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend - Black Kids
12. Death - White Lies
13. Celestial Crown - The Sword
14. Little Lover's So Polite - Silversun Pickups
15. Ready For The Floor - Lissy Trullie
The film (starring Megan Fox) is out in cinemas in the UK on the 28th of October.
News - Talons / And So I Watch You From Afar Split Single
Talons will release a split single with And So I Watch You From Afar as a limited edition (of 100) 3" CDs via Big Scary Monsters Records on the 23rd of November.
Talons and And So I Watch You From Afar will tour the UK together in Spring 2010.
News - The Amity Affliction UK Tour
The Amity Affliction are making their first trip to the UK this November. The band will support We Are The Ocean on the following dates:
Nov 16 Wedgewood Rooms Portsmouth
Nov 18 White Rabbit Plymouth
Nov 19 Newport, Wales
Nov 20 The Pitz Milton Keynes
Nov 21 Rescue Rooms Nottingham
Nov 23 O2 Academy 2 Birmingham
Nov 24 Academy 3Manchester
Nov 25 King Tuts Glasgow
Nov 26 The Cockpit Leeds
Nov 29 Arts Centre Colchester
Nov 30 Concorde 2 Brighton
Dec 1 Electric Ballroom London
Doors 7pm. Tickets £8.50 regionally and £10 in London
www.ticketmaster.co.uk
Their album "Severed Ties" will be released in the UK on the 30th of November through Boomtown Records.
News - True Blood - Original Soundtrack
On the 26th of October Atlantic Records will release "True Blood - Music From The HBO Original Series".
Track Listing:
1. Jace Everett - "Bad Things"
2. CC Adcock - "Bleed 2 Feed"
3. Lucinda Williams - "Lake Charles"
4. Lee Dorsey - "Give It Up"
5. Th' Legendary Shack*Shakers - "Swampblood"
6. Cobra Verde - "Play With Fire"
7. The Watson Twins - "Just Like Heaven"
8. The Flying Burrito Brothers - "Christine's Tune (A.K.A. Devil In Disguise)"
9. Ryan Adams - "Two"
10. Slim Harpo - "Strange Love"
11. Allen Toussaint - "From A Whisper To A Wind"
12. Dr. John - "I Don't Wanna Know"
13. John Doe Featuring Kathleen Edwards - "The Golden State"
14. Little Big Town - "Bones"
News - Sights & Sounds In The UK Next Week
Sights & Sounds (featuring members of Comeback Kid, Sick City and Figure Four) are touring the UK next week:
26.10.09 UK Cardiff Barfly
27.10.09 UK Leeds Josephs Well
28.10.09 UK Brighton Engine Room
29.10.09 UK London Underworld
30.10.09 UK Nottingham Rock City
31.10.09 UK Plymouth White Rabbit
News - TesseracT Announce New Vocalist
TesseracT have announced that Dan Tompkins is their new vocalist. He was formerly in the band First Signs Of Frost.
Their new album "One" is expected to be released in 2010.
Dan said "It’s an incredible, exciting and rare privilege to be fronting TesseracT. The pieces fit and everything has fallen into place perfectly. It’s been such a challenge to write vocals for such emotional and complex music, an opportunity of which I’ve waited so long for. I’ve pushed boundaries and I'm proud to say that the vocals on this album are the best I’ve ever written. It all sounds immense"
Bassist Mos said: "We knew from the first 20 second demo that he would be perfect. TesseracT is all about 3 things; experimentation, musical emotion and groove. Dan manages to stay true to all of those ideals, whilst still connecting the listener to the music on a human level. Everything he writes challenges us, surprises us and excites us."
News - Fighting Fiction - Release Debut EP
Fighting Fiction’s debut EP "A lesser Of Two Evils" will be released on the 16th of November through Dead Planet Records. The EP was recorded with producer Mark Williams (Bloc Party, Biffy Clyro, Million Dead, Oceansize).
