The Temper Trap - Glasgow 02 Academy - May 13th 2010 (LIVE)

Ever since 'Sweet Disposition' has been on every advert and every montage of relationship turmoil to grace our televisions, The Temper Trap have become the music supervisor's band of choice. Seemingly, there are also 2000 music fans that would be inclined to agree. Australia's chosen boys are on the verge of profound success providing they can keep their patented epic soundscapes rolling out of the studio and into this summer's festival scene. The venue change from the O2 ABC to the O2 Academy is both a blessing and a curse for this -unofficially- 10 legged pathos machine. Blessed in that more 20 somethings will be able to experience this act live and cursed that the ABC has one the worst acoustic problems of any Glaswegian venue.

Written by: Ross Gilchrist & Louise Henderson | Date: Monday, 17 May 2010

Florence and the Machine - Hammersmith Apollo - Friday 14th May 2010 (LIVE)

It’s been a pretty good twelve months for Florence Welch - aka solo artist Florence and the Machine. Her music has received a warm reception from the Great British public and she has managed to become a household name, thanks to the handful of hit singles taken from her debut album ‘Lungs’. The album was released last July and went straight to Number Two in the UK Album Chart, following rave reviews for her live performances. The album’s success peaked at the beginning of 2010 when, after six months in the chart, it finally made it to Number One before being awarded Best British Album at the Brits. Now, following months of touring, Florence is giving ‘Lungs’ another quick airing around the UK before work continues on her next album.

Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Sunday, 16 May 2010

Paul Weller - Wake Up The Nation (REVIEW)

Paul Weller, the Modfather, the ex front man of The Jam and The Style Council and an accomplished solo artist, who has been producing brilliant, inspired music for over 3 decades, since The Jam were formed in 1976, releases his new album, Wake Up The Nation. This is his 10th solo record, in his 50’s now, Paul still introduces us to another side of himself, he experiments with his music, takes us back to familiar styles used when with The Jam and The Style Council and shows us that he’s still got it.

Written by: Adam Simpson | Date: Thursday, 13 May 2010

Foals - Total Life Forever (REVIEW)

The 5 University drop outs from Oxford, release there much awaited 2nd album, Total Life Forever, to their expecting audience. After a much praised debut album, there were high expectations for this record from the art house punks and it duly delivers with its blend of soulful, upbeat bass, electro drum beats, abstract lyrics, uncategorised guitar and electro keyboards. This is a much more mature album, showing how there they have come since they formed in 2006, there style is different from any guitar band of the moment, they are fresh, experimental and manage to include influences from artists of the past without sounding anything other than unique.

Written by: Adam Simpson | Date: Wednesday, 12 May 2010

LIVE: KISS - Glasgow SECC - May 9th 2010

You could be forgiven for thinking it was the set of a remake of 'Evil Dead' set on the streets of Vegas and directed by Michael Bay. With more makeup than a Californian teen beauty pageant and more fireworks than a Chinese New Year, there's no doubt which band is owning this town tonight. New Yorkers Kiss have been around for almost 4 decades and with one of the most heralded back catalogues in the history of "All American Rock 'n' Roll", this show is destined to be a melt-your-face-off display of 'total awesomeness' (dude).

Written by: Ross Gilchrist & Louise Henderson | Date: Tuesday, 11 May 2010

LIVE: Foals - Nottingham Trent University - 7th May 2010

Yesterday evening was a night to never be forgotten, for all those present to participate in the sweaty, chaotic and seminal Foals gig at Trent University Student Union, Nottingham. Free Gatecrasher entry wristbands were handed out to ticket holders as they queued to step down into the uncharted depths of the small, intimate venue, but there was no party taking place anywhere in Britain on May 7th that could touch the one I and a few hundred others were about to let themselves in for.

Written by: Jacob Mier | Date: Sunday, 09 May 2010

LIVE: KISS - Birmingham LG Arena - 5th May 2010

Is there anything in the world more worth seeing than a 6-foot blood-spitting, platform-booted, winged demon. A bare-chested, scream machine Starchild. A guitar-shredding Spaceman and a levitating drumming Catman?

Written by: Jon Stickler | Date: Saturday, 08 May 2010

LIVE: Scouting For Girls - O2 Academy Glasgow - May 4th 2010

I do not hold shares in Fred Perry, Ben Sherman, Adidas or Abercrombie and Fitch. However, something is giving me the distinct impression that I ought to. The homogenous sea of recurring brands swamps the bar on this fairly nice Tuesday night. There are teenagers, fathers and mothers, mid-twenties perennial party goers and middle-aged dancing barflies. The full gamut of ages. Given that this range gets considerably and unsurprisingly smaller the closer to the stage one gets, it's really no surprise that the safest mix tape in the world plays at a considerable volume. Children sing to the strains of 'Livin' On a Prayer', 'American Idiot', and 'Summer Of 69'; butterflies dance in the liquid glow of the house lights...

Written by: Ross Gilchrist & Louise Henderson | Date: Thursday, 06 May 2010

Diana Vickers - Songs from the Tainted Cherry Tree (REVIEW)

Let's get The X Factor out of the way first. Diana's finished with it and moved on, and that's exactly what we should be doing. It may have been an effective platform for her, but that's all it was - a platform, not the be all and end all of her musical career. The fact that she hasn't signed with Simon Cowell and produced an album full of Ryan Tedder penned ballads should be more than enough to prove that Diana is doing things her own way, and doing it well.

Written by: Ginny Bullmore | Date: Tuesday, 04 May 2010

LIVE: Australian Pink Floyd - Cardiff CIA - 22nd April 2010

“Better than the real thing” was one comment among the many overheard during the interval at Cardiff’s CIA on Thursday night. Quite an over-statement maybe but considering these guys are described as one of the best tribute acts on the planet, it could be forgiven this one time, because seriously, close your eyes and you’re there at a genuine Floyd gig.

