Sea of Bees – The Woods (Single Review)

Some people may already be familiar with the term “freak-folk” after coming across it a few years back, following the success of artists like Devendra Banhart and the Animal Collective. However, for those of you who have so far managed to miss this curious genre of music, please welcome Sea of Bees.

Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Tuesday, 26 October 2010

British India - Vanilla (EP Review)

The title track - 'Vanilla' - channels well-layered, epic guitar sprawl echoing Sonic Youth against slow-building ambience - verging on chaos - which creeps towards the song's anthemic chorus - "I can't breath underwater, I can't stand in the air, But I could tear up your whole world, And then not even care" - and the eventual crescendo of guitar solo and furious drum riots, while almost inevitable, is of no smaller impact for it.

Written by: Jacob Mier | Date: Tuesday, 26 October 2010

Kings Of Leon - Come Around Sundown (Album Review)

Kings of Leon have come a long way since the release of debut LP ‘Youth and Young Manhood’ back in 2003. Gone are the days of dodgy hair, barely audible vocals and frenzied guitars of which their brand of southern rock embodied. Of late, the Tennessee band has opted for a far more polished approach perhaps somewhat unintentionally, to appeal to a wider audience. New album ‘Come Around Sundown’ does exactly that.

Written by: Brian Thompson | Date: Monday, 25 October 2010

Carl Barat - Carl Barat (Album Review)

Fresh on the heels of the newly reformed Libertines performances at this year’s Reading and Leeds festivals, among the chaos, guitarist Carl Barat releases his debut solo album, 'Carl Barat'. 

Written by: Brian Thompson | Date: Monday, 25 October 2010

Olly Murs - Thinking Of Me (Single Review)

Every mum’s favourite cheeky X Factor contestant is back for his second single ‘Thinking of Me’. Olly Murs is often compared to the pop superstar Robbie Williams and he certainly possesses the same charm. Having come off X Factor as a very credible runner-up to Joe Mcelderry, he has gone for a very Jason Mraz-esque sound.

Written by: Steve Wellman | Date: Monday, 25 October 2010

The Script - Nothing (Single Review)

The Script have gone from strength to strength after the success of their self-titled debut album. In addition their follow-up, ‘Science and Faith’, has seen them progress into a leader of the genre. The smash hit ‘For The First Time’ erupted onto the UK charts and ‘Nothing’, the follow up to the hit single, is scheduled for release on 21st November. A perfect autumn song to warm up those slightly chilly evenings and it may turn out cheaper than turning on the heating!

Written by: Steve Wellman | Date: Monday, 25 October 2010

Warpaint – The Fool (Album Review)

If you’ve managed to escape recent news of the up-and-coming LA-based all-girl rock group Warpaint, then your avoidance skills are commendable. In the lead up to the release of their debut album ‘The Fool’, the band have managed to stir up a fair bit of excitement amongst the music press. Following a successful summer of festival appearances, including Reading and Leeds, Warpaint have already been invited on a tour of the US by this year’s Mercury winners The xx. Now, after months of speculation, the four-piece are readying their album for its impending release.

Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Thursday, 21 October 2010

Example - Two Lives (Single Review)

Example, real name Elliot Gleave, is slowly moulding into a pop machine which churns out single after single. The artist from West London has had an incredible summer with ‘Kickstarts’ taking over clubs and radio waves all over the country and ‘Two Lives’ is the fifth single from the album ‘Won’t Go Quietly’. The album sees a change in style from Example, with help from big producers such as Calvin Harris, Don Diablo and Chase and Status the new offering reached Number Four in the UK chart, behind Oasis, The Black Eyed Peas and Eminem, a jolly good effort.

Written by: Steve Wellman | Date: Thursday, 21 October 2010

Blonde Louis - Midnight Kiss (Single Review)

I’m a twenty year old student who concedes that he is slightly musically pretentious and listens to everything that isn’t mainstream and intentionally bad mouths anything that’s in the charts. Well I’m going to have to reassess my life, because whether with this track or another, Blonde Louis ARE going to hit the charts in the coming year and these guys are infectious. These four lads already have a crazed set of teenage fans packing out small venues and word of mouth hype has established them as one of the best unsigned pop acts around.

Written by: Rhys Morgan | Date: Tuesday, 19 October 2010

China Soul - Secrets And Words (Album Review)

It is quite the challenge to pick fault with China Soul. Even from her melodramatic name you’re forced to let out a resounding, aching sigh. Not only that, but she’s the daughter of Starsky and Hutch star David Soul – what’s not to like? 