Live dates:
October
23rd Horsham Youth Centre £5
29th London Kings Cross Cross Kings £5
31st Cheltenham The Walk the line festival £9.50/£14.50
November
09th Plymouth The skiving Scholar £5
11th Glastonbury The Riflemans Arms Free
14th Gloucester Wired Showcase Guildhall £6.50
16th Bath Weir Lounge Free Entry EP launch Party
18th London Shoreditch Bar Music Hall Free
27th Swansea Milkwoodjam £4
News - Fall Of Efrafa: Inlé
Fall Of Efrafa’s new album "Inlé" will be out on the 30th of October through Denovali Records.
For fans of: NEUROSIS,
BURIED INSIDE, ENVY, EARTH and GODSPEED YOU BLACK EMPEROR
News - Rinoa Tour Starts This Weekend
Rinoa hit the road this weekend for a string of dates around the UK:
24/10/09 - Damnation Festival - Leeds
25/10/09 - The Railway - Winchester
26/10/09 - Barfly - Cardiff
27/10/09 - Joseph’s Well - Leeds
28/10/09 - Engine Room - Brighton
29/10/09 - Underworld - London
30/10/09 - Rock City - Nottingham
31/10/09 - White Rabbit - Plymouth
Rinoa have just completed the recording of their as yet
untitled full length with Jonny Renshaw of Devil Sold His Soul. More news on this over the coming weeks. Expect an early 2010 release through Eyesofsound.
News - blessthefall Tour Video Update #2
Check out blessthefall’s tour video update #2 from out on the road on the Atticus tour here: www.myspace.com/blessthefall
Tuesday, 20 October 2009
Review - The Brothers Movement - The Brothers Movement
The Brothers Movement - The Brothers Movement
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3 out of 10
Oscar Wilde once wrote gThere is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book. Books are well written or badly written. That is allh*
A fairly sweeping statement that seems to nullify the idea of subjectivity (thus rendering my role into a markers world of ã & X es) and if this binary blueprint is applied to all forms of art then it inevitably reduces all pieces of creation to a simplistic matter of beauty. Those that borrow and imitate clearly lack imagination and innovation, yet if they slot into pre-ordained guidelines that define beauty in a cut and dried fashion, then it can still be classified as egoodf or of ebeautyf. It is at this point that I have to sidestep the blanket flourished by Mr. Wilde as it leaves no room for pragmatism or agenda, both of which encourage the asking of questions.
Questions such as -
Havenft I heard this before?
Why are they parading themselves with this faux retro image?
And why do I feel dirty after each song? (Ifm not talking about the good kind of Turbonegro warm sheen of grease dirty that comes from going eballs-outf but more along the lines or accidentally-finding-your-parents-home-video-collection-and-finally-worked-out-that-the-weird-smell-is-the-shit-ravaged-Y-fronts-stuck-to-the-sofa-next-to-your-head kind of dirty)
To answer the first question a simple list is all that is required -
1. Blind - The Verve
2. Standing Still - Oasis fronted by Steve Brodsky
3. Sister - The Beatles
4. Someday - The Verve (again)
5. The Salute - U2
6. Coming Home - The Stone Roses
7. War and Peace - Coldplay
8. I am You, You are Me - Pyramids
9. Is God Dead - all of the above mashed into all of the below
10. When we Leave - Kasabian/The Verve (just to mix things up)
11. We Shall lift our heads - Godspeed You Black Emperor!
The thing is, I quite like the Stone Roses, Pyramids, Godspeedc. And the Beatles, however I would definitely choose each and every one of these bands over the plagiarising Brothers Movement.
Add to this the nonsensical lyrics of War and Peace gIf you want peace, then prepare for war, cause Ifm tired of fighting I donft want no moreh (Ifm not even picking up on the double negative of donft want no)
Also this ingenious line can be found on Standing Still - gA love so strong, the winds gone from itfs sailsh - now Ifm no meteorologist but love minus itfs driving force doesnft sound that strong to me, unless of course the sarcastic wit of eDandaf has passed over my head, in which case I apologise for the idiotic boob that I was those thirty or so words back.
