The Beekeepers (f/t Mystro) – Queen Bee (Single Review)

Hip Hop is often (and I will make this point bleeding obvious right now that I’m not talking about ALL hip hop here) a conglomerate of the single biggest collection of overused ideas fused into a song. A bunch of people just shouting about how shitty their lives can be but how they’ve also got a Bentley, guns, bitches and sweet dollar dollar pouring from every orifice. Life is so incredibly tough, and pimpin’ ain’t easy. Too many rap artists get bogged down in what their music should sound like before going and having a war of words with another dude about something pointless. Not only that but a lot of artists make themselves out to be a lot tougher than they really are, especially when it comes to physicality with other human beings. I have no time for people who glorify mindless violence on someone else because it’s got crunk bass and a catchy hook. So, thank all that is holy for this offering from the Beekeepers and UK maestro, Mystro.

Written by: James Ball | Date: Monday, 11 July 2011

Hop Farm Festival - July 1st - July 3rd 2011 (Review)

"We got so many hits we’ll be here ‘til this time next year," roared self-styled funkster PRINCE as he reached the climax of an unforgettable two and a half hour musical marathon at Hop Farm Festival on Sunday evening.

Written by: Mark Molloy & James Conlon | Date: Thursday, 07 July 2011

The Suzukis ‘The Suzukis’ (Album Review)

Following in the footsteps of Northern Soul, The Verve and, uh, Starsailor, indie rock quartet The Suzukis are pressing forward to carry Wigan’s music scene further into the new decade. After a few singles, a handful of well-received live shows and an increasingly loud buzz, which has been surrounding the band like a swarm of flies in recent months, The Suzukis are finally here with their eponymous debut album. Unlike their Wigan predecessors though, these four young hopefuls have been turning everything up, putting the edge back on and generally shrugging their shoulders at anyone that likes things a bit too nice. Yes, The Suzukis are here and they mean business.

Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Wednesday, 06 July 2011

Liam Bailey ‘It’s Not the Same’ (EP Review)

While Amy Winehouse continues to keep us in suspense during her prolonged absence, the path remains relatively clear for a contender to the contemporary soul music crown. Although Adele is sitting comfortably ahead of the game as the current queen of British soul, Nottingham’s Liam Bailey is stepping in to take his position as a suitable king. Not in a literal sense, of course, but as you will discover upon first listen of his new EP ‘It’s Not the Same’, Bailey provides more than enough reason to stand out amongst the handful of good male soul singers around at the moment.

Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Wednesday, 06 July 2011

Cars 2 - Original Soundtrack (Album Review)

Often the best thing about a soundtrack is the variation it gives you. Different artists with different styles but all following a similar theme, that theme being the film. Of course there is such a thing as too much variation.

Written by: Craig Willis | Date: Wednesday, 06 July 2011

Goodluck Jonathan - This Is Our Way Out (Album Review)

With a name like “Goodluck Jonathan”, I partially want them to deliver a terrible album, just so I can use the finisher “because you’re seriously going to need it!” Sadly, however, that’s not going to be any likelihood as, for all intents and purposes, this album’s pretty damn good.

Written by: James Ball | Date: Tuesday, 05 July 2011

CATS AND CATS AND CATS - Mother Whale (Album Review)

Cats and Cats and Cats are one of those bands that it’s genuinely quite hard not to like. There’s something rather endearing about their unique spray of infectious math rock. Not ones to shy away from the more unusual, 'Mother Whale' sees Cats and Cats and Cats throw everything out of their palette and onto the canvas.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Tuesday, 05 July 2011

Joel Sarakula - Bohemian (single review)

Sienna Miller sort of dressed like one in 2007. The Dandy Warhols wanted to be one, like you. They’ve even got their very own rhapsody. Now Australian singer-songwriter Joel Sarakula has written a song about bohemians, and a fine little song it is too.

Written by: V O'Hagan | Date: Monday, 04 July 2011

Taking Back Sunday - Taking Back Sunday (Album Review)

It’s been rather a tumultuous time in Taking Back Sunday as of 2010. With the unexpected departure of both Matt Rubano and Matt Fazzi, fans were left pondering where the band would go from there. In an even more unexpected twist, John Nolan and Shaun Cooper from the band's ‘Tell All Your Friends’ era returned to the fold and now the band are back on top form. Does this reunited line-up mean their latest, self-titled release is a sequel to the album they worked together on all those years ago? Not in the slightest. In fact, this album is a breath of fresh air.

