Mastodon – Live at the Aragon (Album Review)

Mastodon are not the kind of band to do things in small measures. Their last album ‘Crack the Skye’ was, in a way not dissimilar to their previous three releases, a rock record of mammoth proportions, as their name suggests. Fortunately, ‘Live at the Aragon’ is no exception. ‘Crack the Skye’, the fourth album from the band, captured Mastodon at their ferocious and genre-challenging best, mixing gigantic riffs and rhythms with mind-bendingly abstract lyrics and song structures. This live album, recorded in Chicago in 2009, takes things a step further.

Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Tuesday, 29 March 2011

J Mascis - Several Shades of Why (Album Review)

J Mascis has worked hard to make himself one of the most respected and recognisable musicians to emerge from the USA’s underground rock scene. He is of course most famous for his work with seminal alt-rock band Dinosaur Jr. and his famous “monolithic” guitar riffs.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Sunday, 27 March 2011

Scumbag Philosopher - Scumbag Philosopher (Single Review)

Scumbag Philosopher (formerly the hilariously titled Fuck Dress) do like to keep things simple it seems. The duo behind the wonderfully titled 'God is Dead so I Listen to Radiohead” grumble their way through this slab of dirty avant-garde rock without really doing anything that catches the ear. Or at least it seemed after the first listen.  Stick this on in the background while doing the dishes and all you’ll hear is a simple drumbeat backed up by a dribbling vocal and a guitar riff that would make Hendrix turn.

Written by: James Ball | Date: Friday, 25 March 2011

Hyper - The Panic (Album Review)

When your day job is to be a DJ, a Producer and a Label Boss you’re going to be a busy boy. Especially when writing your third studio album, writing tunes for the soundtracks of hit shows and films such as CSI, Ugly Betty and Borat. Not to mention the countless remixes for everyone from Foals to Pink and everyone in between. Hyper is a man filled with ideas and every single one he’s ever had seems to have been planted somewhere in this third studio offering 'The Panic'.

Written by: James Ball | Date: Friday, 25 March 2011

Das Fluff - Happy People/Hey You! (Double A-Side Single Review)

Ooh. Now this is dirrrrty.

Written by: James Ball | Date: Friday, 25 March 2011

The Vaccines - What Did You Expect From The Vaccines? (Album Review)

From hearing all the hype about The Vaccines over the past few months, I wasn't sure exactly what I did expect from The Vaccines.

Written by: Liam Gascoigne | Date: Monday, 21 March 2011

Noah And The Whale - L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N. (Single Review)

I feel like I’ve heard Noah and the Whale’s new single somewhere before, there’s something about the breathless delivery of the verses that’s very familiar, and the way the name of the song is spelled out in the choruses is giving me a certain sense of déjà vu.

Written by: Jonathan Cockburn | Date: Monday, 21 March 2011

Blackwater James – Vol. 1 (EP Review)

Blackwater James from Nashville, Tennessee play music that sounds exactly like what you’d expect a rock band from Nashville, Tennessee to sound like – hard-rockin’ party tunes interspersed with heavy blues riffs doused in an ample amount of Jack Daniels. Unlike fellow Tennesseans Kings of Leon, Blackwater James have chosen not to wander into trendy indie territory as the Followills have and are instead sticking with their old school influences.

Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Sunday, 20 March 2011

Noah And The Whale - Last Night On Earth (Album Review)

Noah and the Whale’s career so far reads like a book; a continuing autobiographical account that tracks the naivety, excitement and the plights of youth. Their debut ‘Peaceful The World Lays Me Down’ introduced them as whimsical, innocent and a little twee, whilst the follow up ‘First Days of Spring’ progressed into a realisation that love can actually hit you hard and smash you to pieces.

Written by: Hayley Taylor | Date: Wednesday, 16 March 2011

Green Day - Cigarettes & Valentines (Single Review)

Premiering in a live capacity on Green Day’s 21st Century Breakdown World Tour and said to be a song on the unreleased album of the same name from the band’s history, the track ‘Cigarettes and Valentines’ is finally getting an official release on their upcoming release ‘Awesome as Fuck’. 

