Ozzy Osbourne - Blizzard of Ozz/Diary of a Madman (Album Reviews)

Call him what you will: the Godfather of Heavy Metal, the Prince of Darkness, that crazy guy who famously bit the head off a bat... the point is, regardless of the title of you choose to place upon Ozzy Osbourne, the man is legendary in his own right. Longstanding in the rock community, the Black Sabbath frontman is considered to be one of the pioneers of heavy metal. It is now, 30 years on from his first real solo efforts, that the feat is truly being celebrated.

Written by: Heather McDaid | Date: Sunday, 26 June 2011

Patrick Wolf - Lupercalia (Album Review)

People speak of Lady Gaga as the first since Madonna to successfully infuse great pop music with inspired pop style. This argument can be retorted simply with two words: Patrick Wolf. Talent does not separate the Gaga from the Wolf, rather media attention, fan base, sex and nationality. So why is it that with a sensational pop album in Lupercalia and his previous efforts has no-one asked Mr Wolf when his time was? Granted his last effort, The Bachelor was given mixed reviews with some stating its striking lack of focus. With this album, he returns triumphantly, not as an immature pop star but as an intelligent artist. Past aside, his time is now.

Written by: Michelle Kambasha | Date: Friday, 24 June 2011

The Avett Brothers - Shepherds Bush Empire, London - 22nd June 2011 (Live Review/Interview)

Banjos and double bass, do not a great folk band make, and I was sceptical at some of the labels that had been festooned on the boys from South Carolina (Bluegrass? Country? Punk?!).

Written by: Chris Norman | Date: Thursday, 23 June 2011

Pusha T - My God (Single Review)

Part of the once acclaimed Virginia Beach hip hop duo Clipse, Pusha T is a veteran rapper who’s been on the back burner for a while. Prematurely assuming his influence was dead set in the early 00’s Neptune’s revolution; he triumphantly emerged on that album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Somewhat a small fry in Pusha’s peak, Kanye West has blown the breath of life in his career. Now signed to West’s GOOD Music label (as well as Decon records), Pusha returns with a chip on his shoulder and a mark to make on this signature single.

Written by: Michelle Kambasha | Date: Thursday, 23 June 2011

Darren Hayes - Talk Talk Talk (Single Review)

What do Bob Hoskins, Darren Hayes and The Samaritans all have in common? Well, they all seem to have this crazy notion that talking to your loved ones is a good idea.

Written by: Victoria O'Hagan | Date: Thursday, 23 June 2011

The Monday Club - Up Is Up (EP Review)

Before this week I had never heard of The Monday Club and now I simply cannot get enough of them. The Sheffield band consists of Paul Hawksworth (Vocals & Lead Guitar), Darren Ullyett (Vocals & Guitar), Steve Scott (Bass) and Marc Wragg (Drums). They are an indie guitar rock outfit and are a complete breath of fresh air when you compare it against the likes of most of the drivel that currently resides in the UK chart these days.

Written by: Lee Johnston | Date: Thursday, 23 June 2011

Matthew P ‘The Breakfast EP’ (EP Review)

“Kick back, take it all a bit easier and get a taste of the beach life,” suggests Matthews P’s website in a brief step-by-step guide to the best way of enjoying his music. It’s not bad advice either, as you’ll discover when you first give this Suffolk-based solo artist’s new EP a quick listen. As opener ‘The Breakfast Song’ confirms, this truly is a chilled-out effort. The title song is a quirky, Dylanesque acoustic number, which features an air of ‘Don’t Worry, Be Happy’ in its gentle-paced melody. Matthew P croons his way through the track as a faint hip-hop beat retains a steady rhythm to the pleasantly sedate tempo of the music.

Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Wednesday, 22 June 2011

Alex Clare – The Lateness of the Hour (Album Review)

As far as debut album’s go, Alex Clare has already stirred up quite a fuss in the underground scene. Prior to the release of ‘The Lateness of the Hour’ Alex has had three singles and four videos to his name, not bad at all for the Island Records singer. The only way to define Alex Clare would be along the lines of a mixture of extremely soulful vocals, to be the envy of many singer/songwriters in the business, smoothly incorporated with heavy bass lines, courtesy of producers Diplo & Switch. On the surface this creation appears to be the next big thing, but looking deeper to the whole album, plenty more work needs to be put in by Mr. Clare to truly make it big.

Written by: Ryan Tinslay | Date: Wednesday, 22 June 2011

Benjamin Francis Leftwich - Last Smoke Before The Snowstorm (Album Review)

Now, I could begin this review with a short anecdote of how I once met a pre-fame Benjamin Francis Leftwich. It was at Green Man Festival last year, we shared some pre-festival drinks and discussed his dissapointment with The Flaming Lips, but I won’t bore you. In less than a year since then things have exploded for Leftwich. He’s been championed by Zane Lowe and Greg James on Radio 1 and is currently preparing for summer festivals including Green Man and perhaps most impressively Glastonbury.

Written by: Rhys Morgan | Date: Wednesday, 22 June 2011

The Feeling - Together We Were Made (Album Review)

So the band that brought us the pop classics ‘Fill My Little World’ and 'I Love It When You Call’ have gone all serious on us. Gone are the unashamedly catchy pop songs that won the band Brit and Q Award nominations and helped them sell two million records. The Feeling’s third album is a more modest affair and sees them attempt to explore their melancholy side.

