Audio Bullys (aka Simon Franks and Tom Dinsdale) have made their track "Kiss The Sky" available for free download (for a 2 week period) from their website: www.audiobullys.com
Their third as yet untitled album will be released on their own label Face Piece, in conjunction with Cooking Vinyl in March 2010.
Monday, 30 November 2009
News - Audio Bullys - Kiss The Sky
News - See The Possibilities Of Lykke Li...
Lykke Li’s new single "Possibility" taken from the Twilight: New Moon soundtrack will be released on the 11th of January.
News - The Return Of Toni Braxton!
Toni Braxton’s new single "Yesterday" will be released in February 2010 through Atlantic Records in the UK.
News - The Kings & Queens Of Mars
Thirty Seconds To Mars’ single "Kings & Queens" has been released today.
You can view the video online here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VhZDiG7ye0
New album "This Is War" will follow on the 7th of December through Virgin Records.
News - Bad For Lazarus Announce UK Tour
Bad For Lazarus have announced a December tour:
Dec 12th Southampton Lennons
Dec 16th London The Monarch
Dec 17th Stoke Alsager Arms
Dec 19th Newcastle The End Bar
Dec 19th Brighton Concorde 2 w/Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster
Dec 21st Cardiff 10 Feet Tall
Dec 30th London Old Blue Last
You can get a free download from the band by going here: http://badforlazarus.bandcamp.com
News - Smoke Fairies: Gastown / The River Song
Smoke Fairies will release "Gastown" and "The River Song" through Jack White’s Third Man Records on the 7th of December.
The tracks will be made available on 7" vinyl and as an iTunes download.
News - BP Fallon Gives You The Spoken Word
Third Man Records is releasing the first in their new Spoken Word - Instructional Record series featuring BP Fallon on the 7th of December.
News - Tristram Debut EP "Someone Told Me A Poem"
Tristram will release his debut four-track EP called "Someone Told Me A Poem" on the 8th of February through the freshly created Oh, Inverted World Records.
It will be made available on CD and strictly limited to 300 copies, each with Tristram’s own artwork, it will be available through all major DSPs.
Live shows:
1 December London Betsy Trotwood (w/Caitlin Rose)
6 December London The Slaughtered Lamb (Moonshine Jamboree Xmas Party)
14 December London Cross Kings (Ollie The Octopus single launch)
15 December London The Tamesis Dock (Rockfeedback show)
12 January London Puregroove afternoon in-store
13 January London Old Queens Head (Oh, Inverted World)
News - Dead Confederate Tour Kicks Off Tomorrow...
Dead Confederate have landed on UK soil today and their tour kicks off tomorrow.
DECEMBER
01 London Hoxton Bar & Kitchen
02 Oxford Jericho Tavern
03 Plymouth Hippo w/J Mascis
05 Leeds Cockpit w/Pulled Apart By Horses
05 Birmingham Academy 3
07 Manchester Moho Live w/ J Mascis
08 Nottingham Bodega Social
10 Leicester Uni w/ J Mascis
News - Fall Out Boy Greatest Hits Out Now
Fall Out Boy’s greatest hits album called "Believers Never Die" has been released today 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 is a DVD with Fall Out Boy's 14 Greatest Hit videos with exclusive band commentary.
Review - Blackfield - Live in NYC (DVD + CD)
Blackfield - Live in NYC (DVD + CD)
View The Review
10 out of 10
If the world was a fairer place, Blackfield would be absolutely huge. Saying that, there’s something about the fact that the band are relatively unknown that gives them an intrinsic magical quality, like a secret garden found whilst lost in the woods. Deeply quaint yet masterfully intense, Blackfield’s mix of guitar-drenched pop rock and melancholic nostalgia is a delight to experience, with the collaborative songwriting between Porcupine Tree singer/guitarist and all-round musical guru Steve Wilson and prolific singer/songwriter Aviv Geffen being second-to-none.
The fact that both members are constantly busy with other projects means that Blackfield only appear once in a blue moon. When they do make a rare appearance, you feel like you’re being treated to something extra special. ’Live in NYC’ is just such an occasion, and a mid-winter, snowy New York city could not be a more perfect setting for the special one-off show.
With a total of eighteen songs, the set covers almost everything the band have ever recorded, with all but one song played from their latest album, ’II’. If I’m completely honest, ’Blackfield II’ is an album I initially cast aside and it was left to gather dust in a forgotten CD rack after only a couple of listens. Not that I wrote it off completely, but the general feeling I got from the album was an increase in subtlety from their fantastic debut and a delve a little too deep into the realms of melancholy to keep me interested. As Steve Wilson and Aviv Geffen take the stage to a warm welcome from the New York crowd and the proceedings are kicked off with ’Once’, I’m instantly making a mental note to search for the ’Blackfield II’ CD lying dormant in my collection.
Both singers carry instantly recognisable yet very different voices, which complement and harmonize each other with effortless perfection. Steve plays the modest showman, letting his fantastic voice and musicianship do all the talking. Aviv is clearly loving the whole experience, with an energetic performance that complements the pairing so well. Jeans and t-shirt, sharp suit and glitter-covered eyes; two distinctly different personalities that feed off each other and mix so well together.
The performance really opens up the songs from ’II’ and the progression from the debut is suddenly so clear. The subtlety, the unpretentious melancholy; songs like ’Miss U’, ’1000 People’, and ’Someday’ are beautifully played out with as much emotion as you could imagine. Songs like ’Christenings’, ’Once’, ’Epidemic’ and ’End Of The World’ are rapidly joining the ranks of ’Pain’ and ’The Hole In Me’ as Blackfield classics. In fact, looking for filler material in a Blackfield set is a largely fruitless activity. Undeniably though, the earlier material has already cemented itself into the hearts of the crowd, who sing along at every opportunity as the setlist ebbs and flows from fan favourite to fan favourite.
Aviv takes to the keyboard during an impressive solo performance of ’Glow’, and stays put for an emotional rendition of Alanis Morissette’s ’Thank You’. Moving back to his guitar the show continues and from the first piano notes of the fantastic ’Epidemic’ to the last, I’m totally transfixed.
Not only has this DVD drawn me back into the amazing material that I foolishly overlooked on 'Blackfield II', it has rekindled my appreciation of a fantastic band. There is no complex array of menu options and hours of extras (although 3 promotional videos are included). What this DVD captures is a very honest recording of an amazing show, and its simplicity is why it is so perfect.
By the time they walk off stage for the first time, I’m suddenly aware that I haven’t moved an inch at any point during the last hour. A truly captivating performance, filled with raw, uplifting emotion. The rest of band, comprising of bass guitarist Seffy Efrati, keyboardist Eran Mitelman and drummer Tomer Z are all on top form as well; their contributions adding a huge sense of depth and subtle intricacy to the music.
When they come back on, we’re treated to a couple of classics from the first album and an encore version of ’Once’ to top things off. Blackfield is a truly special project from two unique individuals who could not have found a more kindred spirit in each other. Live in NYC captures every moment with perfect clarity; its simplicity is its strength, its honesty truly mesmerizing. A flawless set from surely one of the most naturally tuned pairings of musical minds of this generation.
I used to walk to work at the crack of dawn with Blackfield on my portable stereo, and as the sun came up there would always be a smile on my face. Everyone needs to hear Blackfield, and I can’t think of a better introduction to the band than this fantastic live show captured amidst a New York winter. Essential for fans of the band, artistic rock music, and anyone who thinks emotion is dead.
Listen: www.myspace.com/blackfield
Tracklist:
1. Once
2. Miss U
3. Blackfield
4. Christenings
5. The Hole In Me
6. 1,000 People
7. Pain
8. Glow
9. Thank You
10. Epidemic
11. Someday
12. Open Mind
13. My Gift Of Silence
14. Where Is My Love?
15. End Of The World
16. Hello
17. Once (Encore)
18. Cloudy Now
News - Sam Isaac - Last UK Shows
An update from Sam Isaac has arrived in our inbox:
"Hello,
So much has been happening in the last few months. "Sideways" is getting used on Match of the Day all season. "Fire Fire" is on the Inbetweeners soundtrack CD which is out now. You can find that on iTunes and in the shops and stuff.
If you haven’t already heard, I’ve taken the difficult decision of ’splitting up’ Sam Isaac. It’s quite difficult to split yourself up. There is some explaining in this interview here (http://thefourohfive.com/articles/2052). Nevertheless, I’ll be releasing the album in the new year in Australia and America, and you never know what’s going to happen in the future.
I’m currently playing a last few living room shows, and then we have just three last full band shows next week with The Xcerts, who are an incredible Scottish rock band. It would be INCREDIBLE to see lots of you at these last few shows, singing these songs for one last time.
1) Tour with The Xcerts!
Thursday 3rd December - Ruby Lounge, MANCHESTER
Friday 4th December - Lexington, LONDON
Saturday 5th December - Firefly, WORCESTER
2) NEW SINGLE!
I’m releasing one last single, "Annie, Why Are You So Angry?" on December 14th. There is a new music video, download and special tour videos and other goodies all up at this little website. I’m adding new things all the time over the next couple of weeks, so check it out!
Annie, Why Are You So Angry? Website! http://anniewhyareyousoangry.wordpress.com
3) Bandcamp
I’ve made all of my releases ever available for download from Bandcamp. Lots of this stuff is sold out physically and was previously impossible to get hold of. It’s all reasonably priced and available to download from the link below!
Sam Isaac on Bandcamp: http://samisaac.bandcamp.com
For more information on anything or to get in touch, please go to my myspace page (www.myspace.com/samisaac) or my website (www.samisaac.co.uk).
Maybe become a fan of me on Facebook. Just type "Sam Isaac" into the search bar and my music page will come up.
If you would like to buy any merchandise including CDs, t-shirts and badges, please go to my online store (http://samisaac.bigcartel.com).
Sam
xx"
News - Robin James - Saint Jude Released Today
Robin James’ album "Saint Jude" is released today through Pocket Size Records.
Live dates:
December 9th - De Bees, Cheshire
December 12th - The Peryls Victorian Christmas Extraordinarium - Antenna Studios, London
News - Eels Free Download - Little Bird
The new album by Eels called "End Times" is out on the 19th of January 2010, but they have a new track called "Little Bird" up for free download now if you go here: http://eelstheband.com/eels_endtimes.php
Sunday, 29 November 2009
News - My Hidden Track Have Broken Up...