Written by: Jon Stickler | Date: Sunday, 25 April 2010

Blood Red Shoes - Fire Like This (Review)

Blood Red Shoes feel like they’ve been around forever don’t they?! Well a bit like Wayne Rooney in that sense, they haven’t actually. Hitting the scene back in 2006/7, they made musical waves with singles Stitch Me Back and A.D.H.D, promising lovely big things to the NME’s New Music Tour crowd. Rather thankfully for the band, comparisons with the Shrek-headed footballer end there, as second album Fire Like This is at least a bit more alluring and a less sweaty joining of souls than an evening with Mr Colleen.

Written by: Matt Hamm | Date: Thursday, 22 April 2010

Noel Shows Rock'n'Roll Star Status at Royal Albert Hall

Strolling on stage in his signature casual jeans and shirt, Noel Gallagher coolly poised himself on his stool, offered the audience a quick nod and hello before strumming into opening track It’s Good to Be Free. This man didn’t muck about, and rightly so. His charged audience were ready to soak up a setlist packed with classic B sides and fan favourites, the simple beauty of which was only too clearly emphasised by an acoustic delivery. There were no surprises, no showcased new tunes...just Noel and his masterpieces.

Written by: Bryony Clare | Date: Monday, 12 April 2010

We Have Band - WHB (Album Review)

Hype can often ruin a band. Much like too much of a good thing; pile on heaps of praise and expectation upon the head of a new act, and the wheels can come off before they’ve even got into second gear. London trio We Have Band are one such collective. Winning Glastonbury Festival’s 2009 Emerging Talent Contest and creating a buzz the size of a giant 10 foot angry mutated bumblebee, the bar of anticipation has been raised for debut album WHB.

Written by: Matt Hamm | Date: Friday, 09 April 2010

I Was A King Fail to Fizzle With Flat Second Album

Norwegian trio I Was A King, follow up their widely acclaimed 2007 debut ‘Losing Something Good for Something Better’ with a self titled second album that includes many a collaboration, featuring Gary Olson (Ladybug Transister), Surjan Stevens and Emil Nikolasien (Sereena Maneesh), as well a mixing by Nick Terry (The Libertines, Primal Scream, Klaxons).

Written by: Dan Clark | Date: Wednesday, 07 April 2010

LIVE: Bad Company And Joe Perry - Cardiff CIA - 5th April 2010

Forget eggs and the old James Bond film on the television, for me, this Easter Bank holiday was all about another bearded man. Paul Rogers returning to the stage!

Written by: Jon Stickler | Date: Tuesday, 06 April 2010

Motion City Soundtrack Finally Step Up To The Plate

Minneapolis quintet Motion City Soundtrack have spent an eternity in the pop-punk/emo-rock underground in the shadow of mainstream acts such as Fall out Boy and All American Rejects.

Written by: Daniel Clark | Date: Tuesday, 06 April 2010

Editors Live at the O2 Academy Bournemouth

Birmingham quartet Editors took to the stage at Bournemouth’s O2 Academy full of the dark and brooding attitude that has established them as one of the countries top Indie bands. Starting with the title track from new Album ‘In This Light And On This Evening’, the Editors moved and soothed the crowd in equal measure, playing a mix of new songs as well as some more established favourites.

Written by: Daniel Clark | Date: Thursday, 25 March 2010

General Fiasco Rock Islington's o2 Academy

Hailing from Northern Ireland, the trio, Strathern brothers Owen and Enda and Stephen “Leaky” Leacoc have slowly but surely began their breakthrough into the UK Indie scene since the release of their single Rebel Get By in 2008. Having formed in 2007, the band don’t appear to have stopped pushing their sound – from their initial performance at their local Glasgowbury Festival, to supporting esteemed bands including The Pigeon Detectives and The Enemy, as well as playing the BBC Introducing stage at Glastonbury 2008. With such considerable achievements already under their belts, this small, intimate bar then at the top of Islington Academy, offered the perfect atmosphere in which to capture the showcase of their forthcoming debut album ‘Buildings’.

Written by: Bryony Clare | Date: Tuesday, 23 March 2010

ALBUM REVIEW: Gorillaz - Plastic Beach

In an interview shortly after the release of the hugely successful second Gorillaz album ‘Demon Days’, founder and chief musical contributor Damon Albarn proclaimed: “It’s quite a hip-hop thing to do, isn’t it? To retire and come back.” He was, of course, suggesting that Gorillaz may return at some unknown point in the future, but also that the cartoon group were to disband for some time. Following the reception of ‘Demon Days’, both critically and commercially, there seemed little point for them to continue. With Gorillaz, Albarn and co-founder Jamie Hewlett had previously stated that they wanted to create something that could work in the mainstream, but would give them the freedom to be experimental. It seemed that they had done what they had apparently set out to achieve.

Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Thursday, 11 March 2010

Marina's Aren't Just Any Jewels, They're Conflict Diamonds

It seems the new wave of contenders for the ‘Pop Princess’ title of 2010 is well and truly upon us, and Greek-Welsh beauty Marina Diamandis has certainly made her presence in the battle known. Despite ending runner-up to her biggest competitor, cutesy Ellie Goulding, in both BBC Introducing and Critic’s Choice awards, Marina and the Diamonds prove that she's not out of the game just yet with her glittering debut record, The Family Jewels. Packed with tracks extravagantly decorated in electronic beats that lend themselves to the likes of Little Boots and La Roux, these unavoidably infectious jewels are guaranteed to hypnotise your feet.

Written by: Bryony Clare | Date: Thursday, 25 February 2010