Canyons of Static - Challenger (EP Review)

This latest offering from Wisconsins Canyons of Static can in some ways be seen as a perfect introduction to the bands fascinating infusion of the distorted melodies of shoegaze with the multifaceted emotional aspects of post rock. Recorded in an attic in one afternoon, the 'Challenger' is a collection of older tracks reworked with new guitarist Nick Elert to document his addition to the line up.

Written by: Patrick Gormley | Date: Wednesday, 07 September 2011

Cosmo Jarvis - Is The World Strange Or Am I Strange? (Album Review)

Cosmo Harrison Krikoryan Jarvis dropped out of school aged sixteen to pursue a career in music and film, and at the age of 21 has already been proclaimed as ‘one of the most special talents around’ by the likes of Stephen Fry and Brian Eno.

Written by: Emma Newlyn | Date: Wednesday, 07 September 2011

The Feeling - A Hundred Sinners (Come And Get It) (Single Review)

‘The Feeling’ released their pop phenomenon on Britain in late 2005 with their first single ‘Fill My Little World’ which hit number 7 in the British charts. Since then, these West Sussex boys have released two more studio albums and countless singles which have branded them one of Britain’s most successful pop groups.

Written by: Catherine Rea | Date: Wednesday, 07 September 2011

Blessthefall - Awakening (Album Review)

‘Witness’ – Blessthefall’s album of 2009 – was not only their first album on Fearless Records but their first with new vocalist Beau Bokan, replacement of Craig Mabbitt. Two years on, the metalcore fivesome are back with their second Fearless release - ‘Awakening’. With hardcore being a scene growing at rapid speed, it’s difficult to find a band who push forward and innovate with their music and, currently, the jury is still out as to whether blessthefall are the men for the job.

Written by: Heather McDaid | Date: Monday, 05 September 2011

Anathema - Falling Deeper (Album Review)

With this reworking of material from their earliest days, Anathema have proved themselves to be masters of creating atmospheric music once again. The difference this time around is that 'Falling Deeper' is more of a soundtrack than an album. This is music that lingers, builds and fades with immaculate beauty and delightful simplicity.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Monday, 05 September 2011

The Feeling - Leave Me Out Of It (Single Review)

Three Albums in and these West Sussex boys have failed to re-hit the height of their multi-platinum-selling album released in 2006 ‘Twelve Stops And Home’. The Feeling emerged as a group during a musical period when many bands were competing for the space left in the market for an indie-pop group, though despite their well established efforts in their 2006 debut album, their barefaced clinch of soft rock attracted many critics as fans, causing the Sussex boys to gather a ubiquity that contradicts their forgettable songs.

Written by: Catherine Rea | Date: Friday, 02 September 2011

Bombay Bicycle Club - A Different Kind Of Fix (Album Review)

Way back in 2009 anticipation for Bombay Bicycle Club’s debut album reached pretty ridiculous levels. They themselves claimed that it would even better the debut effort from the Arctic Monkeys. On it’s release it did an excellent job of fooling a lot of wannabe hipsters into thinking it was something far better than it truly was (I myself was a wannabe hipster back in 2009). It wasn’t terrible but it lacked a real bite. It didn’t really go anywhere that The Maccabees, Foals or Mystery Jets hadn’t already. And then there’s 2010’s Flaws the indie-folk bastard child bought to us courtesy of the ‘Mumford & Son’s Effect’. But may the past be forgotten and let us welcome 'A Different Kind Of Fix' open armed as it’s a record given to us by a band who have matured, gotten over the folk thing and produced something that brings their sound on leaps and bounds.

Written by: Rhys Morgan | Date: Friday, 02 September 2011

Make Sparks - Your Heart's On Fire (Single Review)

The problem with Make Sparks is that they lack a personality. Listening to new single 'Your Heart’s On Fire' gives you very little by way of feeling for this young Scottish trio. A few years back the voice of distinctively Scottish accented vocals would have made them stand out at least a little bit. Nowadays however the British music scene has the likes of Twin Atlantic, Sucioperro and The Xcerts in addition to stalwarts Biffy Clyro in the Scots accent stakes.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Friday, 02 September 2011

Anja McCloskey - And Her Head/Impeccable (Single Review)

Following on from her work with The Irrepressibles, Moneytree and Haunted Stereo, Southampton singer/accordionist Anja McCloskey has decided to go solo, and releases her new single And Her Head/Impeccable on the 5th September.

Written by: Victoria O'Hagan | Date: Thursday, 01 September 2011

Evile - Five Serpents Teeth (Album Review)

There is always a certain debate on the revival of musical genres. Why bring back a sound that’s gone so long without reinvention? Even when some do find themselves resurrected, is there someone good enough to not only bring it back, but rejuvenate rather than merely replicate? Step up: Evile – the lucky title-holders as a key re-inventor of thrash metal; a genre that saw the biggest giants form decades ago – Anthrax, Slayer to name but two - and still reign supreme today.