My Hidden Track have sadly split up.
Taken from their MySpace blog:
"We have come to an extremely difficult decision. It has come time for us to move on from My Hidden Track and pursue other endeavors. After three years, this decision was not an easy one. We have recorded, played shows and promoted nonstop all while trying to balance relationships, friends, family, work, etc. and we don't regret a single second of it. Despite what you may hear, no one was kicked out of My Hidden Track, nor has any action been taken out of malicious intent. Several weeks ago, the band sat down to talk and Chandler decided to leave the band so that he could concentrate on personal affairs. The remaining members of My Hidden Track (Chad, Nick and Pat) supported Chandler's decision wholeheartedly and agreed that he was not in a position where the band could be one of his priorities. While it is not our place to air Chandler's personal business, it is within our right to let you know that we did not reach this decision for him. Also it is to be noted that there is not one single contributing factor leading up to this decision, but rather many. We continue to respect Chandler and we hope he is able to better his personal situations as a result of this separation. After considering continuing on under the My Hidden Track name, we have decided that out of the respect of our accomplishments of "Hey Love" that there is no better way to end My Hidden Track's three-year career. To all the fans that have loved and supported us, to all the bands that we have played with, to all the previous members of the band and to all the people who have talked to us, listened to us, or tried out to play with us, we thank you. We want to offer our profound thanks and gratitude; without you we never would have been able to do it. My Hidden Track fans truly are the best in the world. The three of us (Chad, Nick and Pat) will be carrying on playing music under a different name. We hope that all of you consider checking us out and at the very least give us an opportunity to share with you something we love, something that is honest, pure and straight from our heart. We apologize that we are not able to offer you a proper goodbye, but we want to thank you for your love, support and understanding. ....
From the bottom of hearts, thank you for all of your love and support,....
My Hidden Track....
Also, we are currently holding one final merch sale so that everyone can get a copy of "Hey Love" for cheap. We have a slew of debt from MHT that we need to climb out from behind. Admittedly, we need your help. Shortly after the last tour, the transmission went out in our van as well as the front and back brakes need replaced before it can be driven again. We are doing our best to save up to fix the van, but it has become overwhelming when balancing the monthly loan payment, insurance payment and the cost of our practice unit. We are not asking for donations or trying to guilt anyone into helping us out. We do, however, encourage you that if you have ever wanted a My Hidden Track CD or t-shirt to get one now before the store closes forever. All items are $5.00 plus shipping and each order will come extra little goodies, which could include anything from buttons and stickers to autographed CDs or an extra t-shirt. Quite literary we mean it when we say that everything must go. Again, thank you.
Store: http://store.yournextaddiction.com
News - The Downtown Fiction Sign To Photo Finish Records
The Downtown Fiction have signed to Photo Finish Records.
Taken from their MySpace blog:
"Hey everybody!
Stoked to announce that we’ve signed to Photo Finish Records. We’re excited for all that’s to come in the future, and would like to thank each of you for your continued love and support. None of this would be possible without our TDF family!
Love,
TDF Boys <333"
News - Trophy Scars Holiday Update
Trophy Scars have posted an update on their MySpace blog:
"Head on over to:
MerchNOW (http://new.merchnow.com/catalogs/trophy-scars)
There are a whole bunch of holiday deals that won’t last long so we recommend picking them up. There are very few hard copies of Bad Luck left so this is an opportunity to grab one while you still can - at an amazing price of only $7 (w/ purchase of hoodie, shirt, or other CDs).
Also - we are amidst writing new material for a forthcoming EP we are recording in January with longtime collaborator / producer, Chris Badami. We are really stoked on this and are trying to the best we can in scraping funds together to pay for it. So if you feel inclined to buy some merch, come to a show, etc. we promise it will be worth your while. The EP will be followed shortly by a full-length. Things will be getting dark and wacky.
We will update very, very soon regarding the new EP (title, songs, previews, whatever).
Thanks to anyone who has helped us out financially and to those who continue to do so - you’re the only reason we can keep this monster afloat.
We love you,
Talking Squirrels"
News - Go:Audio Are Over
Go:Audio have split up:
"Hello,
How is everyone?
We’re really sorry that we’ve been quiet over the past few weeks about letting you all know what is going on. The truth is we haven’t really known what’s going on ourselves.
The only thing we do know is what we have decided to do what we feel right at this time.
We want to start by thanking all of you for all the support and time you’ve given us. Without you we could never have managed to get where we got so THANK YOU!
As a band we’ve been through a whole load of shit. For the past year and a half it’s felt like we’ve been on an up hill battle to keep doing what we’ve been doing. We can’t explain how much we love this band and its been our life for the past 5 years and no one is more gutted about this decision than ourselves.
It comes to a point in a band where you suddenly realize for whatever reason that the band we started is no longer growing or going in the direction we first wanted it to. We can’t describe this feeling but it’s one we can’t ignore.
We’ve loved every moment of the band. It has been amazing and we are so proud of all the achievements we’ve had. We’ve played with some amazing bands, been on the radio, played to all of you people and we can’t thank you enough for that, you guys really are amazing!
We are all really gutted about this decision but honestly feel it is the right one for us. There have been no fall-outs, no arguments, quite the opposite in fact. Everyone has respected everybody else’s opinion.
We all hoped this day would never come but unfortunately we have had to call it a day as a band.
We will keep the bands MySpace, Facebook and other sites open so please keep coming back as all of us will continue to log on as often as we can and let you know what we’re all up to! All of us intend to carry on doing something in music so please keep coming back coz we’d love to keep you all involved in what the future holds!
Again, we can’t thank you enough. Without you none of this would have been possible.
Go:Audio
James, Josh, Andy, Zack, Nick"
Review - Converge - Axe to Fall
Converge - Axe to Fall
View The Review
8 out of 10
It’s always a bit of a momentous occasion for me when a new Converge album comes out. Ever since Jane Doe (which is the point at which they started writing truly great albums, rather than disparate collections of songs of varying quality) everything they’ve released has, in this humble reviewer’s opinion, been of unassailable quality, and also surprising variety, for those who care to listen deeply enough.
Axe to Fall follows much the same progression. It’s not even close to the mighty Jane Doe (still my favourite Converge record) in terms of sheer harshness in either musically or in the production, but I don’t think it’s supposed to. You Fail Me and No Heroes have both taken a more accessible approach, and Axe to Fall is no different. The album opens true to form with Dark Horse, which features a slightly 80s sounding speed metal riff which also recalls the bands punk origins, in spirit if not in sound. This is definitely a metal influenced album, as opposed to hardcore, with lightning fast riffs and even some solo moments.
Of course whilst a number of tracks follow a similar formula, it wouldn’t be a Converge album without some variety. Worms Will Feed / Rats Will Feast slows right down, and brings to mind Phoenix in Flight from Jane Doe, and Cruel Bloom (featuring Steve Von Till on vocals) actually sounds a bit like Nick Cave at the beginning, further advancing the evil country theme from No Heroes and eventually blooming into My Dying Bride style doom metal. Album closer Wretched World is an epically atmospheric post metal piece, which builds steadily through its seven minute length, but never quite to the crushing conclusion you hope for.
It’s kinda hard to say how this compares to Converge’s other albums, as I find that it’s only with many repeat listens that they really reveal their true colours. At the moment, after a week or two of listening, I think I’d put this one on a par with No Heroes and You Fail Me, but not as good as Jane Doe. That’s no bad thing, Jane Doe is one of my favourite albums ever and I still listen to No Heroes and You Fail Me often.
Listen: www.myspace.com/converge
Tracklist:
1. Dark Horse
2. Reap What You Sow
3. Axe to Fall
4. Effigy
5. Worms Will Feed / Rats Will Feast
6. Wishing Well
7. Damages
8. Losing Battle
9. Dead Beat
10. Cutter
11. Slave Driver
12. Cruel Bloom
13. Wretched World
Review - Dominic - Nord
Dominic - Nord
View The Review
9 out of 10
It’s probably not that unfair to say that the Level Plane screamo genre of the mid 90s kind of peaked some time ago, with bands like Orchid and Saetia. There have been lots of bands playing similar stuff since then, but the problem has been that a lot of it has been a little bit too similar - to all but hardened genre fans, a lot of bands are indistinguishable from all the others. Every now and then though, a band comes along that shifts the boundaries and brings something new to the melting pot. Bands like Kaospilot, early JR Ewing or Lack stand out from the crowd, and so do Dominic.
Musically they slow down the usually manic rhythms associated with the genre, whilst retaining the trademark off kilter time signatures and syncopation. Whilst far from being ponderous this change in pace gives the music space to breathe and the listener time to appreciate what they are hearing, bringing to mind post rock bands such as Don’t Mess With Texas or PG Lost, a sensation heightened by the presence of fairly elongated instrumental passages. The drums are pounding and raw, in stark contrast to the intricate, interwoven guitars. The vocals are suitably charged with emotion, and the lyrics insightful and intelligent.
So does it add up to the sum of its parts? More than, I would say. In fact I’d go as far as to say that I think Dominic have replaced Kaospilot as my screamo band of choice, on record at least - live it remains to be seen, but hopefully I’ll get the chance to find out soon.
Listen: www.myspace.com/dominicdgb
Tracklist:
1. End of Man
2. Idiocracy
3. Incorporated Desert Fields
4. Deep, Deep and Forever
5. Get Rich and Die Trying
6. Railroad of Attraction
7. Red Light
8. Farewell Welfare
9. Loss of Breath
10. Ink for Bullets
Review - Brother Ali - Us
Brother Ali - Us
View The Review
9 out of 10
There’s an awful lot of really bad hip hop out there, a lot of which is very popular and it saddens me sometimes that people probably think that’s all there is to the genre. Well, those people really ought to listen to Brother Ali, ’cos this album pretty much epitomises everything I love about hip hop.
The first thing to notice is the production, which is absolutely dripping with rich soul and funk. I defy anyone to listen to Tight Rope without at least a gentle nodding of the head. Beats are handled by Ant of Atmosphere fame, and it's probably fair there are similarities to the likes of Atmosphere, Sage Francis and Aesop Rock all the way through.
The second and most important thing to notice is Brother Ali’s rhymes. His delivery it kind of like a more laid back Sage Francis, mostly more softly spoken than spat out in rage, especially on the more chilled out tracks. Lyrically it’s fairly introspective, weaving tales of urban life, drug abuse and crime with observations on humanity in general. It’s intelligent, insightful rap.