Written by: Rich Kemp | Date: Wednesday, 13 October 2010

Crystal Fighters - Star Of Love (Album Review)

Have you ever wondered what the Talking Heads might have sounded like if they had moved to a Spanish village in the mountains, done a load of acid and run around like loonies? Crazed five-piece Crystal Fighters seem to do just this, filling in that much required niche market.

Written by: Rich Kemp | Date: Wednesday, 13 October 2010

Magnetic Man - Magnetic Man (Album Review)

Now, supergroups are pretty common place in today’s music landscape: Them Crooked Vultures, The Dead Weather and Atoms For Peace are just a few. But music’s newest genre, dubstep, was still lacking a collaboration of the highest order. That was of course until the three most influential forerunners of dub decided to push Magnetic Man, the intermittent collaborative name to full group status.

Written by: Rhys Morgan | Date: Monday, 11 October 2010

Bandwagon - Wasting Time (EP Review)

After a hugely successful 2009 topped off with a coveted support slot with the Answer, Bangor three-piece Bandwagon began 2010 in the studio recording the eagerly anticipated ‘Wasting Time’ EP. The result is a well polished, professional sounding EP of 4 original tracks and, on some copies, a recently recorded bonus track. Having begun life in Thin Lizzy tribute bands Bandwagon have been tarred with an unfair image of generic classic rock. However, as Phil Edgar(guitar/vocals) and Joe McQuillan (bass/vocals) mature and develop their own style has become increasingly evident and it won’t be long before they’re a huge name in the UK rock scene.

Written by: Daniel Lynch | Date: Wednesday, 06 October 2010

Dan Le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip (Feat. Kid A) - Cauliflower (Single Review)

Reaching the end of a busy summer of festivals, Brit-hop duo Dan vs. Pip are back with the third single to be taken from their recent album ‘The Logic of Chance’. ‘Cauliflower’ is a collaboration with American female solo artist Kid A, who provides the chorus to this love song of sorts.

Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Monday, 04 October 2010

Skunk Anansie – Wonderlustre (Album Review)

“Don’t call it a comeback/I been here for years”, the press release proclaims, quoting LL Cool J’s classic ‘Mama Said Knock You Out’. Well, that may indeed be true. After nine years, Skunk Anansie are finally back on our stereos with their fourth album ‘Wonderlustre’. Following the release of their last album, 1999’s ‘Post Orgasmic Chill’, the London-based group decided to take a break, which turned out to be a lengthy one, and the four members went their separate ways to work on some other projects. Among these was vocalist Skin’s brief career as a solo artist, which saw the release of two albums.

Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Thursday, 30 September 2010

Bad Religion – The Dissent of Man (Album Review)

After 30 years of recording, touring and inspiring almost every other punk rock band on the planet, the granddaddies of melodic punk return with their fifteenth album ‘The Dissent of Man’. Although the LA-based group have suffered a number of line-up changes over the years, this is now their fourth consecutive album as a six-piece with original guitarist and songwriter Brett Gurewitz.

Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Tuesday, 28 September 2010

Brandon Flowers - Flamingo (Album Review)

Following a 6 year run of recording and touring, most musicians would be ready to take a well earned break. Not Brandon Flowers: when his bandmates announced that they were taking a rest, The Killers frontman responded not by following suit, but by releasing a solo album.

Written by: Andrew Lilley | Date: Monday, 27 September 2010

Manic Street Preachers - Postcards From A Young Man (Album Review)

Let me set out my stall: I’m a Manic Street Preachers fanatic. They’re a band that aren’t concerned or made anxious by reviews, and make music because they love it. I’m not going to go comparing this to 'The Holy Bible', as I realise that after Richey’s tragedy, the band had to evolve. And so they did, in to a much more ‘poppy’ band that that could connect to a larger audience. And on this album they have succeed in a way they never have before.

Written by: Rhys Morgan | Date: Monday, 27 September 2010

Wild Dogs in Winter – Homba (Album Review)

For those people who are familiar with the style of music known as post-rock, your opinions on it may vary significantly. However, regardless of whether you consider post-rock to be intelligent, thought-provoking music or nothing but pretentious, arty-farty noise, there’s no denying that it’s an interesting and often underrated genre. Although the likes of Mogwai and Sigur Ros have carried the flag for a number of years, post-rock has rarely left the confines of the avant-garde. It has even struggled to compete within today’s indie community, which frequently claims to crave new and exciting music while continuing to recycle the same old stuff year after year.

Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Sunday, 26 September 2010

Arcade Fire - The Suburbs (Album Review)

The three year wait has ended and the often (rightly or wrongly) named ‘Greatest Band On Earth’ have delivered their third studio album, ‘The Suburbs’.

Written by: Rhys Morgan | Date: Friday, 24 September 2010