Written by: Hayley Taylor | Date: Wednesday, 22 June 2011

Ren Harvieu - Through The Night (Single Review)

I was sent the album to review and felt a bit diddled because there’s only the title track on the C.D. If the marketing ploy is anything to go by, it seems like Island Records have something big here that they want to keep under wraps until it’s release date July 4th.

Written by: Alice Findlay | Date: Wednesday, 22 June 2011

Wonderland - Wonderland (Album Review)

Wonderland are the creation of Irish music mogul Louis Walsh and his one time protégé Kian Egan, the band were formed for reality TV program ‘The Next Big Thing’ which followed the band for two years as they prepared to launch their debut single.  Wonderland are a group made up of five singers picked from thousands of hopefuls - even though Kian is married to one of them (Jodi)!

Written by: Lee Johnston | Date: Wednesday, 22 June 2011

Pursuit Grooves - Frantically Hopeful (Album Review)

Forthcoming album from New York solo artist Pursuit Grooves 'Frantically Hopeful' is due for release on July 4th. Undoubtedly effortful production, Pursuit Grooves performs in all constructive elements; singing, M.C.ing song-writing and production.  Pursuit Grooves fuses together house, hip hop, trip hop, and electronica. It’s a good ambient album that’s for sure. If your in need of an hours peace and a contemplation time then this would be a good sound track for that indeed. She’s been credited for “a creative delivery of abstract electronic soul”. Abstract definitely.

Written by: Alice Findlay | Date: Wednesday, 22 June 2011

Grey Reverend - Of The Days (Album Review)

Grey Reverend is the solo project of singer, songwriter and composer L.D. Brown, who has enjoyed considerable success touring with British Jazz/Electronic outfit The Cinematic Orchestra (TCO) after befriending TCO’s founding member Jason Swincoe. ‘Of the Days’ is the first solo album of Brown’s to be released on Swincoe’s new label Motion Audio.

Written by: Lee Johnston | Date: Wednesday, 22 June 2011

The Good Natured ‘Skeleton’ (EP Review)

Previously, Berkshire three-piece The Good Natured have drawn comparisons to the likes of La Roux and Ladytron, thanks to their winning combination of infectious electro-pop with frontwoman Sarah McIntosh’s enchanting vocals. On this occasion however, for the title and lead track on their new EP ‘Skeleton’ – incidentally, their first release on a major label – The Good Natured have chosen what feels like a post-punk quality, more akin to the likes of indie-rockers Maximo Park. However, the haunting guitar intro and thundering drums soon give way to a rather more effervescent and catchy pop chorus, which bears similarity to a host of ‘80s dance tracks and hears McIntosh at her most melodic.

Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Tuesday, 21 June 2011

PS I Love You - Meet Me At The Muster Station (Album Review)

Listening to PS I Love You's debut album, 'Meet Me at the Muster Station', you'd be easily fooled into thinking you're listening to a four or five piece band. It came as a surprise to me then, to learn that this 'band' consists of only two people. I felt I needed to go and see PS I Love You in action, so when The Great Escape festival brought them to Brighton, I found myself inches away from a sweaty frontman Paul Saulnier and drummer Benjamin Nelson. What was intended to be an outlet for Saulnier's experimental pop songs - using loop pedals and synthesizers - was transformed in to an exciting experimental garage rock band with the addition of drummer Nelson and some seriously anthemic songs.

Written by: Emma Newlyn | Date: Tuesday, 21 June 2011

AWOLNATION - Megalithic Symphony (Album Review)

'Megalithic Symphony' is the forthcoming album from AWOLNATION solo project from Aaron Bruno, formerly of Under the Influence of Giants. The bumf that came with the review C.D. states the album is "sent from the future", unless it's regarding the time change I disagree. It is very on tap with now and of it's time, which is the present day don't you know.

Written by: Alice Findlay | Date: Tuesday, 21 June 2011

Heights - Dead Ends (Album Review)

“The people we used to be are dead to you and me” If you’re looking for pure, unbridled ferocity then Heights’ debut record is the place to come. It is rare for completely unrestrained anger to sound as utterly fantastic as this full-length from the Welwyn Garden City quintet. Having released the barnstorming, and freely available, EP 'The Land, The Ocean, The Distance' in 2009, Heights found themselves attracting the attention of hardcore enthusiasts up and down the country. The youngsters have quickly risen through seemingly constant touring and, in particular, festival slots afforded them by participation in the Red Bull Bedroom Jam competition last year. Having attracted attention from punters, the band then attracted the attention of the Mediaskare label and so 'Dead Ends' arrives as the product of Britain’s most promising signed hardcore band.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Tuesday, 21 June 2011

Kissy Sell Out - Wild Romance (Album Review)

Kissy Sell Out’s new album is classic camp electro. Half a decade ago Wild Romance’s sound would have complimented sound systems on dance floors across the country. Today however, the most fitting output is through a mobile phone on the back of the 388 bus to Hackney.

Written by: Chris Norman | Date: Monday, 20 June 2011

Matthew Morrison - Matthew Morrison (Album Review)

Known worldwide as Glee Club director Will Schuester on FOX’s astronomically popular ‘Glee’ and star of Broadway shows such as Hairspray and South Pacific, Matthew Morrison makes his move into the world of pop with his eponymous debut album, released on Mercury Records. With big-name producers, even bigger-name duets and a ukele, I quite liked the idea of this musical actor turned popstar but upon listening I found a slightly disappointing collection of songs in which Morrison impersonates a mainstream performer and fails to create anything worth a second listen.

Written by: Tom Bevan | Date: Monday, 20 June 2011