The third thing to notice is that amongst the more usual guests we find Chuck D providing vocals on the very first track.
All this adds up to a really rather great album. If you’re a hip hop fan and you prefer your beats soulful and your rhymes leftfield and clever then have a listen.
Listen: www.myspace.com/brotherali
Tracklist:
1. Brothers and Sisters
2. The Preacher
3. Crown Jewel
4. House Keys
5. Fresh Air
6. Tight Rope
7. Breakin’ Dawn
8. The Travelers
9. Babygirl
10. ’Round Here
11. Bad Motherfucker PT. II
12. Best@It
13. Games
14. Slippin’ Away
15. You Say (Puppy Love)
16. Us
Review - HiM - ,ñ
HiM - ,ñ
View The Review
6 out of 10
I imagine that the music on this album is what would happen if Tortoise were scheduled to jam with Santana at some Caribbean hideaway and the Very Rev. Carlos failed to turn up. If youfre fed up with the dankness of Winter in your part of the world then this album should do something about that - sunlight and warmth pour from its grooves. OK, it doesnft really ego anywheref but who cares, when the lilt and lift are so soothing. It is the very definition of emellowf.
Listen: www.myspace.com/dougscharin
Tracklist:
1. Creode
2. Purple Song
3. Abstrac Ladder
4. Afro Cuban
5. The Hidden Persuader
6. Makossa For Masako
7. Clues To The Roots
8. It Is Food
9. Nonaka Bros - The Beckoning
Review - Various - Extremely Sorry Soundtrack
Various - Extremely Sorry Soundtrack
View The Review
6 out of 10
Did Lemmy try out any other Soul classics, I wonder, before settling on Ben E. King? I'd love to hear what he did to Dock of the Bay or When A Man Loves A Woman. Or perhaps not - the world might end. This is a soundtrack to skateboarding, so it's got to be short, fast and cool. Most of the time it manages two of those, a few times it manages all three. This mostly happens on the tracks featuring someone or other, who thankfully don't appear to be turning up for a fee. Black Mountain and the Winston fellow particularly make their presence felt. Generally it's a great free-for-all, a wheeled melting-pot of styles, genres and moods. Perhaps not as neck-breaking as the film might be but it doesn't put a foot wrong - too often.
Listen: www.volcoment.com/flipsoundtrack
Tracklist:
1. Intro (ft. Geoff Rowley & Lemmy)
2. Stand By Me (ft. Lemmy & Dave Lombardo)
3. Drum Solo (ft. Dave Lombardo)
4. This Is Forever
5. Scream My Name (ft. Jim Lindberg)
6. When Is Now
7. Lead The Storm
8. Ignition
9. Love Shroom (ft. Mack Winston)
10. Arizona Lead In
11. Desert Convoy
12. The End of the Beginning (ft. Black Mountain)
13. Burn Out Like Fireflies (ft. ((Sounder)) )
14. The Process of Extinction (ft. Early Man)
15. Swagger Rich (ft. Warren G & Snoop Dogg)
Friday, 27 November 2009
News - Mastodon UK Tour
Mastodon have the following dates lined up for their UK tour in 2010:
February
16th Wolverhampton , Wulfrun Hall
17th Bristol, Academy
19th Glasgow, Barrowlands
20th Manchester, Academy
21st Newcastle, Academy
23rd Nottingham, Rock City
24th London, Roundhouse
Tickets are priced £16 (in advance) regionally and £17 (in advance) in London and are available from www.kililive.com / www.seetickets.com / 0871 230 5595 & usual outlets.
News - The Dillinger Escape Plan: Option Paralysis
The Dillinger Escape Plan will release their new album "Option Paralysis" on the 22nd of March 2010 through the band’s new label Party Smasher Inc / Season Of Mist.
One off show lined up for next year:
12-Feb London Barfly
News - Fightstar - A City On Fire
Fightstar’s new Single "A City On Fire" is set to be released on the 21st of December through Search & Destroy Records. The video for the track is up here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftvX13F5xJ8
Thursday, 26 November 2009
Review - Slade - Merry Xmas Everybody: Party Hits
Slade - Merry Xmas Everybody: Party Hits
View The Review
10 out of 10
Now this, surely, is even more pointless than reviewing a charity single - the Slade Christmas album? Don't they release this (or a permutation of it) at this time, every year? Suffice to say this contains everything you'd want a Slade collection to have and possibly some things you wouldn't (the 'Oaky Coaky'?) but you should be well and truly bladdered by the time they come on, so it shouldn't matter. Gavin from Accounts will be doing his HILARIOUS take-off of Ricky Gervais' dance from that episode of The Office, receptionist Dawn (all receptionists are called Dawn. It's the law.) will be fending off advances from the district manager and smarmy Trev from the Luton branch will be trying to impress the typing pool with his breakdancing. And Slade will be jingling from the speakers, like so many Black Country sleigh bells. Same again?
Listen: www.myspace.com/sladeofficial
Tracklist:
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 T'Jane
7. We're Really Gonna Raise The Roof
8. C'mon Feel The Noize
9. My Baby Left Me But That's Alright Mama
10. Skweeze Mr Please Me
11. Let's Have A Party
12. Hey Ho I 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
Review - The Lancashire Hotpots - The Lancashire Hotpots’ Christmas Cracker / Hotpots Karaoke Party!
The Lancashire Hotpots - The Lancashire Hotpots’ Christmas Cracker / Hotpots Karaoke Party!
View The Review
8 out of 10
Here's a test for your imagination; the Grumbleweeds spliced with Half Man Half Biscuit, the Macc Lads and the musical duo from Phoenix Nights, employing DJs Chris Evans and Andy Kershaw as vocalists. There. Head exploded trying to do all that? No? Good. You are the target audience for the Lancashire Hotpots. Hopefully that covers most of you out there, because otherwise you'd be missing a treat. The Hotpots bring a gale of satirical sanity to contemporary British life. If you find yourself feeling that only the likes of (spits over left shoulder) Jeremy Clarkson, the (spits over right shoulder) Daily (Hate) Mail or (spits over both shoulders, elbows, knees and toes) Nick Griffin are articulating 'common sense', then PLEASE FOR THE SAKE OF YOUR OWN BRAIN LISTEN TO THIS BAND. Either that or shoot yourself. I think listening to the Hotpots would be the less dead option.
The 'Karaoke Party' tracks are from their first two albums, if you fancy a brown ale-fuelled sing-along at some point over the next few weeks. Tracks one to eight of the 'Christmas Cracker' are straight from the Phoenix Club, cheesy keys and all. Christmas in Lancashire, The Trafford Centre and Carry You Home are top-drawer English music, timeless and timely. The final song also manages to be moving without being cringeworthy - quite a feat, considering the 'Carry On Kaye' nature of much of the prior tracks. It's also passed a key Christmas album test - played for a group of primary school children, it had them all dancing immediately and asking "what does 'bollocks' mean?"
Listen: www.myspace.com/thelancashirehotpots
Tracklist:
The Lancashire Hotpots’ Christmas Cracker
1. Christmas Number One
2. Happy Non Denomination Winter Festival Celebration
3. Phew, What A Scorcher!
4. It's Cliff-mas Time
5. Without You This Christmas
6. Santa Eckerslike
7. Gaviscon Christmas
8. Christmas Health and Safety Considerations
9. Christmas In Lancashire
10. The Trafford Centre
11. Carry You Home
Hotpots Karaoke Party!
1. Chippy Tea
2. A Lancashire DJ
3. I Fear Ikea
4. Keys Wallet Phone
5. The Beer Olympics
6. I Heart Youtube
7. Chav
8. Bitter Lager Cider Ale Stout
9. Ebay 'Eck
10. He's Turned Emo
11. Shopmobility Scooter
12. The Girl From Bargain Booze
Wednesday, 25 November 2009
Review - Ex Wives - Fucking Dutch
Ex Wives - Fucking Dutch
View The Review
9 out of 10
I had a sneaking suspicion that this EP was going to be quality, from seeing that its briefest of PR blurbs was typed onto a specimen record card from Glasgow General Hospital. I was not wrong. Snarkers and sneerers will whine 'Albini' and 'Big Black' but really, fuck them. The resemblance is eerie but so what? Geniuses steal. And this is genius - big riffs to sit side-by-side with Bilge Pump, Part Chimp and Kong, kicking off with power only to be ripped to pieces - as if the band were saying 'fuck this. . .oh, go on, then. . .' before tearing it up once more. This is music.
Listen: www.myspace.com/exwives
Tracklist:
1. Fucking Dutch
2. Disgrace of the North
3. Otters
4. Every Woman Loves A Fascist
Review - William Fitzsimmons - The Sparrow and the Crow
William Fitzsimmons - The Sparrow and the Crow
View The Review
8 out of 10
It's taken me a hell of a long time to feel comfortable enough to sit down and write this review. William Fitzsimmons was a name I had heard of a few years due to the track "Funeral Dress", an incredibly beautiful track that stuck with me. When I saw his name on the review list I instantly chose to be the one who got his CD. Now, singer-songwriters don't make up the bulk of my collection, in fact a quick scan will show they fall somewhere behind '80s Synth Pop' and 'Hair Metal', so any comparisons I draw may seem simplistic and I apologise.
The Sparrow and Crow is honest, crushingly so in fact. No-one is going to be having any major problems working out what Fitzsimmons is singing about, and this adds to the discomfort of the listening experience. The album is the result of the break-up of his parents' marriage, followed by the break-up of his own, and it is understandable that he would want to write this album. Rarely have I listened to a piece of music that has allowed me to feel what the songwriter was feeling at the time with such clarity. Again, this is as far from easy listening as it is possible to get. You don't just have this on in the background, it reels you in and you are consumed by it.
This is not to say that Fitzsimmons has sacrificed his ability to write beautiful music in his new confessional songwriting style. Just Not Each Other is both simplistic and devastatingly beautiful, praise I seldom give music. Comparisons with both Bon Iver and Elliott Smith seem inevitable, and to my ears are wholly justified. However, The Sparrow and The Crow sounds more polished than most of Smith's early work and certainly more so than Bon Iver's 'For Emma, For Ever Ago', yet it is lyrically more raw, ignoring symbolism and analogy in favour of straight up honesty. This juxtaposition of music and words makes the message that much more powerful.