The Brothers Movement sound like they desperately want to be Rock Stars, none more so than main-man Danda, whose name is only beaten in the hilarity stakes by Bono Vox and The Edge. If that is their agenda then fine, just please try and do it with a slightly thicker veil next time.
This marker is handing the work in question over to the education authorities
*This quote comes from OWfs only novel (recently release in celluloid for those who donft like using their reading eyes).
Listen: www.myspace.com/thebrothersmovement
Tracklist:
1. Blind
2. Standing Still
3. Sister
4. Someday
5. The Salute
6. Coming Home
7. War and Peace
8. I am You/You are Me
9. Is God Dead
10. When we Leave
11. We Shall Lift our Heads
Review - P Jørgensen - To
P Jørgensen - To
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7 out of 10
"Music expresses feeling and thought, without language; it was below and before speech, and it is above and beyond all words" - Robert G. Ingersoll
There are many different reasons why people choose to listen to music and to attempt to ruminate on them here would be both daft and futile. However when discussing ambient, instrumental drones the smorgasbord of possibilities is infinitesimally narrowed, but narrowed enough so I may say, with a quivering degree of confidence, that whilst evoking emotion through drama, bliss, crescendos and calm, music of this genre is also designed for inspiring thought. Instead of seeking shelter from half-wit lyricisms rattled off at a mini-gun rate, this nurtures and encourages a steady flow of thoughts to drift from tangent to tangent, occasionally tacking back like a Norfolk Punt against the current.
It is unusual for ambient, almost cinematic, sounds such as is on display from Danish 'sound artist' & composer P Jorgensen, to be so rigidly split into separately defined tracks, or for the tracks to be so short. The purpose of this is quite clear however - instead of showcasing this as one long ambling, direction-less track, Jorgensen wants to draw attention to the specific movements that writhe and rotate like discarded ice cream flushed down a glugging sink.
To starts with the type of forlorn chord that might be found in the works of Philip Glass or Fabio Orsi, this is soon joined by a faint rumbling and growing hiss as At a Loss moves into Blossom which in turn pinches it's skirt into a modest curtsy as the first of the Variations trilogy rolls in.
Whilst the first half of To is certainly a darker affair than the back five tracks, it is a darkness that inhabits corners or that peeks out from under the stairs. A darkness only by comparison to light. For this to have a maximised effect on the listener, perhaps it would have proved more rewarding to enter that all encompassing dank, the kind of absent light you can feel as it weighs heavy on your shoulders and legs. The type where it doesn't matter if your eyes are open or if they are closed, where it is not just climbing up your calves and dripping onto your head but busting and probing it's way out of your veins, sinews, bones.. No, out of your very being. Perhaps then the gradual slide up into blinking bright white would have felt like a journey rather than a short flirtation with a bulb-less room.
Listen: www.myspace.com/clangtint
Tracklist:
1. Giuoco Piano
2. At a Loss (Interlude)
3. Blossom
4. Variation I
5. Sakramente
6. Variation II
7. Solbakken 2006.06.25 3:50am
8. Olympia
9. Variation III
10. B-25 Mitchell
Review - Jet - Shaka Rock
Jet - Shaka Rock
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5 out of 10
Are You Gonna Be My Girl? An invitation from Jet a few years back which many women would not want to refuse, and words that many men too could not avoid as they imitated and mouthed along to these lyrics in bedrooms or indie-clubs across the nation. Same with grower, Rollover DJ, or the charming and woeful Look What You've Done, which came along and got under plenty of people's skin but in a good way! That was nearly six years ago, and now here we are with Jet's third album which also marks the Australian four-piece's return after a near three year break. So, what is new and what is old with Jet?
Establishing the rock right away, there's no confusion with this album's title and blazing opening promise of K.I.A, a shiner until the chorus kicks in. Yep, the rock theme is stamped heavily all over the tracks on this offering, even the slower songs.
