The Cave Singers - No Witch (Album Review)
Presenting traditional folk melodies alongside the raw gusto of the 70’s rock movement sounds like an unsavoury recipe for disaster. But with third album, ‘No Witch’, the Cave Singers endeavour to accommodate a handful of styles without too much of a fuss. Consequently this shows the band to be in several very different places over the course of this record.
Written by: Brian Thompson | Date: Friday, 25 February 2011
Radiohead - The King Of Limbs (Album Review)
Every individual will have a moment in their history which changed their lives, which defines them as a person. It could be the delusions of ‘seeing’ God for the first time. It may be losing a loved one. It may be the vigorous spanking of your first S&M session. But for me (and I’m certain I’m not alone) it was the first time Radiohead blessed my ears. I was 16 and until then I had always written them off as too depressing to waste my time with. Obviously I was made to hugely regret those ignorant thoughts the first time I listened to 'OK Computer'. Baring this in mind I do hope you can forgive any gushing asides that may take place over the course of the next few paragraphs.
Written by: Rhys Morgan | Date: Monday, 21 February 2011
Slash – Slash [Deluxe Edition] (Album Review)
Being one of the most laudable guitar players in the world, as well as being a key member of arguably the biggest rock band of the last 25 years, can’t be the lightest of burdens to carry. The responsibility and hype that gets heaped upon you, in addition to the constant influx of questions regarding whether or not you plan to return to your former band, must be enough to drive a person to despair at times. However, watching Slash fondly speak about working with some of his personal heroes on the Making of The Album documentary that comes with the new Deluxe Edition of his debut solo album, you’d almost believe that the legendary axeman is completely unaware of the godlike reputation that follows him.
Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Friday, 18 February 2011
Jamiroquai - Lifeline (Single Review)
As the third single from Jamiroquai’s seventh studio album ‘Rock Dust Light Star’, ‘Lifeline’ comes as the latest instalment of their acid jazz sound. Immediately you can identify it as one of their tracks without advanced warning, yet it’s a fresh, new sound.
Written by: Heather McDaid | Date: Friday, 18 February 2011
Jonsi - Go Live (Album Review)
Jónsi is probably well known to people as part of the band Sigur Ros but he is also a well established solo artist in his own right. Jónsi released his debut solo album entitled ‘Riceboy Sleeps’ in 2009 and ‘Go’ followed a year later which saw Jónsi embark on a world tour in 2010 playing in Canada, Japan and Luxembourg to name but a few. ‘Go Live’ was recorded on the Belgium leg of the tour in Brussels and helps to encaptivate the live experience that the audience gets when at a Jónsi show.
Written by: Steve Wellman | Date: Friday, 18 February 2011
The BRIT Awards (A Viewer’s Review)
So it is that time of the year again, where rich, talented and beautiful people gather to congratulate other rich, talented and beautiful people on how rich. talented and beautiful they are while you, the viewer, gawp on at the bright screen praying that your regular, human eyes won’t be blinded by all their brilliance. The BRIT Awards ceremony is the long-standing jewel in the UK music industry’s crown, successful for the big name acts it draws in on an annual basis as well as the odd publicity-boosting outrageous celebrity stunt.
Written by: James Conlon | Date: Wednesday, 16 February 2011
Alexandra Legouix & The Sunflowers - Lets Go (EP Review)
A star of BBC Introducing, it’s easy to see why Alexandra Legouix is hotly tipped this year. There’s a sense of freshness to this sunny extended play. Nothing is synthesised, and she has a very real and authentic voice that contrasts highly with the auto tuned R&B stars of today.
Written by: Jonny Rimmer | Date: Wednesday, 16 February 2011
Cold War Kids - Mine Is Yours (Album Review)
It’s been nearly 5 years since Cold War Kid’s acclaimed debut album 'Robbers and Cowards', and after their messy second album 'Loyalty to Loyalty' we’ve been hoping for the third album to prove a worthy successor to the first.
Written by: Jonathan Cockburn | Date: Tuesday, 15 February 2011
The Streets - Computers And Blues (Album Review)
We’ve known Mike Skinner for a while now; he’s befriended all of us through The Streets and we’ve come to love him and his penchant for weed inspired homemade beats and quasi-poetic storytelling, so in a way the knowledge that this is his final album as The Streets feels a little like hearing one of your friends is moving abroad.
Written by: Jonathon Cockburn | Date: Tuesday, 15 February 2011
Roddy Woomble - The Impossible Song & Other Songs (Album Review)
Oh Roddy, what have you become? Do you even remember the days when you strutted around with sneering punk attitude, shouting about anything and everything? Back when hope was important.
Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Tuesday, 15 February 2011
Panic! At The Disco - The Ballad Of Mona Lisa (Single Review)
Panic! at the disco are back! Well, two of them are anyway. But that didn't stop the two remaining members, Brendon Urie and Spencer Smith, from creating yet another power rock masterpiece; which is bound to become an instant favourite of all panic fans around the world.
Written by: Sophie Monk | Date: Monday, 14 February 2011
Civet – Love & War (Album Review)
Whether you like it or not, being in an all-girl, or even just a female-led, punk rock band is going to expose you to all those lazy but inevitable comparisons with the likes of The Distillers and Bikini Kill etc. Indeed, trying to simply carve yourself a reputation as a unique and identifiable artist seems almost impossible under these circumstances, despite the fact that many such groups have been among the most distinctive in the genre. This is likely to be the same categorization that will be applied to LA all-girl punk group Civet. However, while the raspy growl of vocalist Liza Graves does bear some similarities to that of Brody Dalle, the music to be found on the band’s latest album ‘Love & War’ sounds more in tune with the likes of Rancid and The Offspring, due to its distinguishing use of melodic guitar riffs and gang vocals.
Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Monday, 14 February 2011
The Strokes - Under Cover Of Darkness (Single Review)
Well this single certainly has something to prove. With most The Strokes’ members having followed successful solo projects or secondary bands during this lengthy hiatus, this, the first single in five years really needed to prove there was still a need for The Strokes to exist. Too right there's still a need for The Strokes! With imitators reforming for cash pay-offs *The Libertines* the masters of the spikey indie sound come out of a storm of anticipation and smash it out of the park.
Written by: Rhys Morgan | Date: Thursday, 10 February 2011
Leigh Mary Stokes - Your Smile (Single Review)
Another female vocalist makes her way onto the already heaving scene. You can’t move for Adele, Eliza or Ellie and their tales about quests of the heart, so who cares what the new girl has to say?
Written by: Hayley Taylor | Date: Thursday, 10 February 2011
Gay For Johnny Depp - What Doesn’t Kill You, Eventually Kills You (Album Review)
At 22 minutes long, Gay For Johnny Depp’s latest release really goes down the road of quality over quantity for their 11 track release, ‘What Doesn’t Kill You, Eventually Kills You.’
Written by: Heather McDaid | Date: Wednesday, 09 February 2011
Frankie & The Heartstrings - Hunger (Album Review)
Sunderland five-piece Frankie & The Heartstrings already have a pretty impressive CV. Support slots with Edwyn Collins, Florence & The Machine and fellow "Mackems", The Futureheads. Gracing stages at Glastonbury, Reading & Leeds, Latitude and Summer Sundae. And even having the honour of being the first band in 5 years to have a one-off single released on Rough Trade Records. When it came to a more permanent record label however, the band side-stepped the typical label war in favour of setting up their own label and archive, PopSex Ltd, as a way to make fans' experience with the bands music much more personal.
Written by: Katie Territt | Date: Wednesday, 09 February 2011
Telekinesis - 12 Desperate Straight Lines (Album Review)
Seattle indie rockers Telekinesis follow up their critically acclaimed self titled debut with '12 Desperate Straight Lines', an album sprinkled with powerful and catchy indie pop nuggets, a lot of fuzz, occasional distortion and straight forward, heartfelt lyrics. The fact alone that the record was even made is testimony to the bands founder Michael Benjamin Lerners belief in his own song writing.
Written by: Patrick Gormley | Date: Tuesday, 08 February 2011
The A Train - Beginning (EP Review)
The A Train are a London based alt-folk band who seem to be bang on trend at the moment. With the rise of bands such as Mumford & Sons and the highly anticipated albums from the likes of Noah and The Whale, alternative folk inspired music seems to be the genre to tap into.
Written by: Steve Wellman | Date: Tuesday, 08 February 2011
Maceo Plex - Life Index (Album Review)
Maceo Plex set sail on his musical journey in 1993, a whole 18 years ago. Through this time he has taken many pseudonyms including ‘Maetrik’ and ‘Mariel ito’ unveiling a vast array of musical concoctions with the help of labels such as Cocoon, Audiomatique, Mothership, Dumb Unit and now Crosstown Rebels. So the man is a journeyman of the industry if you like, not quite hitting the big time. Will this latest offering pave his way into the mainstream?
YOAV - A foolproof Escape Plan (Album Review)
The well-travelled Yoav has graced us with his new album ‘A Foolproof Escape plan’. The Israeli born, Cape Town raised and now London resident has, as suggested, spent a majority of his years travelling the globe exploring the diverse cultures the world has to offer.