Despite the subject matter of the album it never feels over self-pitying or self-absorbed. While this may be a hard album to listen to, I'm sure it was a harder album to write and release. We should be thankful that Fitzsimmons did, because it is a fantastic album. After Afterall a re-working of the closing track from his previous album, is a haunting way to start the album, and to finish the album with the optimistic Goodmorning Fitzsimmons finds a way to almost make the listener forget about the pain and agony of the proceeding 11 tracks.
This is an album that will stay with you for a long time and rightly so, it is a beautiful CD.
Listen: www.myspace.com/williamfitzsimmons
Tracklist:
1. After Afterall
2. I Don't Feel it Anymore (Song of the Sparrow)
3. We Feel Alone
4. If You Would Come Back Home
5. Please Forgive Me (Song of the Crow)
6. Further From You
7. Just Not Each Other
8. Even Now
9. You Still Hurt Me
10. They'll Take the Good Years
11. Find Me To Forgive
12. Goodmorning
Review - Various - All Tomorrow's Parties - Directed by: Jonathan Caouette & ATP Films
Various - All Tomorrow's Parties - Directed by: Jonathan Caouette & ATP Films
View The Review
7 out of 10
You had to be there, that's the general feeling after watching the film marking 10 years of the All Tomorrow's Parties festival. Either because the performances were so good that film could never fully capture the moment, such as Grinderman's rampant 2007 set, or because eventually indifference settles in towards clips of strangers being drunk, performing covers of 'Maps' and making out during Seasick Steve and The Boredoms. Those are their festival stories, nobody else's, and it's not much different from being shown other people's holiday photos.
This film, though, would be nothing without the fans - a collaborative effort, film by fans, artists and filmmakers has been cut together by director Jonathan Caouette, most thrillingly at the start of the film when various footage of two different performances of 'Atlas' by Battles build to a rowdy climax. Most of the clips are from 2004 onwards, since when the availability of relatively cheap cameras and phones and YouTube has made everyone a potential documentary maker.
ATP's back story is covered briefly in a sequence where founder Barry Hogan watches himself being interviewed on The Culture Show. There are unanswered questions, such as how it stays sponsorship-free or how curators are chosen, but mini-manifestos from Jerry Garcia, Thurston Moore, Patti Smith and Iggy Pop certainly explain at least part of what ATP stands for - reclaiming rock & roll from big business and industry. It's worth considering during the clips of chalets bustling with ad hoc 'fan bands', an idea that has since been co-opted for multinational brands' for ad campaigns.
Audience and artists living, mingling and performing alongside each other (as Daniel Johnston, Lightning Bolt and Grizzly Bear are filmed doing) is a great part of ATP's appeal, but it's the action onstage that's the most exciting here, such as a lush version of 'The Boy With The Arab Strap' by original festival curators Belle & Sebastian, and invigorating, intense performances by Yeah Yeah Yeahs; a ritualistic, chaotic Stooges; and furiously funky and lo-fi Gossip. Les Savy Fav, who performed at the film's screening tour in October, brings the stage to the audience and together they sum up 10 years of ATP as good as anyone when they shout: "We were there when the world got great! We have to make it that way!"
Tracklist:
Review - Machiavellian - The Impossibility of Death in the Minds of the Living
Machiavellian - The Impossibility of Death in the Minds of the Living
View The Review
5 out of 10
Glass-sharp doomy thrash from this Lancastrian quintet, with the customary Cookie Monster at the mic. I've heard worse, though. A lot worse. Cradle of Filth, for instance. Machiavellian may drift around the same spiky space as the 'Filth but seem to have more about them. One doesn't want to burst into immediate laughter upon hearing or seeing them, for a start. It's rather the opposite but, as I say, given the game they're in, they make a good fist of it.
Listen: www.myspace.com/mcvln
Tracklist:
1. Ranger
2. Bone Island
3. Marxism
4. Let My Home, Be My Gallows
Review - Incite - The Slaughter
Incite - The Slaughter
View The Review
4 out of 10
It's another member of the Cavalera family, folks, come to throttle your brain and burn your eyes with the power of METAL. Ahem. Sorry about that, don't know what came over me. Anyway, being a Cavalera, there's always going to be snide arseholes like me comparing bands like Incite to Sepultura and finding them wanting. I don't like to disappoint people, so there you have it. Incite are certainly more brutal than Sepultura but there's more to life than cracking people over the head with a spiky guitar while your mate gargles on about zombies and death. Isn't there?
Listen: www.myspace.com/incite1
Tracklist:
1. Intro
2. The Slaughter
3. Nothing To Fear
4. Army of Darkness
5. Time For A Change
6. Divided We Fail
7. Rage
8. Tyranny's End
9. Die With What You've Done
10. Down And Out
11. End Result
12. Awakening
Review - Carcer City - The Life We Have Chosen
Carcer City - The Life We Have Chosen
View The Review
4 out of 10
Chug-chug, chug-chug, chug-chug, chug-chuggy-chug, squeeeeee, thud-thud-thud-thud, BLEEEAAAARRRRGGGHHH. Can I go now? No? Oh, well. Look, it's fine, really. Musically very well done, there's definite imagination and talent but, once again with this 'nu-metal' stuff, it's let down by the vox. Then again, it's virtually impossible to do that 'Cookie Monster' thing well. There's a fair few moments of aural vomiting here, let me tell you. If that sounds like you, dive in. If not, then it's back to typing 'unicorn' into Google for you.
Listen: www.myspace.com/carcercity
Tracklist:
1. The Escapist
2. Staring Into The Sun
3. The Life We Have Chosen (part i)
4. The Life We Have Chosen (part ii)
5. The Walls That Divide
6. Closed Eyes
7. Signals
8. Patience Won't Heal The Broken
9. In Silence
10. A Prisoner To The Years
News - Reef Are Back
Reef are back together and will play 6 shows in April 2010. Register your details now at www.reefband.com to order tickets 48 hours before general release.
News - He Can, Ben Dalby Really Can.
Ben Dalby releases his new single "Doctor Can" on the 18th of January through Madgrigal Music.
News - Architects On A Day To Remember Tour + Soundwave Festival
Architects have the following shows lined up for 2010:
Soundwave Festival (www.soundwavefestival.com):
20.02.2010 Brisbane - RNA Showground
21.02.2010 Sydney - Eastern Creek Raceway
26.02.2010 Melbourne - Showgrounds (sold out!)
27.02.2010 Adelaide - Bonython Park
01.03.2010 Perth - Steel Blue Oval
In March they will be supporting A Day To Remember in the UK:
09.03.2010 (UK) Newcastle - O2 Academy 2
10.03.2010 (UK) Glasgow - ABC
11.03.2010 (UK) Manchester - Academy
12.03.2010 (UK) London - HMV Forum
13.03.2010 (UK) Bristol - Uni Anson Rooms
14.03.2010 (UK) Birmingham - O2 Academy 2
News - Living Colour Tour Kicks Off...
Living Colour are touring the UK in December and it kicks off next week.
December
3rd - Tunnels - Bristol, UK
4th - The Globe - Cardiff, UK
5th - Robin 2 - Wolverhampton, UK
6th - Garage - London, UK
Their new album "The Chair In The Doorway" will be released on the 30th of November through Megaforce Records.
News - Rod Stewart Presale Now On
Rod Stewart has a tour set for May 2010 and the presale is up here: www.ticketmaster.co.uk/promo/p73rcv
18th May - Metro Radio Arena - Newcastle Upon Tyne
20th May - Trent FM Arena Nottingham - Nottingham
22nd May - NIA Birmingham - Birmingham
26th May - MEN Arena Manchester - Manchester
29th May - The O2 - London
News - Ylotana: Micro MIR
Ylotana is the brainchild of renowned Russian entrepreneur Anatoly Podkopov and the latest album "Micro MIR" is out now.
You can check out a four-minute teaser music video for the album, featuring illustrations from the accompanying artwork by clicking here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTPmdJQOHls
News - Broken Links EP Release
Broken Links release their new EP called "Resisting Movement And The Almost Advisory" on the 25th of January as a download through iTunes and Amazon.
Track Listing:
1. Within Isolation
2. The Best Laid Schemes Of Mice and Men
3. Colditz
4. The Sea Inside
News - Cobra Starship Announce 2010 UK Tour
Cobra Starship have announced a UK tour for 2010 and tickets go on sale today.
February
Fri 5 MANCHESTER Academy 2
Sat 6 LEEDS Metropolitan University
Sun 7 GLASGOW O2 ABC
Tues 9 WOLVERHAMPTON Wulfrun Hall
Wed 10 LONDON O2 Shepherds Bush Empire
News - You Me At Six Free Download
You Me At Six’s new song "The Consequence" is available to download for free now through You Me At Six: Backstage here: http://youmeatsix.co.uk/backstage.php
The track is from their forthcoming new album "Hold Me Down" which is coming out on the 11th of January 2010 and features guest vocals from The Blackout’s Sean Smith.
Live dates:
December 2009 - as guests to Paramore
10th - Glasgow, SECC Arena
11th - Birmingham, NIA
12th - Dublin, O2 Point
14th - Cardiff, CIA
16th - Manchester, MEN Arena
17th - Brighton, Centre
18th - London, Wembley Arena
March 2010 - headline tour
9th - Birmingham, O2 Academy
10th - Newport, Centre
11th - Sheffield, O2 Academy
12th - Manchester, Apollo
13th - Newcastle, O2 Academy
14th - Glasgow, O2 Academy
16th - Leeds, O2 Academy
17th - Nottingham Rock City
18th - Southampton, Guildhall
19th - Norwich, UEA
20th - London, Brixton O2 Academy
News - Steel Panther Introduce You To Sexy Santa
Steel Panther will release their new Christmas single called "Sexy Santa" on the 13th of December.
Track Listing:
1. Sexy Santa
2. Party All Day (F**k All Night) (album version featuring Justin Hawkins)
Live dates:
MARCH 2010
THURSDAY 18 - O2 ACADEMY NEWCASTLE
FRIDAY 19 - O2 ACADEMY BRIXTON
SATURDAY 20 - O2 ACADMEY SHEFFIELD
Tickets are priced at £16.00 in London and £13.50 regionally and are available from www.livenation.co.uk
News - Propagandhi/Protest The Hero - Tour Reminder
Just a little reminder that Propagandhi and Protest The Hero are touring together starting on Monday.
