St Spirit - Pigeon (Album Review)

Volumes can be said about this young quintet, St. Spirit, who seemed to pique the media’s interest with the anticipated release of their debut EP Pigeon. After coming across My Bloody Valentine’s seminal album — Loveless, these five friends from Crystal Palace (in South London) set out to prove their sound has a place in the kingdom of music. Listeners are led into a soft, mystifying abyss right from the album’s start, an absent-minded study which catches us by surprise. The improvident first track ‘Pigeon’ begins with a crawl which then accelerates to become a trendy cut complimented by sorrowful keys, energetic strings, droning drums, and muffled lyrics. In between tangled tones, American singer/songwriter Conor Oberst channels through St. Spirit frontman Myles McCabe’s soothing yet edgy delivery. From the beginning, you cannot help but notice there is more at work here than what fans expect. There is this mystic flavor looming over St. Spirit’s music, a sweet aftertaste which is left behind for fans to contemplate and decode.

Written by: Joshua Leyvas | Date: Thursday, 23 February 2012

Will Young - Losing Myself (Single Review)

Is there anything Will Young can’t do? Since winning the original series of Pop Idol back in 2002, Will Young has released six albums, tried his hand at various music genres and succeeded in all and, as if that wasn’t enough, he proved his worth as an actor when he turned up in the hit TV series, Skins.

Written by: Melisa Greenfield | Date: Thursday, 23 February 2012

Band Of Skulls - Sweet Sour (Album Review)

Band of Skulls don’t do things conventionally. In a rare turn of events it’s the UK catching up with America as the Southampton trio begin to make a name for themselves at home having already succeeded stateside. Tracks in a Mustang car commercial (ala Killers ‘Mr Brightside’ on UK TV) and appearances at American festivals established their worldwide appeal. Add to that a blistering second album at a time when many bands falter and you have a pretty formidable outfit. And that’s before they’ve blown your ears off!

Written by: Daniel Lynch | Date: Wednesday, 22 February 2012

Big Time Rush - Elevate (Album Review)

Releasing a second album, TV stars Big Time Rush have most definitely ELEVATED! Moving up from their first self-titled album, no one expected to see the boys release this new, musically mature sound. Taking a more upbeat pop squeeze at things, BTR have moved along from the bubblegum pop TV tunes, growing up and speaking about more important things, teenage love, crushes and their love of music. Exploring a variety of sounds, cooling down mid-album with the song 'Cover Girl', singing about confidence and insecurity.

Written by: Jodie Beck | Date: Tuesday, 21 February 2012

Moya - I'm Losing More Than I'll Ever Have (Single Review)

If you’re getting tired of Adele’s near constant airplay and you’re looking for a new soulful female songstress, then Brighton based singer Moya might be worth a look with her interpretation of Primal Scream’s ‘I’m Losing More Than I’ll Ever Have.’

Written by: V O'Hagan | Date: Tuesday, 21 February 2012

Meat Loaf - Hell In A Handbasket (Album Review)

Meat Loaf is one of those longstanding names in the music realm that, regardless of what he puts out, will always maintain a legion of fans. With this in mind, he can go in two directions: one, he can release the same album repeatedly packed with neat rock-opera tracks that everyone would likely love through familiarity; or, two, he can try something a little different. Cue: his new release ‘Hell In A Handbasket’ that dabbles with the latter approach.

Written by: Heather McDaid | Date: Tuesday, 21 February 2012

Darren Hayes - Bloodstained Heart (Single Review)

Due to the fact he hasn’t had a top 20 single in the UK since 2007, anyone would be forgiven for thinking that Darren Hayes had given up on singing altogether. He’s actually released 5 singles since then; they’ve just never charted well in the UK. Hold on to your hats, people, because this is set to change.

Written by: Melisa Greenfield | Date: Monday, 20 February 2012

Finn Bonel - Love's The Only Thing (Single Review)

'Love's the Only Thing' is the debut single from Finn Bonel, a singer-songwriter from South London. Although this isn't your typical hipster from Camden with a guitar, the sound Finn Bonel is going for is much more mature. Or as he puts it on his website, he wants to block out the dazzle and focus on getting his raw emotions across through heartfelt lyrics.

Written by: Steven James | Date: Monday, 20 February 2012

Bonobo - Black Sands Remixed (Album Review)

What is the opposite of beautiful? ‘Black Sands Remixed’ takes the overwhelmingly beautiful and critically acclaimed album ‘Black Sands’ and turns it on its head. The result is not what logic dictates. By cracking open the idyllic paradise to expose the wires twinkling beneath the surface; Bonobo and his collaborators challenge the old adage that beauty is only skin deep.

