Less Than Jake: Ska-Punk Greats Still Fired Up After All These Years

Take it from Garth Algar: we fear change. We all do. It’s something that makes the longevity of a band like Less Than Jake deeply comforting. For almost 30 years the Gainesville outfit have been racking up the miles playing ska-punk tunes that have ricocheted from the heart of the zeitgeist to the outer rim of cultural relevance—and they don’t give a shit how anyone sees them.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Tuesday, 03 September 2019

Politely Taking Over The World: Gender Roles Talk Debut Album 'Prang' And Living For Live Shows

Most bands don’t set out with a grand plan in mind, and Brighton’s Gender Roles were no different. “We’ve never had a mission,” guitarist and vocalist Tom Bennett says. “We just wanted to start playing music, and we really wanted to play shows because all our mates were doing it. 

Written by: Laura Johnson | Date: Thursday, 29 August 2019

What's Your First Line Going To Be? The Futureheads Discuss Their Long-Awaited Return With 'Powers'

The stars of mid-2000s indie discos are frozen in time in the memories of a lot of people—their music might as well be an advert for sticky floors and test tube shots. And that’s where the Futureheads, who had a couple of songs that were students’ union staples, might still reside in the eyes of some.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Tuesday, 27 August 2019

If You Know, You Know: ArcTanGent Festival Proves Bigger Isn't Always Better

Photo: Coheed and Cambria by Sam Lees We’ve all had one of those chats over a beer, where we put the world to rights and share plans for our latest pipe dream. The difference between us and Goc O’Callaghan? She actually went out and did it, creating one of the world’s best small festivals for fans of math-rock, post-rock, noise-rock, and all you find in between. 

Written by: Laura Johnson | Date: Thursday, 22 August 2019

Everything Considered: The Murder Capital Talk Debut Album 'When I Have Fears'

“It’s about a fear of life and an acceptance of maybe not being able to finish everything you wanted to do. We thought that was a really beautiful statement. It worked with our mentality. So we thought we’d move forward with that and we put that as the pillar for writing songs.”

Written by: Laura Johnson | Date: Wednesday, 14 August 2019

Foo Fighters: How 'There is Nothing Left to Lose' Changed Dave Grohl's Fortunes

The end of any decade is, essentially, meaningless. We attach poignancy to it because we’re all narcissists in some way—we want this decade, our decade, to stand for something. Musically, the ‘90s did a better job than some of its peers in allowing us to think that: young people were swept up by grunge, or the gloss of modern R&B, or punk’s chart explosion, or the battle between the east and west coasts.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Tuesday, 13 August 2019

How To Make A Sadcore Hit: A Lana Del Rey Recipe

Lana Del Rey really has nailed her hazy, retro vibe and a nostalgic sense of sadness. Far from the usual feel-good factor of pop hits, the New York vocalist and songwriter has carved a niche for herself in the shimmery, summery genre of luxurious, melancholic songs that we like to call sadcore.

Written by: Helen Payne | Date: Friday, 09 August 2019

Lego House Or Penthouse? What Global Domination Means For Ed Sheeran

Ed Sheeran makes his own rules. After a decade of working his way up from busking in small towns and playing local pub gigs to now dizzying, chart-topping heights, life for Teddy has reached the point where he’s in the enviable position of creatively being able to do whatever he wants.

Written by: Helen Payne | Date: Tuesday, 06 August 2019

An Ocean of Hours: Bear's Den Delve Into 'So That You Might Hear Me'

“I wanted to make an album that talked openly about issues that I have and am still working through,” Bear’s Den vocalist Andrew Davie says. “The whole theme of ‘So That You Might Hear Me’ is about looking for a sense of connection and often a conversation is where that starts.”

Written by: Milly McMahon | Date: Monday, 05 August 2019

Love Letter To Their Youth: Dude York Talk New Album 'Falling'

Exposure to early 2000s emo, nu-metal and pop-punk usually results in one of two reactions: a disgusted sneer, often accompanied by an exasperated sigh, or a knowing smile followed by overly enthusiastic headbanging. Dude York’s members would choose the latter.