NOVEMBER
30th - London, UK - Koko
DECEMBER
1st - Leeds, UK - Rios
2nd - Cardiff, UK - Coal Exchange
3rd - Dublin, Ireland - Village
5th - Belfast, Ireland - The Speakeasy, Queens Uni. .
6th - Edinburgh, Scotland - Studio 24
7th - Bournemouth, UK - Academy
8th - Nottingham, UK - Rock City
News - Alesana Are To Be Scared By An Owl
Alesana have added their new track "To Be Scared By An Owl" to their MySpace page. It’s taken from their upcoming album "The Emptiness" which will be released through Fearless Records.
News - Fearless Records Holiday Sale
Submitted: "With the holidays just around the corner we are happy to present to you this year’s 2009 Fearless Records Holiday Sale (http://fearless.merchnow.com). With CDs and EPs as low as $4, t-shirts as low as $8.50, exclusive t-shirt+CD bundles for $20 and exclusive hoodie+CD bundles for $33, this year’s holiday sale is something you shouldn’t miss!"
News - Time To Get Seasonal...
The Keys are set to release their new seasonal EP simply called "Christmas E.P." through See Monkey Do Monkey on the 11th of December.
News - The Soldiers - A Soldiers Christmas Letter
The Soldiers are releasing their single "A Soldiers Christmas Letter" on the 7th of December in a bid to beat the X -Factor track to the No.1 spot.
News - Justin Bieber Injures Ankle On Stage At Wembley
Submitted: "It has just been confirm that teen US popstar Justin Bieber fractured his ankle last night on stage at Wembley during his performance of new single 'One Time'. Justin was at Wembley supporting Taylor Swift on her UK tour dates, and was on his last song of the evening when he tripped over some equipment on stage injuring his ankle badly. He was taken to hospital and his ankle put in a cast, but he will still be performing tonight's gig at the Manchester MEN arena.
You can follow news of Justin's recovery on his twitter page at http://twitter.com/JUSTInBIEBER"
News - The Courteeners Make New Track Available As Free Download
The Courteeners are making their track "Cross My Heart & Hope To Fly" available as a free download on the 7th of December from the band’s website: www.thecourteeners.com
In addition a 7" collectable single will also be available with an exclusive b-side. Fans can also pre-order the album at the same time and get the 7" along with their name printed in the album CD booklet.
News - Fightstar Acoustic Show
Fightstar will play a special acoustic show on Sunday the 13th of December at the Picture Drome, Northampton. Tickets for the show are available through www.ticketweb.co.uk
News - Wiley - She Likes To
Wiley’s new single "She Likes To" was released this week as a digital download. It features artists from the UK Grime scene including Wrigley, J2K, Bashy, Chipmunk, Wretch 32, Ice-Kid, Ghetts, Scorcher and Griminal.
Monday, 23 November 2009
News - Sabaton Joins The Nuclear Blast Family
Sabaton has signed to Nuclear Blast Records.
"After ten years as a band and four albums we have decided what the next step in the evolution of SABATON will be. A contract with the biggest Heavy Metal label in the world has been signed and the next album will be released by Nuclear Blast in the spring of 2010. The last album "The Art of War" touched the hearts of thousands and thousands of metalfans around the world, and with their help we are now ready to hit the studio and record our new album. What way could we better end our 10´th year? See you all in 2010 under the Coat of Arms!"
(Pär Sundström / SABATON)
Review - Chipmunk - I Am
Chipmunk - I Am
View The Review
6 out of 10
The latest up and coming young R&B star Chipmunk released his debut album 'I Am' through Jive Records on the 12th of October 2009, and his latest single 'Oopsy Daisy' will be the third single to be released from 'I Am', along with the previously released tracks 'Chip Diddy Chip' and 'Diamond Rings'.
Chipmunk has rapidly established himself as the freshest new talent in hip-hop with his recent singles all being huge hits. His most recent single 'Oopsy Daisy' is about a relationship break up and the regrets and feelings from both the male and female sides of the issue. The song although hip-hop, is an easy to listen to track with a female vocalist playing the role of the lady in the story, with Chipmunk as himself. Previous to his current releases I heard Chipmunk feature on a few songs, including tracks with N-Dubz and DJ Ironik, and from what I heard I thought he would release a very strong album. Chipmunk is a versatile rapper with his ability and covers a variation of sounds, which would work well in many genres of music. He is talented; I just wish the album were a little grimier, hardcore hip-hop. I could see big things for Chipmunk earlier this year but was disappointed with his debut album 'I Am'. I can see others liking it, I was just expecting more grime big beats along with the big personality. I actually like Chipmunk and really wanted to like this album, it just wasn't for me. I reckon that 'I Am' will be a big album release, and it will do well, but it will appeal to more of the younger generation of hip-hop lovers.
A perfect example of what I would like to hear more of are the less commercial songs like 'Saviour', 'Man Dem (featuring Tinchy Stryder)' and 'Beast (featuring Loick Essien)'. The songs Chipmunk has not released from 'I Am' are a lot better than the ones that he has. 'Chip Diddy Chip' is about the best so far, with 'Oopsy Daisy' and 'Diamond Rings' being a little more light-hearted than gangster-rap. I would say that I like 50% of the album, the songs I have mentioned have well produced hardcore beats, and Chipmunk puts his stamp on them to give us the best of Chipmunk. Then again there are a couple of songs like 'Dear Family' and 'Lose My Life (featuring Tulisa of N-Dubz) which I just totally skip on the album, they just don't do it for me, it's a shame because N-Dubz's 'Defeat You' (featuring Chipmunk) is top quality British rap.
All in all 'I Am' is a decent debut album from Chipmunk, and I can only see him achieving even greater things in upcoming years. Plus he has already had a number one hit with 'Oopsy Daisy', although it's one of the tracks I am not too fond on, I can't slate it as it did get to number one! What do I know!?
Chipmunk has came up so fast this year, and has already put his mark on the music scene and I hope he continues on the same road to release some massive hits in the future.
Listen: www.myspace.com/chipmunkartist
Tracklist:
1. Saviour
2. Chip Diddy Chip
3. Oopsy Daisy
4. Man Dem (Featuring Tinchy Strider)
5. Diamond Rings (Featuring Emeli Sande)
6. Lose My Life (Featuring N Dubz)
7. I Am (Interval)
8. Dear Family
9. Beast (Featuring Loick Essien)
10. Look For Me (Featuring Talay Riley)
11. Role Model
12. Sometimes
13. Business (Featuring Young Spray)
Sunday, 22 November 2009
Review - Manchester Orchestra - Rock City, Nottingham - 8th November 2009
Manchester Orchestra - Rock City, Nottingham - 8th November 2009
View The Review
9 out of 10
As predicted, Rock City is already packed to the rafters, with Biffy Clyro having no problems selling out venues around the country right now. The band I’m most excited about tonight though are their touring partners, Manchester Orchestra. With the release of ’Mean Everything to Nothing’ earlier this year they set a bar, the height of which nobody expected, and one that few have so far matched. Walking on stage tonight sporting a red beanie hat that coupled with his huge beard makes him look for the most part like an oversized garden gnome, frontman Andy Hull and co. kick straight into new tune ’I’ve Got Friends’ which, despite the intro sounding like an excerpt from a children’s TV show, has more than enough attitude and melody to hold its own. Newest single ’Shake It Out’ is another slice of the same cake; an instantly catchy yet edgy rock song that takes hold and won't let go.
’Pride’ is something that needs to be experienced live; keyboardist Chris Freeman ditches his keyboard for a second drum kit and the two drummers face each other while pounding the drums in ritualistic tribal fashion; all this in between a beast of a down-tuned riff and a finale that does justice to arguably one of the strongest songs they’ve ever written.
Ending with the epic pairing of ’Everything To Nothing’ and ’The River’ is an unexpected yet welcome surprise, and for ten minutes my feet are glued to the floor (although whether that’s the spilt booze and god-knows-what-else remains to be seen) in awe of the Manchester Orchestra live experience.
Such raw emotion in an indie rock band rarely comes to the forefront, but Manchester Orchestra effortlessly oozes it. An oh-too-short set from one of my favourite discoveries of 2009. A "must see" for 2010 if you missed them this year.
Listen: www.myspace.com/manchesterorchestra
Tracklist:
Review - North Atlantic Oscillation - Callsigns EP
North Atlantic Oscillation - Callsigns EP
View The Review
7 out of 10
We're in Flaming Lips territory, here - especially on 77 Hours. This is no bad thing, especially when done with such bonhomie. Ceiling Poem is a bit P. Floyd, a bit B. Wilson - ingredients, rather than components, if you get me. It takes a skilled chef to create haute cuisine from basic ingredients, whereas anyone can cook a microwave meal. I would say the 'Oscillation are far from being musical pot noodle. There's quite enough of that about.
Listen: www.myspace.com/naoband
Tracklist:
1. Cell Count (Radio Edit)
2. Ceiling Poem
3. I Only Have Eyes For You
4. 77 Hours (Engineers Remix)
Friday, 20 November 2009
News - The Human Abstract Line-Up Changes
Changes afoot in The Human Abstract camp:
"Ladies and Gentleman! Fans, old and new! Dragons and warlords of the great mystical abyss! Oh... and Steven Seagal!
It is time we update you on some very important news. First and foremost, The Human Abstract will no longer be working with Nathan Ells. We want to wish Nathan the very best in his future endeavors. With that being said, we are now looking for our new lead singer. To clue everyone in, our new singer must be into Chuck Norris, Van Damme and most importantly Steven Seagal movies. We will be holding public auditions, so if you have what it takes please reach us at THAvocalistsearch@gmail.com and we will respond to you with more information. But that's not all!
We want to formally announce greater news! We are working hand in hand with A.J. Minette on this next record which is well in the works. A.J. was the original guitarist alongside Dean for the band. Mr. Minette will be part of the writing force and will serve as producer for the third album. We are tremendously excited to be working together again. A.J. wanted to add, "Let me be the first to say.FIRST POST. NO ONE CARES. VAN FLIP".
The process of completing this album has been prolonged and will take quite some time. The last couple of months have been spent trekking the great forests in our region, chanting great Orca hymns under the moon light, searching for guidance. It is what we have to do in order to write you all a classical masterpiece of epic proportions. We have a couple songs in the works that are well underway to being completed. In fact we just finished recording a demo with AJ.