Written by: Tim Cox | Date: Thursday, 16 February 2012

INME - The Pride (Album Review)

InMe get a bizarre amount of attention these days. Considering the fact that, throughout most of their puzzlingly long career, they have either been derided as a bubblegum pop metal act or completely ignored by pretty much everyone in existence, their recent resurgence in the British alternative guitar scene has come as rather unexpected. With well-received festival slots and tours since their last full-length, 2009’s “Herald Moth”, the Dave McPherson led Essex quartet are firmly back on the radar ahead of this new release, “The Pride”.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Thursday, 16 February 2012

Megadeth - Th1rt3en (Album Review)

There were a number of signs prior to release that this might be lucky number th1rt3en for Megadeth. Their two previous outings, United Abominations and Endgame, while not quite a return to vintage form, were pleasingly robust albums that hinted at a rejuvenated band. The stars were aligning. Founding member Dave Ellefson returned to the fold, and thawing relations between the thrash giants saw band leader and only constant member Dave Mustaine share a stage with Metallica for the first time in 18 years. Th1rt3en (the band’s thirteenth studio album, in case you couldn’t work that out) had all the momentum to suggest a return to Megadeth’s unimpeachable former glories. The result, perhaps inevitably, falls short of such a high water mark, yet still showcases much of what propelled Megadeth to the summit of the thrash mountain all those years ago.

Written by: David Owen | Date: Thursday, 16 February 2012

Natalie McCool - Fortune (Single Review)

With a string of tour dates, single and EP releases, and backing from BBC 6Music, Natalie McCool is starting to imprint her name in the music industry. 'Fortune' is Natalie's new single, and with BBC Radio 2 already playing the track, it looks like this could be the one to start catapulting her into the star status that she deserves.

Written by: Katie Territt | Date: Thursday, 16 February 2012

Emeli Sandé - Our Version of Events (Album Review)

Having written songs for Cheryl Cole and Susan Boyle and recorded with Tinie Tempah, Wiley and Professor Green, former medical student Emeli Sandé is now operating solo with debut album Our Version of Events, released this week on EMI. Hailing from Alford, Aberdeen, the 24-year-old has already been tipped for success, finishing first ahead of Michael Kiwanuka and Maverick Sabre in the Brits Critics Choice award. With her super slick image and glossy album production, Sandé could be disregarded as just another label created star but underneath the over polished surface there is a young woman with a lot to say and the means to say it.

Written by: Tom Bevan | Date: Wednesday, 15 February 2012

Bombay Bicycle Club - How Can You Swallow So Much Sleep (Single Review)

London based quartet Bombay Bicycle Club haven't exactly had an amazing track history with single releases. Charting in the region of 50 and lower, it's obvious that this isn't where their fan base is getting their music fix from the band. Luckily, Bombay Bicycle Club have released a steady stream of fantastic albums to quench the indie thirst.

Written by: Katie Territt | Date: Monday, 13 February 2012

Earth - Angels Of Darkness, Demons Of Light II (Album Review)

Earth have come one hell of a long way. Drone pioneers, they are the band that inspired the likes of Sunn O))) and Om to inflict vast droning swathes of horrific noise upon the world. Yet now, Earth are something more, something different, something new. Earth have evolved into a band that deserve no genre classification or boundary.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Monday, 13 February 2012

Portico Quartet - Portico Quartet (Album Reviews)

I've read more than a few jazz critics complain that Portico Quartet's new self titled effort is “aimless”. If jazz fans find this aimless, what are we, the not so indoctrinated, to make of it? This third record from the London outfit essentially can't decide whether it is redefining free jazz or simply throwing in a bit of sax amidst the numerous synth loops and frenzied percussion.

Written by: Jonathon Rimmer | Date: Wednesday, 08 February 2012

Goapele - Break of Dawn (Album Review)

There aren't many things more frustrating than an album that starts off superbly and gradually deteriorates. Break of Dawn hits the ground chilling, with the sensual 'Play' immediately establishing American soul singer Goapele's main weaponry - the production is slick, with pulsing bass, a minimalist drum part and an atmospheric synthline to accompany it. Her voice is pleasant too, I suppose.

Written by: Jonathon Rimmer | Date: Wednesday, 08 February 2012

FOE - Bad Dream Hotline (Album Review)

Let's face it, we're all sick of the idea that a pretty image and a few half-arsed tunes makes you a celebrity. Fortunately, Hannah Clark, a.k.a. FOE, is on our wavelength too, and her voice is much prettier than ours.

Written by: Jonathon Rimmer | Date: Wednesday, 08 February 2012

Therapy? - A Brief Crack of Light (Album Review)

Why are Therapy? still around after twenty-plus years?

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Monday, 06 February 2012

Howler - America Give Up (Album Review)

Minneapolis quartet Howler have grabbed a shed load plaudits in the ‘Ones to Watch in 2012’ polls and lists that have emerged in January and by releasing an album this early in the year, it bodes well that the ‘hype’ machine will not take another victim - see Mona or (Viva) Brother in 2011. Howler are a young band from America who are oozing with a cool ‘we don’t give a shit’ attitude, a band signed by Rough Trade Records apparently on the basis of an unsolicited demo…a story that sounds very familiar? That would be the rise of fellow American indie rock saviours The Strokes, who released debut album Is This It just over ten years ago in similar circumstances. Critics were ever so quick to hail Howler as the new Strokes. So, does this debut album really have the potential to emulate the New Yorkers and more importantly does it live up to the hype.

Written by: Ryan Crittenden | Date: Thursday, 02 February 2012