Singer and guitarist, Nic Cester speaks his way through second track Beat On Repeat like a bored teenager rebelling against the world "Daddy wants to know why you love nobody?" he asks.whatever.
She's A Genius, is spiky and looking right at the women again but lacks the blatant appeal of the aforementioned anthems but when Black Hearts (On Fire) strips back to 60s rock and roll and pitches it against an 80s chorus, it could be a contender, maybe.
La Di Da starts promising with Nic Cester's vocals taking on the guise of Jagger, against emotive keys and retro riff backdrop but the inclusion of this La Di Da chorus almost takes the track's appeal away. Times Like This provides Jet with more strength as does Start The Show. But as Nic pleads on Let Me Out, you can't help wondering what he wants release from?
While some sounds on this album are reminiscent of other bands, which almost drag parts of the album back to the past, as they evoke the likes of the Rolling Stones, Bon Jovi, INXS and AC/DC there's also Jet traits sewn distinctively through each song. However, at times it almost sounds like the track-listing of a 'greatest rock' compilation.
It may be a new album, but there's an old vibe that's also present throughout and while it's done with audacity it's as though at times Jet can't help looking over their shoulders for direction. But then this retro feel to their sound is nothing new to sing about, well established and accepted by those who take pleasure and comfort too.
Listen: www.jettheband.com
Tracklist:
1. K.I.A (Killed In Action)
2. Beat On Repeat
3. She's A Genius
4. Black Hearts (On Fire)
5. Seventeen
6. La Di Da
7. Goodbye Hollywood
8. Walk
9. Times Like This
10. Let Me Out
11. Start The Show
12. She Holds A Grudge
News - Motion City Soundtrack Album Titled Revealed!
Motion City Soundtrack’s new alum will be called "My Dinosaur Life". The album was produced by Mark Hoppus (Blink 182) and will be their first to come out through Columbia Records.
Their new track "Disappear" is out today exclusively through iTunes.
News - Portico Quartet Release "Isla" This Week
Portico Quartet have released their album "Isla" this week.
Live dates:
Saturday 24 October - BRISTOL Old Vic *
Thursday 29 October - BASINGSTOKE The Anvil *
Monday 2 November - LONDON Koko *
Tuesday 3 November - MANCHESTER RNCM *
Wednesday 4 November - EDINBURGH Electric Circus *
Thursday 5 November - GLASGOW The Arches *
Friday 6 November - MIDDLESBROUGH Town Hall Crypt *
Saturday 7 November - BIRMINGHAM CBSO Centre *
Sunday 8 November - BRIGHTON & HOVE The Old Market *
Monday 16 November - NORWICH Arts Centre
Saturday 21 November - COLCHESTER Lakeside Theatre
Sunday 22 November - CAMBRIDGE The Junction
Monday 23 November - LIVERPOOL The Kazimier
Tuesday 24 November - NOTTINGHAM The Rescue Rooms
*with Sweet Billy Pilgrim
News - Creed Come Full Circle...
Creed (with their original line-up) will release their new album "Full Circle" on the 2nd of November though Virgin Records. This is the band's first album of new material since the release of "Weatherland" in November 2001.
The single "Overcome" will follow on the 9th of November. The video for the single is up right here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOPI_oJsMmI&feature=player_profilepage
They should be playing shows in the UK in spring 2010.
News - Welcome To The Bon Jovi Inner Circle
Bon Jovi’s new single "We Weren't Born To Follow" will be released on the 9th of November. The track is taken from their latest album "The Circle" which will be out on the 2nd of November.
A documentary on the band called "When We Were Beautiful" by filmmaker Phil Griffin will be out on the 2nd of November also.
Monday, 19 October 2009
Review - Foreign Beggars - United Colours of Beggattron
Foreign Beggars - United Colours of Beggattron
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8 out of 10
The UK Hip Hop scene has another jewel in its gold fronts with Foreign Beggar's fourth album "United Colours of Beggattron". I'm not going to pretend I'm a hip hop aficionado but I know what I like and the four piece Foreign Beggars are up there with Braintax, Skinnyman and Jehst in my opinion. Upbeat rhymes which are witty and stay clear of the clichéd subjects, coupled with slick beats and production has led to this album to get stuck in my car stereo for a couple of weeks, mainly so I can play it to passengers and pass on the good word.