Finally, we want to go ahead and finish off by thanking you guys, the fans, that allow us to travel and share our music worldwide. Frank Herbert once said, "Without change, something sleeps inside us, and seldom awakens. The sleeper must awaken."
Adios for now,
The Human Abstract"
Review - Har Mar Superstar - Dark Touches
Har Mar Superstar - Dark Touches
View The Review
5 out of 10
It's easy to call Har Mar Superstar, the sexed-up alter-ego of Sean Tillman, a joke, especially compared to his folksy indie band Sean Na Na and old, bass-heavy noise/pop/punk rockers Calvin Krime. A hipster joke between 2002 and 2004, when Fab Moretti of The Strokes was his drummer and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and a pre-super icon Beth Ditto appeared on his records, but now just an old joke by a man who doesn't look as much like porn king Ron Jeremy as he used to.
But that would be unfair, because while Tillman's lusty electro R&B can sound like his least sincere project, he does know what he's doing: he's written songs for J. Lo, Holly Valance appeared on 2004 single 'DUI' and has finished sets with faithful R. Kelly covers, although Britney Spears' management turned down the lead single from 'Dark Touches' 'Tall Boy'. It sounds like a Britney song - weird, clicky post-Neptunes/Timbaland electro-pop with Har Mar using the robotic voice she's actually made her singing voice - but seeing as a 'tall boy' is either a beer or a boner, it's understandable that 'her people' turned it down (not that she's shied away from raunchy).
Tillman can sing too, as he shows on bombastic '80s synth-pop 'Sunshine', with its wiry funk line, even if he can't hit a falsetto; not for lack of trying on 'I Got Next's' cheap electro and the anti-gangsta 'Gangsters Want To Cuddle Me'. Most of the time though, he employs MCing that's worse than amateur to spin grim innuendo ("let me taste your apple sauce") or unleash streams of nonsense ('Creative Juices' references everything from Motley Crue to 'Streetcar Named Desire').
Despite the flaws, there are fun moments when Har Mar's crotch isn't the centre of attention. 'Dope, Man' is an upbeat Jackson 5 song reimagined by a sleazy small-time drug dealer, and the feisty punk-funk on 'Girls Only' and 'Turn The Key' turns down the sex factor. On the final track, Har Mar pledges to "keep our dancefloors burning", shame he doesn't do it more often.
Listen: www.myspace.com/harmarsuperstar
Tracklist:
1. Intro
2. Sunshine
3. I Got Next
4. Tall Boy
5. Turn It Around
6. Game Night
7. Gangsters Want To Cuddle Me
8. Creative Juices
9. Don't Ask, Don't Tell
10. Dope, Man
11. Girls Only
12. Almond Joy
13. Turn The Key
Review - Tiger Please - They Don't Change Under Moonlight
Tiger Please - They Don't Change Under Moonlight
View The Review
7 out of 10
Cardiff five-piece Tiger Please are the latest among a crop of fine young Welsh rock bands with the potential to make quite a fuss in the next few years - alongside Kids In Glass Houses, The Blackout, Twin Attack and Attack! Attack! (whose singer Neil Star appears on rousing, should-be hit 'Without Country').
It's early days for Tiger Please, but they already have a sound well suited for bigger venues than the Jailhouse in Hereford, taking notes from Pearl Jam, 'Only By The Night', early Snow Patrol and mid-80s U2 about pulling off rock extravagant moves. Even this 'mini-album' thinks big. Half the tracks are interludes (although some of them, such as 'Set Sail' are as emotionally charged as any full song) but 'They Don't Change Under Moonlight' is almost 30 minutes, and well worth it for most them.
'Strawberry Moon' is built upon a pulsing, Edge-style riff but singer Leon's gruff 'n' ready voice and the collective male harmonies of the rest of the band give it more muscle. Melodies and feeling dominate 'They Don't Change...' more than the lyrics, as on the most successful Coldplay and Snow Patrol records, and the upbeat, grown-up punk-pop of 'The Armada' and the crashing finale 'Lights And Sound' stick in the memory almost as much as the tunes of messrs Lightbody and Martin.
If Tiger Please can push their sound beyond those of their influences, as on the loose alt. rock of 'This Side Of Town', the Next Big Things will be citing them as inspiration.
Listen: www.myspace.com/tigerplease
Tracklist:
1. Intro
2. Strawberry Moon
3. Set Sail
4. The Armada
5. Let Me In
6. There's No Hero In Heroin
7. City Lights
8. Without Country
9. Interlude
10. This Side Of This Town
11. Lullabye
12. Lights And Sound
Review - El Dog - Let It Snow (Single)
El Dog - Let It Snow (Single)
View The Review
3 out of 10
Probably the best that can be said about this, the Christmas single from the purveyors of one of this year's best debut albums, is that it's nothing like the original. What it is like, however, is turgid, fuzzed-up Scots indie with no discernable guts, humour or imagination. A great pity - the humour the band show on their original stuff is totally absent, the performance is lacklustre to say the least - it's almost as if they wanted to sound boring. Maybe they did.
Listen: www.myspace.com/eldogmusic
Tracklist:
1. Let It Snow
Review - Jesaiah - Et Tu Hope
Jesaiah - Et Tu Hope
View The Review
7 out of 10
Like the short sighted, pig ignorant, deformed child that keeps eating sweets until he throws up and destroys all his teeth, modern metalcore has been over spilling its boundaries for the last few years. Floods of identikit bands and unimaginative trends have seen fit to bombard us with far too many bands that you can happily cross the street to avoid. So I always have very little enthusiasm for new releases that contain the phrase "hardcore metal" in the PR sheet.
Sweden's Jesaiah (I don't know?) were almost about to receive the usual rant about boredom inducing metalcore, but being a professional! I gave it another listen, followed by another, and it clicked somewhat.
You see, my appreciation for modern hardcore metal extends to very few bands. One of those is The Chariot. Now Jesaiah are obviously fans of the Stateside monsters as there are so many moments on "Et Tu Hope" that sound like something of The Chariot's debut. Squeaky, chugging, discordant, topsy turvy riffs are thrown alongside the more standard chugging elements. They manage to avoid mediocrity setting in too much with enough tempo changing and dynamics but it still drops off the radar of interest at times.
Fans of this sort of stuff will no doubt like it, and if you enjoy The Chariot and what not there should be something to sink your teeth into here.
Listen: www.myspace.com/jesaiahband
Tracklist:
1. Fill Your Hands With Chaos
2. This Night, We Share Every Breath
3. We're Almost Dead, No Time For Rational Thinking
4. Deflower me
5. Music Noir
6. L'ame, Prison Du Corps
7. Great Big Whale
8. I'm Saving My Flower For You Goatboy
9. Let's Dance Under A Sky Of Distortion
10. And Sing To The Tunes of The End
Review - Bad For Lazarus - Old Rats On A New Ship (Single)
Bad For Lazarus - Old Rats On A New Ship (Single)
View The Review
7 out of 10
I bet this band curse Natasha Khan. Anyway, what do they sound like? Well, on this, their debut release, it's as if Houses of the Holy-era Zeppelin and Beefheart had decided to cover the Black Keys' cover of Grown So Ugly with Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. At midnight. In a sewer. Under a graveyard. Pretty dirty good, in other words. They're more new rats on an old ship but let's not dwell on that - turn the lights off and make sure you still know where your poison of choice is.
Listen: www.myspace.com/badforlazarus
Tracklist:
1. Old Rats On A New Ship
2. Kemptown Animal
Review - Snow Patrol - Just Say Yes (Single)
Snow Patrol - Just Say Yes (Single)
View The Review
2 out of 10
This band used to be interesting before they decided to drag along in the wake of the Coldplay trawler. Oh, well. You can't go back. They're gearing up for a few dates in large concert halls and the release of an uber-fan's wet dream of a box set. This is one of the three new songs from the said behemoth (the rest being a 'greatest hits' / 'rarities'-type thing) and, yes, it's yet another Snowplay.
Sounding not unlike something from X & Y, this is an inoffensive keyboard-driven trill through something to make girlfriends, mums and grans sigh a bit. Again. Why anyone else would bother is beyond me but there you go - millions watch the sewage that pours from their televisions every night, so what do I know? Personally, I would rather file my teeth on the arse of a seagull, so I think I'll just say 'no' very loudly until they go away.
Listen: www.snowpatrol.com
Tracklist:
1. Just Say Yes (Radio Edit)
2. Just Say Yes (Instrumental)
Review - Trippy Wicked & the Cosmic Children of the Knight - Movin On
Trippy Wicked & the Cosmic Children of the Knight - Movin On
View The Review
6 out of 10
Now, according to the note that arrived with the PR sheet, Trippy Wicked got picked on a bit for sounding to much like Sabbath on their last release by this very site. Well, in the defence of this album, it has a whole lot more to it than just aping Sabbath (and it's all relevant isn't it? Everything is descended from the Brum masters).
Trippy Wicked straddle a fuzzed out area of the stoner/doom kingdom that isn't afraid to branch out slightly. They incorporate elements of blues and southern rock into the mix. "Southern" and "Sea Shanty" are good indications of this. While the heavier elements remind of Electric Wizard's more cohesive parts or the less aggro elements of Iron Monkey. Don't let that last name fool you, they are a far more melodic proposition than that, mostly in part down to the vocals which stop it straying outside the confines of their sound.
It's a cohesive enough album with variation. Sadly that variation doesn't stop it dragging along at times. You get the feeling it could do with being heavier in places and mellower in others. Still, it makes a good driving album.
Listen: www.myspace.com/trippywicked
Tracklist:
1. Movin on
2. Sea Shanty
3. Fire
4. Southern
5. Echoes
6. Innocence
7. Not What You Know
8. Clothes on My Floor
9. The Water
10. Because Of You
News - Alphabeat Will Support Lady Gaga
Alphabeat will support Lady Gaga on her UK tour next year:
Thursday 18 February Manchester MEN Arena
Wednesday 24 February Liverpool Arena
Friday 26 February London O2
Friday 27 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
Thursday, 19 November 2009
News - DragonForce Special Edition Album Re-Releases
DragonForce are going to have their first two studio albums - "Valley Of The Damned" & "Sonic Firestorm" - re-issued on the 22nd of February 2010 through Spinefarm Records UK. Both titles will now be available with updated packaging and bonus audio/DVD content, some of it exclusive to these releases.