Written by: Heather McDaid | Date: Thursday, 01 September 2011

Mastodon - The Hunter (Album Review)

The last chance us UK residents had a chance to bask in Mastodon’s might was during their display of metal annihilation at Sonisphere Festival in the midst of July. They may not be here in the flesh to satisfy our current metal cravings personally, but with the follow-up to 2009’s ‘Crack In The Skye’ ready to be unleashed into the world to cause some carnage, we dare say ‘The Hunter’ will be our salvation in terms of our search for some new, quality metal to stick our teeth into.

Written by: Heather McDaid | Date: Thursday, 01 September 2011

Scarlette Fever - Elated (Single Review)

Following the singles ‘Black & White’ and ‘Crash & Burn’, Scarlette Fever releases ‘Elated’ – a stripped back and piano-led ballad showing a softer side to the previous more guitar driven single choices.

Written by: Helen Manley | Date: Thursday, 01 September 2011

The Twilight Singers - Dynamite Steps (Album Review)

Greg Dulli, whether you are aware of him or not, is undoubtedly one of the finest songwriters America has produced for many a decade. His work in The Afghan Whigs may often be overlooked by a music press that prefers to focus their early nineties American rock attention on the big grunge bands and little else, but the band’s last four albums were pioneering works of brilliance. After the Whigs amicably split, The Twilight Singers became Dulli’s main project and he has continued to pour his heart and soul into his work with much the same vigour as in his previous band.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Tuesday, 30 August 2011

Barbra Streisand - What Matters Most (Album Review)

For a thirty third studio album, Barbra Streisand proves to her loving fanbase that her 48-year era of being one of America's most well produced artists hasn’t come to an end yet. With her mix of contemporary jazz and a well written story of well-sophisticated musical collaborations, Streisand has yet to let her fans down with this new album. ‘What Matters The Most’ was eagerly awaited by fans after her previous effort, ‘Love Is The Answer’ produced in 2009 which went to number one on both sides of the Atlantic, making her the only artist to achieve Number One albums in five consecutive decades. However, this new self-produced album of 2011 showed Barbra Streisand in a different light as she enlisted help from favourite long-time lyricists the Bergmans, having recorded 51 of the Bergman’s compositions, including those from her 1983 film ‘Yentl’, she decided to only take on songs she had never recorded before to add to this romantic album.

Written by: Catherine Rea | Date: Tuesday, 30 August 2011

To Destroy A City - To Destroy A City (Album Review)

Formed in the summer of 2010 with ambitions of collectively fusing the inspiration of many styles and genres into integrated, emotive, compositional pieces, Chicago based trio To Destroy A City have begun their musical life with quite elevated intentions. In many ways so, they are quite fortunate that their eponymous debut, released in September, reaches and surpasses these lofty goals.

Written by: Patrick Gormley | Date: Thursday, 25 August 2011

Fionn Regan - 100 Acres Of Sycamore (Album Review)

The main problem with Fionn Regan’s music for many is that there isn’t really that much to say about it. His first record, 2006’s 'The End of History', was an impressive debut but felt more like a stepping stone towards greater glories than an artist already at their best. Sadly the follow-up, last year’s 'The Shadow of an Empire', felt somewhat uninspired. The downward trend continues with '100 Acres of Sycamore'. At its best, this album is pretty inoffensive. At its worst, it’s almost enough to send you to sleep.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Thursday, 25 August 2011

Olly Murs Tickets for 2012 UK Tour PRESALE 9AM TODAY! (Wed 24th Aug)

Following on from our Olly Murs UK Tour announcement earlier this week, Stereoboard users will be able to take advantage of a pre-sale for Olly Murs Tickets as of 9am today, Wednesday 24th August. CLICK HERE TO BUY OLLY MURS PRESALE TICKETS.

Written by: Jon Stickler | Date: Wednesday, 24 August 2011

Jeff Bridges - Jeff Bridges (Album Review)

Having played a down-and-out country singer on utterly excellent movie 'Crazy heart', and performing six of the tracks on that movies soundtrack, it seemed like the logical next step for Jeff Bridges, Hollywood A-lister and utter legend to turn his hand to releasing a bona fide Country album all of his own.

Written by: James Ball | Date: Monday, 22 August 2011

Sam Duckworth - The Mannequin (Album Review)

Sam Duckworth, the frontman of Get Cape Wear Cape Fly (who, unlike when many other acts go solo, have NOT split up, just in case any rumours get passed around), has gone and written himself a solo album, which, for the record, is exactly as awesome as you would expect it to be.

Written by: James Ball | Date: Monday, 22 August 2011

The Narcoleptic Dancers - Rastakraut (Single Review)

An interesting back-story can prove to be a powerful tool for an artist when dealing with journalists or in interviews. It’s fortunate then, that French-Dutch, half-brother and sister offspring of famous footballer Johnny Van Kappers have just that. Meeting for the first time at their father’s funeral, the duo discovered their mutual passion for music, and began writing together under the name ‘The Narcoleptic Dancers’ in homage to their father.

Written by: Emma Newlyn | Date: Monday, 22 August 2011