"Contact" is the lead single is built on a dirty dubstep beat, and is sure to be a big hit in the clubs. The other tracks touch on every sub-genre of the hip-hop scene - from the serious street tough tunes like "Move Higher" or the self-aware thoughtpiece of "Break Free" to the comedic "Don't Dhoow It"; the Foreign Beggars have got all the points covered. The album also features a large list of guests including Noisia, Guilty Simpson, Ghosttown, Devlin Phat Kat and the aforementioned Jehst, "United Colours of Beggattron" has got crossover appeal that would interest those who aren't full time hip-hop heads.
If you only own Dre Dre's "The Chronic" and Jurassic 5 you should seek out this album. And the breh's out there will have already heard this stone-cold classic.
Listen: www.myspace.com/foreignbeggars
Tracklist:
1. Intro
2. Move Higher
3. Keep It Comin
4. Break Free
5. Don't Dhoow It
6. Hereford Hospital (Skit)
7. Seven Figure Swagger
8. Contact
9. Shake It
10. Get A Bit More
11. Corridors (Skit)
12. Asylum Bound
13. Big 'N' Black
14. Prove It
15. No More
16. Some Advice (Skit)
17. Keeping The Line Fat
18. No Holds Barred
19. Safedrian
Review - A Rocket To The Moon - On Your Side
A Rocket To The Moon - On Your Side
View The Review
7 out of 10
A Rocket To The Moon are another new band from the Fueled By Ramen record label, the same one that has brought us releases by Paramore and Panic! At The Disco. If a band's MySpace page is any indication of potential success, then with over 110,000 ’friends’ and a staggering 27 million plays with only one EP released, A Rocket To The Moon are way on their way to becoming a household name.
’Annabelle’ and ’Mr Right’ kick things off nicely, two slices of typical American pop-rock which set the theme of the record early: girls and relationships. A she or her is mentioned in pretty much every song and as a result some of the lyrics are a bit clichéd. Despite this, the album contains a strong set of upbeat, cheerful songs. ’She’s Killing Me’, ’Dakota’ and ’Life Of The Party’ are a further three of these types of songs on the album. It is here that A Rocket To The Moon thrive, the songs scream summer and should cause the sourest listener to crack a smile, the clean and crisp production, courtesy of Matt Squire (All Time Low, Panic! At The Disco) help maintain this illusion.
Frontman Nick Santino has the sort of pleasant voice that you can just imagine hearing in the background of a prom scene from a Californian teen soap. ’Like We Used To’ demonstrates this well, a beautiful, delicate song about an old relationship that proves to be the album's high point. From here on in the album never quite hits the heights of the first half without ever really becoming boring. ’Sometimes’ and the title track don’t quite match the quality of some of what proceeds them, but they are not enough to write off the album as a result.
As most of their label mates, A Rocket To The Moon will appeal to teen emo/rock fans, and in particular, female fans. You can’t fault the label, they have a model for selling to this booming market and they show no signs of running out of variations with which to do it. It’s just that, as happens with all musical trends, the quality gets diluted after a while. This is not bad, but at the same time it’s nothing new and it’s now getting to the point where this is true for most of the bands of the genre, there are very few bands actually doing anything new and worthwhile. If you’re a fan of Dashboard Confessional and their peers, then you can add this band to the music section of your MySpace profile, otherwise it’s something that you’ve probably already decided isn’t your thing.
Listen: www.myspace.com/arockettothemoon
Tracklist:
1. Annabelle
2. Mr Right
3. She’s Killing Me
4. On A Lonely Night
5. Dakota
6. Life Of The Party
7. Like We Used To
8. Where Did You Go
9. Sometimes
10. Baby Blue Eyes
11. Give A Damn
12. On Your Side
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