Headline tour dates with support coming from Sabaton, Sylosis & Glamour Of The Kill:
20.11 Reading - Hexagon
21.11 Southend - Cliffs
23.11 Southampton -Guildhall
24.11 Truro - Hall for Cornwall
25.11 Bristol - University
26.11 Wolverhampton - Wulfrun Hall
28.11 Preston - 53 Degrees
29.11 Bradford - St. Georges Hall
30.11 Sheffield - Academy
01.12 Hanley - Victoria Hall
03.12 Glasgow - Barrowlands
04.12 Dundee - Fat Sam’s
05.12 Inverness - Iron Works
07.12 Middlesborough - Empire
08.12 Cambridge - Corn Exchange
10.12 Lincoln - Engine Shed
11.12 Manchester - Academy
12.12 Liverpool - Academy
News - Amorphis 20th Anniversary DVD
Amorphis will release their first-ever live DVD in the spring of 2010 through Nuclear Blast Records. The filming will take place on the 20th of November at Club Teatria in Oulu/Finland.
News - Shoes And Socks Off Album Launch
Shoes And Socks Off’s (Tobias Hayes ex-Meet Me In St Louis) new album "Where The Skyline Is Fortified With Windows And Doors" will be released on the 14th of December through Big Scary Monsters Recording Company.
News - Kevin Devine vs Shoes And Socks Off
Kevin Devine and Shoes And Socks Off are joining forces and hitting venues all over the UK.
30.11 - Manchester, Deaf Institute
01.12 - Oxford, Academy 2
02.12 - Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach
03.12 - Southampton, Hamptons
04.12 - Birmingham, Academy 3
06.12 - London, The Borderline
07.12 - Leeds, The Cockpit
08.12 - Glasgow, Captain's Rest
09.12 - Norwich, Arts Centre
Tickets for all shows are available from http://www.artistticket.com/link/?s=kevin+devine
News - New Education - Arcane
New Education will release their new single "Arcane" on the 7th of December through KIDS Records.
Live dates:
27 November LEEDS Cockpit
1 December YORK Fibbers
2 December NEWCASTLE The End
3 December KINGSTON New Slang @ McKluskys
5 December SHEFFIELD University
7 December GLASGOW Captains Rest
10 December BATH Moles Club
11 December CREWE The Box
12 December STAFFORDSHIRE University
15 December BRIGHTON Jam
16 December CARDIFF Clwb Ifor Bach
17 December HITCHIN Remix
19 December SOUTHAMPTON Lennons
20 December BIRMINGHAM Academy 3
21 December MANCHESTER Moho Live
31 December STOKE Underground
News - Don’t Hold You Me At Six Down...
You Me At Six’s new album "Hold Me Down" will be released on the 11th of January through Virgin Records.
Live dates:
December 2009 - as guests to Paramore
10th - Glasgow, SECC Arena
11th - Birmingham, NIA
12th - Dublin, O2 Point
14th - Cardiff, CIA
16th - Manchester, MEN Arena
17th - Brighton, Centre
18th - London, Wembley Arena
March 2010 - headline tour
9th - Birmingham, O2 Academy
10th - Newport, Centre
11th - Sheffield, O2 Academy
12th - Manchester, Apollo
13th - Newcastle, O2 Academy
14th - Glasgow, O2 Academy
16th - Leeds, O2 Academy
17th - Nottingham Rock City
18th - Southampton, Guildhall
19th - Norwich, UEA
20th - London, Brixton O2 Academy
News - Sylosis In The Studio
Sylosis have entered the studio last Friday to record their new album with Scott Atkins.
Commented mainman Josh Middleton: "We’re ridiculously excited about starting work on the next album. We’re definitely progressing as a band, incorporating some new influences to make an album that’s more mature, darker and generally a lot heavier. I’ve been writing riffs thinking things like "what if (TOOL guitarist) Adam Jones played guitar in DEATH" haha. The songs are a little longer this time around and a bit more complex and technical which is something that’s just happened naturally.
We’re just about to start tracking the drums for ten days with producer Scott Atkins. We contemplated using other producers but we all really enjoyed working with Scott and we were really happy with the production on the last album. He really pushes for tightness and understands where we’re coming from musically. In terms of the production, this time we’re going to aim for a much more organic, raw sound. Rob ’s really progressed as a drummer in the last year so I can’t wait to hear him lay this stuff down in the studio. Once the drums are complete we head off on tour with DRAGONFORCE so we wont end up recording the guitars, bass and vocals etc until January."
Sylosis are going on tour with Dragonforce at the following shows:
20.11 Reading - Hexagon
21.11 Southend - Cliffs
23.11 Southampton -Guildhall
24.11 Truro - Hall for Cornwall
25.11 Bristol - University
26.11 Wolverhampton - Wulfrun Hall
28.11 Preston - 53 Degrees
29.11 Bradford - St. Georges Hall
30.11 Sheffield - Academy
01.12 Hanley - Victoria Hall
03.12 Glasgow - Barrowlands
04.12 Dundee - Fat Sam’s
05.12 Inverness - Iron Works
07.12 Middlesborough - Empire
08.12 Cambridge - Corn Exchange
10.12 Lincoln - Engine Shed
11.12 Manchester - Academy
12.12 Liverpool - Academy
Sylosis headline the London Garage on December 16th.
News - Overkill To Tour The UK 2010
Overkill have recently announced UK dates for February 2010. Their new album "Ironbound" will be out on the 1st of February through Nuclear Blast Records.
24.02. UK - Wolverhampton - Wulfrun
25.02. UK - London - O2 Academy Islington
News - OK Go - Of The Blue Colour Of The Sky
OK Go’s new album "Of The Blue Colour Of The Sky" will be released on the 1st of February 2010 through Hornblow Records/EMI.
Track Listing:
1. WTF?
2. This Too Shall Pass
3. All Is Not Lost
4. Needing/Getting
5. Skyscrapers
6. White Knuckles
7. I Want You So Bad I Can’t Breathe
8. End Love
9. Before The Earth Was Round
10. Last Leaf
11. Back From Kathmandu
12. While You Were Asleep
13. In The Glass
Tour dates:
11th Jan - The Waterfront, Norwich
12th Jan - O2 Academy Birmingham, Birmingham
13th Jan - Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London
14th Jan - Concorde 2, Brighton
16th Jan - O2 Academy Sheffield, Sheffield
17th Jan - O2 Academy Liverpool, Liverpool
18th Jan - O2 ABC Glasgow, Glasgow
News - Chris T-T New Album & March Tour
Chris T-T is releasing his new album "Love Is Not Rescue" on the 15th of March 2010 through Xtra Mile Recordings.
Live dates:
MARCH
6 Winchester, The Tower £6
7 Portsmouth, Eastney Cellars £6
9 Bristol, The Croft £5
10 Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach £6
11 Oxford, Jericho Tavern £6
12 Cambridge, Portland Arms £5
13 Norwich, The Marquee £6
14 Nottingham, Bodega £6
15 Birmingham, Academy 3 £6
17 Hull, The Adelphi £5
19 Teesdale, Club Cotherstone £5
20 Edinburgh, Sneaky Pete's £6
21 Glasgow, The 13th Note £6
24 London, Slaughtered Lamb £7
25 Tunbridge Wells, The Forum £7
26 Canterbury, The Farmhouse £6
27 Brighton, Freebutt £6
News - Thirty Seconds To Mars Live Dates
Thirty Seconds To Mars have some new live dates in February 2010 scheduled:
Friday 19th - Nottingham Trent FM Arena - 0844 4124 624
Saturday 20th - Manchester Evening News Arena - 0844 847 8000
Sunday 21st - Cardiff International Arena - 029 2022 4488
Tuesday 23rd - London, Wembley Arena - 0844 815 0815
Saturday 27th - Glasgow, SECC - 0844 4999 990
News - SpeakYourHeart: This Is How We Communicate
SpeakYourHeart’s new album called "This Is How We Communicate" will be released in late January / early February 2010.
Track Listing:
1. Oh Brother We’re Art Now
2. This Is the Call
3. If I Quit Breathing
4. There Are More Important Things
5. Understand This Is A Dream - Part 1
6. Werewolves and Night Skies Are the Reasons I Can’t
7. Understand This Is A Dream - Part 2
8. Living Like a Car Crash
9. In The Scene That Follows an Argument
10. Can We At Least Try to Remember?
11. Tell the Men We’re Sinking
News - All Time Low - iTunes Live Session EP
All Time Low have released a new digital EP through iTunes called "iTunes Live Session EP". It was recorded in New York City.
Track Listing:
1. Weightless
2. Stella
3. Break Your Little Heart
4. Damned If I Do Ya (Damned If I Don’t)
5. Lost In Stereo
6. Dear Maria, Count Me In
News - Dillinger Four UK Shows
Dillinger Four have the following UK shows lined up for December:
12/10/09 London, UK - Underworld w/ Hard Skin, The Zatopeks and The Arteries
12/11/09 Exeter, UK - The Cavern w/ The Shitty Limits and Annalise
12/12/09 Bristol, UK - Fiddlers w/ The Cut Ups, The Arteries and The Social
12/14/09 Brighton, UK - Engine Rooms w/ Hard Skin, Four Letter Word and Southport
12/15/09 Newcastle, UK - Ouseburn House Community Centre w/ Leatherface, Cop Out, Offshore Radio and Pure Graft
12/16/09 Glasgow, Scotland - Stereo w/ The Murderburgers, The Terrors and A Lost Generation
12/17/09 Leeds, UK - Brudenell Social Club w/ Leatherface, The Magnificent and Offshore Radio
News - Dead To Me European Tour
Dead To Me are going on tour of Europe with Strike Anywhere throughout December:
12/09/09 Tilburg, Netherlands - Club 013
12/10/09 Amsterdam, Netherlands - Melkweg
12/11/09 Antwerp, Belgium- Trix with Drag The River and Chris Wollard & The Ship Thieves
12/12/09 Paris, France - La Bellevilloise with Guerilla Poubelle
12/13/09 Trier, Germany - ExHaus
12/14/09 Zürich, Switzerland - Dynamo
12/15/09 Lindau, Germany - Club Vaudeville
12/16/09 Vienna, Austria - Arena
12/17/09 Regensburg, Germany - Alte Mälzerei
12/18/09 Prague, Czech Republic - Club 007
12/19/09 Annaberg-B., Germany - Alte Brauerei
12/20/09 Berlin, Germany - Magnet
Tuesday, 17 November 2009
News - Trash Talk Support Fucked Up
Trash Talk will be supporting Fucked Up at the first of their two Barfly shows the band have just announced on Wednesday 25th November.