Written by: Heather McDaid | Date: Wednesday, 16 March 2011

Avril Lavigne - Goodbye Lullaby (Album Review)

  Cast yourself back ten years and you’ll find a young teen skater chick breaking into the mainstream with ‘Let Go’, an angst ridden rebellion of a new alternative icon for young girls. Come 2011, following a divorce and brand new start at life, Avril Lavigne is back to show the world her new offerings in the form of 'Goodbye Lullaby'. 

Written by: Heather McDaid | Date: Wednesday, 16 March 2011

Eagleowl - Into The Fold (EP Review)

In the shadow of the city’s famous castle, Edinburgh lo-fi folksters Eagleowl have been taking it steady since 2005. Their latest offering the 'Into the Fold' EP, which was meticulously planned and rehearsed around mealtimes, shows that sometimes slow and steady does in fact win the race.

Written by: Patrick Gormley | Date: Tuesday, 15 March 2011

Marc Robillard - Left London (Album Review)

'Left London' is the much anticipated follow up to Marc Robillard's debut EP 'Paper Airplanes' (2005). Released on March 29th and inspired by his time living in England, this stunning album includes 13 honest, intimate tunes that are bound to tug at your heartstrings.  

Written by: Elin Sutton | Date: Monday, 14 March 2011

Josh T Pearson - Last Of The Country Gentlemen (Album Review)

Having already briefly tested the murky waters of success, Josh T Pearson has since existed quietly on the very periphery of the music radar for the best part of the last decade.

Written by: Brian Thompson | Date: Monday, 14 March 2011

Natasha Bedingfield - Strip Me (Album Review)

Natasha became an instant star and role model to thousands of young girls, including myself, when she first released her album 'Unwritten', which, deservingly reached number one in the UK album charts in 2004. After the success of her singles 'Unwritten', 'Single' and the beautifully boho 'These Words', she was all set to show the world what else she could do. 

Written by: Sophie Monk | Date: Thursday, 10 March 2011

Surface Of Atlantic - A Frame Per Season (Album Review)

French philosopher Blaise Pascal once noted that, “beauty is a harmonious relation between something in our nature and the quality of the object which delights us”. So if monsieur Pascal is to be believed, Surface of Atlantic's delightful second record 'A Frame Per Season' is indeed a work of beauty.

Written by: Patrick Gormley | Date: Wednesday, 09 March 2011

The Chapman Family - Burn Your Town (Album Review)

Anticipation! Hype! Both serial rapists of the hopes and dreams of so many fledgling bands. Countless bands get brushed aside because of the fleeting reviews of their debut albums. But things may be different for The Chapman Family. In all honesty I had heard little of their music until writing this review. I had heard their name thrown around in conversations with a few of my musically enlightened acquaintances but that was about the long and short of it.

Written by: Rhys Morgan | Date: Wednesday, 09 March 2011

Emily Baker - House Of Cards (Album Review)

'House of Cards' is the debut album by Arts Foundation Songwriting award winner by Emily Baker. It doesn’t take particularly long for such an accolade to reveal itself.

Written by: Jonny Rimmer | Date: Tuesday, 08 March 2011

Funeral For A Friend - Welcome Home Armageddon (Album Review)

Releasing their EP ‘The Young and Defenceless’ at the tail end of 2010 was a chance for Funeral for a Friend to show the fans where they were currently heading musically. Now, their latest release ‘Welcome Home Armageddon’ is the chance to fully showcase the rejuvenated Welsh rockers and catapult them back on top form.

Written by: Heather McDaid | Date: Tuesday, 08 March 2011

Gruff Rhys - Hotel Shampoo (Album Review)

Gruff Rhys is no newcomer to the Welsh music scene. At 42 years old, he's had more than a few hits with the Super Furries, Ffa Coffi Pawb and numerous solo numbers. 'Hotel Shampoo' is no different, his third solo album that was released on February 14th.

Written by: Elin Sutton | Date: Tuesday, 08 March 2011