Written by: Laura Johnson | Date: Wednesday, 24 July 2019

So Emotional: Seven Standout Christina Aguilera Moments

You know as well as us that Christina Aguilera needs no introduction, but we’re going to give her one anyway. Eight albums. Over 100 awards. A soundtrack. A Spanish-language LP. A star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Bangers aplenty.

Written by: Helen Payne | Date: Thursday, 18 July 2019

Always Knowingly NSFW: Rammstein's History in Video Nasties

Photo: © Jens Koch They aren't for everyone, apparently, but honestly what’s not to love about German industrial metal giants Rammstein? 

Written by: Jon Stickler | Date: Thursday, 11 July 2019

Melting Into Lunacy: Inside the Mad, Mad World of Phoxjaw

“I had an ice-cream a minute ago. It was, like, a tiramisu. It was nice. I like choc-ices, too. I find them very silly. They remind me of my grandad.”

Written by: Matt Mills | Date: Wednesday, 10 July 2019

Crystal Tumblers and Beer Pong: KISS, the Music and the Merch

Few rock bands have ascended to the iconic heights that KISS currently occupy, but their legacy is a complicated one. On one hand they are a huge arena draw, famed for fire, blood and good times, and on the other they are largely critically derided and dismissed as gimmicky, sleazy, over-the-top t-shirt salesmen.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Tuesday, 09 July 2019

Nothing Lasts Forever: Prince Daddy and the Hyena Talk 'Cosmic Thrill Seekers'

Sometimes you just have to drop everything and do what you have to do. And right now, Kory Gregory is going to pet the dog that’s just walked by. Once he’s back on the phone, the guitarist and lead singer of Albany punk band Prince Daddy and the Hyena returns to describing the pop impulses that underpin their spectacular new record, ‘Cosmic Thrill Seekers’.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Monday, 08 July 2019

Spinning Around: Kylie's Iconic Pop Journey

Fresh from leading the Sunday afternoon crowd at Glastonbury through a pastel-hued, witty, celebratory set in the now traditional legends slot, Kylie Minogue is about to turn her attention to a series of summer shows in the UK that promise plenty of pop sunshine (even if the real thing is yet to RSVP). Here we take a look back at some of the biggest hits and most important turning points in a storied career. Hot pants optional.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Tuesday, 02 July 2019

Wet Plate Portraits: Taking Back Sunday At O2 Academy Bristol

td#right {display:none !important;} Photograph: Gareth Jarvis It’s been 20 years since Taking Back Sunday formed on Long Island, New York. From where we stand right now, we can look back over two decades of thrills, spills, emo classics, mosh pits, long hair, short hair, loud guitars and unadulterated singalongs that helped define the listening habits of a generation. Such a milestone is worth celebrating, and these guys know the perfect way to do so.

Written by: Helen Payne | Date: Wednesday, 26 June 2019

Don't Stop: Fleetwood Mac's Ongoing Evolution

Nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes, and members of Fleetwood Mac falling out with one another.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Friday, 14 June 2019

The Accessible Festival Revolution

Photos: Educational Life Accessibility is a word that has been bubbling under in music for years but now, hand in hand with equality, independence and inclusivity, major measures are being embraced by increasing numbers of forward-thinking festival organisers after years of ground-level work. In fact, the move to improve accessibility for deaf and disabled music fans is becoming something of a revolution.

Written by: Anna Ghislena | Date: Wednesday, 12 June 2019

House Parties To Headliners: Foals' Guitar Riffs Through The Ages

In the 10 years since Foals released their debut album, ‘Antidotes’, Yannis Philippakis, Jack Bevan, Jimmy Smith and Edwin Congreave have naturally evolved.

Written by: Helen Payne | Date: Monday, 10 June 2019