Written by: Heather McDaid | Date: Monday, 04 July 2011

Def Leppard ‘Mirror Ball – Live & More’ (Album Review)

Fresh from their recent headlining performance at this year’s Download Festival, Sheffield rockers Def Leppard are back with their newest offering ‘Mirror Ball’. It may come as a surprise to many that, after more than 30 years, nine albums, countless world tours and hit singles, this is the band’s first-ever live album. Recorded at various dates following the 2008 release of their ninth album ‘Songs from the Sparkle Lounge’, ‘Mirror Ball’ features live versions of 21 tracks from Def Leppard’s 30-year back catalogue. Diehard Leppard fans will be pleased to hear that, not only are they getting a fantastic live double-album for their money, but also three brand-new studio tracks, ‘Undefeated’, ‘Kings of the World’ and ‘It’s All About Believing’. Newer additions to the Def Leppard fanbase, on the other hand, should find that this doubles as an ideal ‘best of’ compilation, encompassing the majority of the band’s biggest hits from the ‘80s and ‘90s, as well as a smaller selection of their more recent material.

Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Monday, 04 July 2011

Lil Daggers – King Corpse (EP Review)

Lil Daggers were formed in Miami, Florida in 2008 and they immediately strike a chord on this 4-track 'King Corpse' EP, creating a powerful and effective sound that draws from a variety influences including Garage, Punk, Psych-rock and Surf.

Written by: Lee Johnston | Date: Thursday, 30 June 2011

Cuba Cuba – Where Else Is Safe But The Road? (Album Review)

The past year in British music has seen the demise of the guitar band in the music charts, replaced with grime-pop artists such as Tinie Tempa and Tinchy Stryder. Flash back five years ago and it was a different scenario altogether. With Arctic Monkeys as a guide, British music had not seen the same surge of indie chart success since brit-pop.

Written by: Michelle Kambasha | Date: Thursday, 30 June 2011

Grouplove – Itchin’ on a Photograph (Single Review)

‘Itchin' on a Photograph’ is a great pop song. A type of song that is largely ill-produced in our current musical climate, particularly in America. Attention is concentrated on stadium filling bands, be it Kings of Leon, The Killers or Coldplay. However, up-and-coming LA band Grouplove are bringing back good old catchy rock with the release of new single 'Itchin' on a Photograph'.

Written by: Michelle Kambasha | Date: Thursday, 30 June 2011

Atmosphere - Family Sign (Album Review)

Atmosphere is the stage name of Minnesota rapper/DJ duo Sean Daley (Slug) and Anthony Davis (Ant). Their sixth album, their first in three years, is titled ‘Family Sign’.  For the new album Slug and Ant are joined by Nate “The Guitar Man” Collins (guitar) and Erick Anderson (keys). Collins’ guitar work helps give a bluesy, gritty feel to the album alongside Anderson’s piano work adding texture rather than melody. All the while Ant keeps the bands minimalist stripped back Hip Hop sound.

Written by: Lee Johnston | Date: Monday, 27 June 2011

Taking Back Sunday - Faith (When I Let You Down) (Single Review)

This song has been released over and over and over again for the last ten years by a whole ream of bands who all sound exactly like this. New Found Glory wrote ‘My Friends Over You’, then Bowling For Soup wrote ‘Girl all the Bad Guys Want’ and then Sum 41 wrote ‘Fat Lip’ and then all of a sudden every snotty kid in America just had to be in an angsty pop-punk band. Well, that’s what we called it back then; except the only thing “punk” about this is that you start to hope that Ashton Kutcher is about to pop out from behind your wardrobe with a camera crew telling you it’s all a joke.

Written by: James Ball | Date: Monday, 27 June 2011

Duane Eddy - Road Trip (Album Review)

Duane Eddy has been noted as an influence for the likes of Sir Paul McCartney, Jimmy Page, Bruce Springsteen, Hank Marvin and Ry Cooder, among others. Who else in musical history can boast a list like that?

Written by: James Ball | Date: Monday, 27 June 2011

Scumbag Philosopher – It Means Nothing So It Means Nothing (Album Review)

This is officially the hardest review I’ve ever written. So congratulations to Scumbag Philosopher for that.

Written by: James Ball | Date: Monday, 27 June 2011

Little Barrie - King Of The Waves (Album Review)

There’s every chance you’ve never heard of Little Barrie yet so it’s easy to assume this is a debut album. However, ‘King Of The Waves’ is actually their third and it’s their best yet.

Written by: Dave Ball | Date: Monday, 27 June 2011

Gary Nock - Make it Better (Single Review)

It may be known by most as 'the mars advert song', but 'Make it Better' is so much more than just an ad backing track. This three and a half minute acoustic beauty is warming, original and just 100% adorable.

Written by: Sophie Monk | Date: Monday, 27 June 2011

The Answer - 412 Days of Rock ‘n’  Roll (DVD Review)

Personally, one of the most interesting ways to discover the true workings of a band is to watch a DVD of theirs without any preconceived notions of the band in question. With this in mind, The Answer’s ‘412 Days of Rock ‘n’ Roll’ can be considered my crash course 1.01 for the hard-rock foursome and, in turn, a DVD that turned out to be pretty enjoyable.

Written by: Heather McDaid | Date: Monday, 27 June 2011