Live dates:
NOVEMBER (*w/GALLOWS)
25th - London - Barfly (w/ Fucked Up & Throats)
26th - Northampton - Roadmender*
27th - Coventry - Kasbah*
28th - Liverpool - Academy 2*
29th - Aberdeen - Moshulu*
30th - Dundee - Fat Sams*
DECEMBER
2nd - Middlesbrough - Empire*
3rd - York - Duchess*
4th - Stoke - Sugarmill*
5th - Derby - Rockhouse*
7th - Newport - TJs*
8th - Exeter - Lemon Grove*
9th - Falmouth - Pavillions*
10th - Bournemouth - Old Fire Station*
12th - Kingston - The Peel*
13th - Colchester - Arts Centre*
14th - Cambridge - Junction*
15th - London - Buffalo Bar (HEADLINE SHOW)
News - Athlete On Tour
Athlete are playing some shows in November and December:
21 Nov Southampton University
4 Dec Bristol Anson Rooms
5 Dec Glasgow ABC
6 Dec Manchester Ritz
8 Dec London Shepherds Bush Empire
9 Dec London Shepherds Bush Empire
10 Dec Wolverhampton Wulfrun Hall
News - You Just Killed The Joke
Killing Joke have signed a deal with Spinefarm Records which will see a new set of recordings (title to be confirmed) released in April 2010.
Live dates:
April
15 - UK - Picture House, Edinburgh
16 - UK - Hammersmith Apollo, London
News - The Temper Trap - Fader
The Temper Trap will release their new single "Fader" on the 4th of January. They have the following live shows lined up:
6 December Belfast, Ulster Hall (with Florence & the Machine)
7 December Dublin, Olympia Theatre "
9 December Glasgow, O2 Academy "
10 December Manchester, Apollo "
11 December Lincoln, Engine Shed "
13 December London, Brixton Academy "
14 December London, Brixton Academy "
16 December London, Brixton Academy (XFM Winter Wonderland)
21 December London, Koko SOLD OUT
27 April Bournemouth, O2 Academy 08444 772000
28 April London, O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire SOLD OUT
29 April London, O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire SOLD OUT
30 April London, O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire 08444 772000
2 May Cardiff, University 02920 781458
3 May Nottingham, Rock City 08713 100000
4 May Birmingham, O2 Academy 08444 772000
5 May Norwich, UEA 01603 508050
7 May Liverpool, O2 Academy 08444 772000
9 May Manchester, Academy 01618 321111
10 May Newcastle, O2 Academy 08444 772000
11 May Leeds, O2 Academy 08444 772000
13 May Glasgow, ABC 08444 999990
14 May Edinburgh, HMV Picture House 08444 999990
News - Phantom Communique (ex-Bleed The Dream)
Phantom Communique (formed by former Bleed The Dream singer Brandon Thomas) will release their album "The Wolf And The Sheep" on the 23rd of February 2010 through American Voodoo Records.
Monday, 16 November 2009
Review - Snow Patrol - Up To Now
Snow Patrol - Up To Now
View The Review
7 out of 10
Once upon a time Snow Patrol were struggling musicians. Honestly it's true. So in the spirit of goodwill and economic slow down the band has definitely not decided to release a 'Greatest Hits'. Look it's not even got a mention of it in the title, so it's defiantly not a collection of songs you've already got. And it's definitely not come out just because it's nearly Christmas. Oh no sir.
So scandalous rumours out of the way, lets get down to some facts. 'Up To Now' showcases the bands five studio albums, including some songs that might seem new, but were just on albums prior to Final Straw and some songs which actually are new.
I find it odd that in the age of MP3 players that these sorts of retrospectives even exist, let alone are popular. Then I take into account just quite how lazy the average British citizen is and it suddenly doesn't seem so surprising. I mean I can understand when we had to piss around with the irony that was a portable CD player, but now really? All the songs are already there in one place.
I suppose this carries the added advantage of not feeling left out when the band announce there going to play an "old one now". Which is invariably is 'Starfighter'. With thirty tracks overall your getting a good whack of Snow Patrol, but perhaps most disappointing is the initial over reliance on material from the latest albums. That and the most awkward white boy rapping on the 'Crazy In Love' cover. Obviously 'Chasing Cars' et al have a place but the couple of tracks from 'When It's All Over We Still Have To Clear Up' sound a little tacked on.
This is definitely a shame, because if anything they provide a more interesting insight into a band on the cusp of greatness. They might not have the production of the big hitters, but as the rerecorded version of the 'Planets Bend Between Us' shows. The ideas were already in place and formulating.
Not that the band probably need to be unduly concerned with back catalogue sales, new single 'Just Say Yes' suggests that the bands future is more than rosy. I look forward to 'From Now to Even Nower' which is inevitable (even if that title definitely isn't). Cynicism aside it's plenty of Snow Patrol for your money, and while for some people it's the equivalent of waterboarding, you can't go far wrong with a very solid selection of songs. It just about manages to showcase another side than the "popular" version of the band too.
Listen: www.myspace.com/snowpatrol
Tracklist:
Disk 1:
1. Chocolate
2. Chasing Cars
3. Crack The Shutters
4. Set The Fire To The Third Bar - Snow Patrol, Martha Wainwright
5. Crazy In Love
6. Just Say Yes
7. Batten Down The Hatch
8. You’re All I Have
9. Hands Open
10. Cartwheels - The Reindeer Section
11. The Planets Bend Between Us
12. Ask Me How I Am
13. On/Off 14. Making Enemies
15. Run
Disk 2:
1. Take Back The City
2. Shut Your Eyes
3. An Olive Grove Facing The Sea
4. Run
5. Give Me Strength
6. Signal Fire
7. Spitting Games
8. Open Your Eyes
9. Dark Roman Wine
10. Fifteen Minutes Old
11. You Are My Joy - The Reindeer Section
12. The Golden Floor
13. Starfighter Pilot
14. PPP
15. Chasing Cars
Review - Twin Atlantic - What Is Light? Where Is Laughter? (Single)
Twin Atlantic - What Is Light? Where Is Laughter? (Single)
View The Review
6 out of 10
There's rarely much messing about north of the border and Glasgow's Twin Atlantic are no exception. What Is Light?. . . is straight-ahead pop guitar punch, a bit fuzzy Clyro, a bit Cuddly Shark, with offcuts of Teenage Fanclub in their more shouty moments. Epic times may be ahead. Plus, the band's front man is named Sam McTrusty. You can't argue with that.
Listen: www.myspace.com/twinatlantic
Tracklist:
1. What Is Light? Where Is Laughter?
Review - Various - NME The Album 2009
Various - NME The Album 2009
View The Review
3 out of 10
Death, taxes, Christmas, the NME compilation album. All have their own smell, all are inevitable. Here is your bluffer's guide to Cool, or forty reasons to scream into the night, if you'd rather. The chosen few tracks from the arch taste-makers, ensuring student nights throughout the country sound identical, wherever you are - the musical equivalent of every town having a Starbucks and KFC. Even the presence of Graham C and Karen O can't save it. They're pearls amongst swine.
As always, the NME have concentrated so much on keeping their scabby lips fastened around the insipid erection of Cool, they've forgotten about the music being any good. If there was an 'indie' X-Factor, this would be its soundtrack - the sound of millions of kids doing what they're told. Where are 2009's bands from Brew? Kranky? Gringo? Southern? Now that's what I call music.
Website: www.nme.com
Tracklist:
Disc 1:
1. Muse : 'Uprising'
2. Kasabian : 'Fire'
3. Friendly Fires : 'Kiss Of Life'
4. Temper Trap : 'Sweet Disposition'
5. Yeah Yeah Yeahs : 'Zero'
6. Jamie T : 'Sticks & Stones'
7. The Big Pink : 'Dominos'
8. Maximo Park : 'In Another World'
9. The Enemy : 'Be Somebody'
10. Franz Ferdinand : 'Ulysses'
11. White Lies : 'Death'
12. Passion Pit : 'The Reeling'
13. The Maccabees : 'No Kind Words'
14. Gossip : 'Love Long Distance'
15. Jack Penate : 'Tonight's Today'
16. Peter Doherty : 'Last of the English Roses'
17. Esser : 'Headlock'
18. The Virgins : 'Private Affair'
19. The Cribs : 'Cheat On Me'
20. Gallows : 'I Dread The Night'
Disc 2:
1. Biffy Clyro : 'That Golden Rule'
2. Paramore : 'Ignorance'
3. Green Day : 'Know Your Enemy'
4. The Prodigy : 'Warrior Dance'
5. Enter Shikari : 'No Sleep Tonight'
6. The Horrors : 'Who Can Say'
7. The View : '5 Rebeccas'
8. Ian Brown : 'Stellify'
9. Bombay Bicycle Club : 'The Hill'
10. Howling Bells : 'Into The Chaos'
11. Little Boots : 'Remedy'
12. Marmaduke Duke : 'Je Suis Un Funky Homme'
13. Marina & The Diamonds : 'Obsessions'
14. Animal Collective : 'My Girls'
15. Danananananananakroyd : 'Back Wax'
16. Golden Slivers : 'Please Venus'
17. Phoenix : '1901'
18. Manic Street Preachers : 'Peeled Apples'
19. Graham Coxon : 'Dead Bees'
20. Glasvegas : 'Flowers & Football Tops'
Review - Lily Allen - Who'd Have Known (Single)
Lily Allen - Who'd Have Known (Single)
View The Review
3 out of 10
So, Keith's little princess is leaving music behind because of all you freeloading bastards out there refusing to hand over your arms and legs for tunes. If this is her parting shot, it's come not a moment too soon. The chorus rips off Take That's Shine, for a start, which isn't something a pro-copyright crusader wants to be doing. But hold your fiery blog comments, for Messrs. Barlow, Donald, Orange and Owen have a writing credit. So that's alright, then. As for the rest, it's sub-romantic drivel for pregnant teenagers everywhere. Knocked-Up Rock, if you will.
Listen: www.myspace.com/lilymusic
Tracklist:
1. Who'd Have Known
2. Who'd Have Known (Instrumental)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)