Gregg Allman – Low Country Blues (Album Review)

This may come as a surprise to some, but Kings of Leon are not, in fact, the original band of brothers to hail from Nashville, Tennessee. That honour would arguably go to the Allman Brothers Band, who were churning out Southern rock classics like ‘Jessica’ – aka “the Top Gear theme tune” – long before the Followills were even in nappies. Gregg Allman has fronted the group ever since their formation in 1969 and, despite the tragic loss of his brother Duane in 1971, continues to do so today. He’s also managed to build up an impressive, if sporadic, solo career over the past forty years and fans will no doubt be pleased to hear that he’s back with a brand new album, no less than fourteen years after his last offering, 1997’s ‘Searching for Simplicity’.

Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Tuesday, 08 February 2011

The Duke Spirit – Kusama EP (Review)

Looking back a few years to around the time of their first two albums, 2005’s ‘Cuts Across the Land’ and 2008’s ‘Neptune’, London four-piece The Duke Spirit were being praised for their blending of garage rock with more experimental music. The band’s frontwoman Leila Moss was even drawing comparisons to the likes of Debbie Harry, Karen O and PJ Harvey. However, for their new EP ‘Kusama’, it seems that such associations cannot be made. While Moss may still retain some of her Blondie-esque vocal attributes in places, there is certainly nothing here that could be described as particularly innovating or even especially praiseworthy.

Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Monday, 07 February 2011

The Joy Formidable – Bristol Thekla – 2nd February 2011

“There’s a few of you here,” The Joy Formidable’s frontwoman Ritzy Bryan observes at one point during tonight’s performance in Bristol. She’s not wrong. As the seemingly endless flow of people continues to squeeze further forwards into the city’s boat venue the Thekla, it’s definitely worth wondering whether tonight’s headliners would have been more suited to one of Bristol’s larger gig halls. Only a week after the release of their debut LP ‘The Big Roar’ and the album is clearly creating excitement of such immense proportions that it seems to be outdoing the expectations that were held back in October, when this tour of modestly-sized British venues was first announced.

Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Friday, 04 February 2011

Sea of Bees – Songs for the Ravens (Album Review)

In the past, Julie Ann Baenziger – aka Sea of Bees – has preferred to define her music using the term “freak folk”, a genre previously associated with the likes of Animal Collective and Devendra Banhart. However, although it doesn’t have quite the same ring to it, the name “psych-country” seems far more appropriate after listening to her debut album ‘Songs for the Ravens’. Finally bringing her first long-player over to British shores, the Californian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist introduces us to a strangely unique blend of haunting country music, pleasant-sounding folk and electronic psychedelia, all centred around Julie’s gentle but imposing voice. The songs themselves have each been given titles that, although short, are suitably representative of the beautiful and often weird music that they convey.

Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Friday, 04 February 2011

Mike Marlin - Nearly Man (Album Review)

An album 25 years in the making, 'Nearly Man' is the debut record by singer-songwriter Mike Marlin, a man who is very much the sum of his influences. Marlin’s vocals particularly zigzag: there is Damon Albarn’s frankness, Ian McCulloch’s drawl, even David Bowie-esque vibrato.  

Written by: Jonny Rimmer | Date: Thursday, 03 February 2011

The Boxer Rebellion - The Cold Still (Album Review)

The Boxer Rebellion, a multi-international four-piece based in London, are about to deliver their third studio album. That's right, most people wouldn't even know of their prior six year existence. They're a band that have received acclaim outside of the mainstream while not really forcing themselves onto your radio. But with 'The Cold Still', that is all likely to change.

Written by: Rhys Morgan | Date: Thursday, 03 February 2011

Emily Jane White - Ode To Sentience (Album Review)

To call 'Ode to Sentience' a “road album”, could perhaps seem a little insulting, given its Americana tinge, but it is certainly a rewarding journey.

Written by: Jonny Rimmer | Date: Thursday, 03 February 2011

Architects - The Here And Now (Album Review)

It's staggering to think that this five piece from Brighton are a band who, since 2006, has released a total of four full length albums and an EP. This, combined with the fact that front man Sam Carter is a mere 21 years of age must leave those with even a basic knowledge of this industry fairly gob smacked.

Written by: Owen Sheppard | Date: Thursday, 03 February 2011

Sleeper – ‘Smart’/‘The It Girl’ (Re-issue Reviews)

Pulp are reforming, Ocean Colour Scene are re-issuing and touring ‘Moseley Shoals’ and Suede are playing their first three albums live in May. It’s the return of Britpop. But what could come next? After the reunions of Cast and Blur over the last couple of years, it was probably about time Sleeper made a reappearance of some kind as well. However, as there’s been no sign of a reunion announcement yet, we’ll all just have to make do with these Deluxe Edition re-issues of their two biggest albums ‘Smart’ and ‘The It Girl’.

Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Tuesday, 01 February 2011

Me First and the Gimme Gimmes – Go Down Under (EP Review)

Following their previous adventures having a ball, blowing in the wind and ruining Jonny’s Bar Mitzvah, Hawaiian shirt-wearing, punk rock covers band and supergroup Me First and the Gimme Gimmes are back with their latest EP ‘Me First and the Gimme Gimmes Go Down Under’. This time around, having already covered the ‘70s, the ‘60s and Broadway as well as both R&B and country music, the five-piece have chosen to take on and pull apart some hits from the wonderful world of Oz.

Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Monday, 31 January 2011

Hold Your Horse Is - Forgive And Forget (Single Review)

Hampshire/Surrey trio Hold Your Horse Is are making a name for themselves with catchy, off-kilter alt-rock anthems. Last year’s ‘Rammin’ It Home’ EP was their first release on Big Scary Monsters and earned them praise from numerous quarters, much like their energetic live performances.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Monday, 31 January 2011

N*E*R*D – The Best of N*E*R*D (Album Review)

The “Best Of” album is a curious thing nowadays. Sorry to get all nostalgic, but the “Best Of” album used to represent a well thought out selection of classics by a band that had been around long enough to qualify for such a thing. These days, however, it seems that anyone with a handful of singles to their name can arguably release their own “Best Of”. That certainly seems to be the case with this latest compilation from Pharrell Williams’s N*E*R*D. Especially as, depending on your own definition of the “Best Of N*E*R*D”, it doesn’t even encompass the full extent of the trio’s chronology. What this is, in fact, is a “Best Of” the two albums that N*E*R*D released on Virgin Records, therefore excluding 2008’s Top 20 album ‘Seeing Sounds’ and last year’s ‘Nothing’. Hardly a genuine “Best Of”, some may argue, but if you were only really a fan of N*E*R*D’s biggest hits then this could be for you.

Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Friday, 28 January 2011

Glamour Of The Kill - 'The Summoning' (Album Review)

It would be fair to say that since their formation in 2007, Glamour of the Kill have had their share of achievements with just EPs in their back catalogue. Since supporting big names such as Avenged Sevenfold and Bullet for my Valentine and opening the main stage at Download ’08, the band have been working on their first studio release ‘The Summoning’.

Written by: Heather McDaid | Date: Thursday, 27 January 2011

Lemmy: The Movie (DVD Review)

Motorhead's Lemmy Kilmister, love him or hate him you cannot deny that he is one of the greatest rock'n'roll icons of all time. With rock biopics being turned out left right and centre in recent years, Iron Maiden's 'Flight 666', Saxon's 'Heavy Metal Thunder' and Anvil's 'The Story Of Anvil' to name but a few, the arrival of a documentary – or should that be 'ROCKumentary' – profiling Lemmy comes as little suprise.

Written by: Jon Stickler | Date: Thursday, 27 January 2011

Travis Barker - Can A Drummer Get Some (Single Review)

To most Travis Barker is a pop-punk icon but in a side-step from Blink-182, he has been working on an ambitious solo album aiming to flaunt his eclectic influences. With an impressive list of collaborators including Tom Morello, Lil Wayne and Corey Taylor, Barker has definitely left expectations high for his upcoming album 'Give The Drummer Some'. 

Written by: Heather McDaid | Date: Monday, 24 January 2011

Cold War Kids - Louder Than Ever (Video Review)

Cold War Kids returned at the end of 2010 with ‘Louder Than Ever’; a teaser taste of the Californian band’s third LP, ‘Mine Is Yours.’

Written by: Hayley Taylor | Date: Sunday, 23 January 2011

Hospitality - Drum And Bass 2011 (Compilation Album Review)

‘Hospitality Drum and Bass 2011’ is the newest and freshest mix album to come out of the Hospital Record steam engine, and it packs as much as punch, pace and pulse as any of the heavyweight CDs they’ve put out in the past!

Written by: Elliott Batte | Date: Thursday, 20 January 2011

Tally Koren - 72 Names (Album Review)

Israeli vocalist Tally Koren’s sophomore record could best be summed up as a frustrating learning curve. '72 Names' is a puzzling album that doesn’t quite know what it wants to be; it features western electronic influences, as well as a percussive, middle-eastern undercurrent. Sure, the production is absolutely meticulous (it’s co-produced by Yoad Nevo of Pet Shop Boys fame), and this record is definitely, um, varied.

Written by: Jonny Rimmer | Date: Wednesday, 19 January 2011

Two Door Cinema Club - Tourist History (Album Review)

"It’s going to be a fast paced, electro pop album. That’s our aim." Well it's been almost a year, and I think it's pretty safe to say, that Two Door Cinama Club have managed to achieve their aim.

Written by: Sophie Monk | Date: Wednesday, 19 January 2011

Ollie Stewart - ‘Night Bell’ (EP Review)

The end of 2010 sees the launch of an interesting singer/songwriters career. Looking to further bridge the gap between modern mainstream pop, experimental electronic sounds and 70’s, 80’s 90’s influences Ollie Stewart comes into the frame with his debut EP ‘Night Bell'.

Written by: Tom Austin | Date: Wednesday, 19 January 2011