For Fans Of: Vampire Weekend
Sunday 28 February 2010
Friday 26 February 2010
BLOOD RED SHOES - FIRE LIKE THIS
Blood Red Shoes' 2008 debut album 'Box Of Secrets' was well received although many believed it didn't quite live up the bands reputation gained from ferocious live shows. The album was still a success and contained a number of great dance rock singles. The Brighton duo have returned with 'Fire Like This' which is altogether a tighter piece of work, a more accurate representation of the band and the music they want to make.
The album has been produced by Nirvana producer Steve Albini, and it really shows. The 10 tracks are raw, unapologetic rock songs that move at great pace and without a glossy shine. And the songs benefit from this production, you can imagine the songs sounding like this live. Single 'Light It Up' probably sums up the album, heavy, thumping drums, technical and powerful guitars with the two vocals combining to great effect on a thunderous chorus.
For a two-piece, Blood Red Shoes really make a racket. Sometimes two-piece bands can feel a little empty on record, but 'Fire...' really makes the most of their wide sound, delivering 10 heavy and full songs and displaying the duo's strong abilities. Laura-Mary's singing on 'When We Wake' is also a pleasant surprise, a slow burning number about mortality which is a good contrast the the rest of the albums pure rock.
Thursday 25 February 2010
Introducing... Big Troubles
For Fans Of: Best Coast, The Soft Pack, Smith Westerns
Listen To: Freudian Slips
Best Coast - Something In The Way
After a run of great demos and singles, Best Coast are releasing new single 'Something In The Way' this month. It's more of the same brilliant garage rock that has two great b-sides in 'Wish He Was You' and 'The Road'. Best Coast are one of my favourite new acts around at the moment and they play Manchester Deaf Institute in May. I shall be booking a ticket and looking forward to a full length release.
THE COURTEENERS - FALCON
'Falcon' is released at the end of February, and is The Courteeners follow up to 2008's Number 4 album 'St Jude'. In between, the band have had sell out tours, massive festival appearances, a US tour support slot with Morrissey, and yet the jury still seems to be out on them. Many dismiss the band as (shudder) 'lad-rock' and (basically just front-man Liam Fray) gobby and unoriginal. This really isn't a fair reflection of the band, and despite their critics, they have a huge following. 'Falcon' seems to be The Courteeners answer and response to the critics, and a developed, step up in their game, a maturity of sound and lyrics.
Opening track, imaginatively titled 'The Opener', is an ode to Manchester and home, Liam asking "I've been away, I've been working, but now I'm back , I need to know if you're still there and need to know if you still care?" With recent 11,000 sell out home-town gig at Manchester Central and a near sold out nationwide tour, it's obvious that people do still care about The Courteeners. This track is a good start, an indication of the albums themes and sound with Elbow-esque mature theme they have developed. There are still the rockier moments that dominated 'St Jude', here found on 'Sycophant' and 'Take Over The World' (you can imagine this is Fray's plan), but the heavy guitars are combined with strings and dramatic, choir backed choruses.
"I'm only a paper-boy from the North West but I can scrub up well in Sunday best", Fray's lyrics are still staying close to the kitchen sink, but he attempts at grander, more meaningful stuff across the album, as heard on 'Cross My Heart & Hope To Fly', "...and shoot right up into the middle of the sky, where no one can find me and no one can see, that would be my ecstasy."
There are still the indie disco floor fillers on display, mainly in the form of single 'You Over Did It Doll' with the Franz Ferdinand/Reverend & The Makers disco-funk and with Liam singing about "the girl that he used to whirl" who'll "carry on till you're dead and you drop."
Liam Fray's lyrics, much like the band as a whole, seem to be Marmite to people, them either being loved or hated. He admits on 'Lullaby' "I'm a fool who thinks he's as strong as Cassius Clay" which seems a more personal lyric than ever heard before. I personally love Liam's lyrics. He sings about "The Night & Day holding memories" the "Deansgate fireflies", which are all about home and Manchester. Growing up here I feel like I know what he is singing about (and often changing between complaining about to missing it by being away), I have the same experiences and so it's easy for me to relate. Critics will claim he is being over sentimental, but that is what I associate with Fray, and works best on 'Cameo Broach'. I understand why alot of people will dislike the album, or just not find it to their taste, but that doesn't bother me one bit.
'Falcon' isn't a classic album. It's a big step for 'The Courteeners' and should see them step up into the big time, which they deserve (and want) to do. It probably won't stay with me as much as 'St Jude' did, but there is more to explore here and I will be doing. Special mention must be made for the 5 tracks on the 2nd CD on the deluxe edition, especially if you like the punk moments from the band. 'Revolver' stands out, which it has been threatening to so since Liam first started playing it in his solo acoustic shows. In fact the whole album seems to be a Liam Fray project and I wonder how much of a say the other members get in the direction of the band. I'm not really too bothered about the answer, as I like their direction, and this soaring (ha - get it?) album.
Wednesday 24 February 2010
Tuesday 9 February 2010
CHRISTMAS ISLAND - BLACKOUT SUMMER
I think it started with Girls last year. Actually, it was The Black Lips a few years before, and The Cribs to some extent, but lo-fi, garage rock that remind me of summer and romance has slowly started to dominate my music collection. I don't know whether it's the simplicity of it, the realism, but with escapist qualities; anyone can listen to these bands and imagine being on a beach on a warm summers night with loved ones and just partying until morning. The Drums are benefiting from this movement at the moment, but there are so many gems out there, ones that I've been posting virtually every day on this blog - Surfer Blood, Smithwesterns, Beach House, Best Coast. The list goes on and continues to grow, and I love that because it means I get to stumble across bands like Christmas Island.
Most bands in this surf/beach pop, lo-fidelity garage era are only just being blogged about and so EP's and albums are months off, but I was able to download 'Blackout Summer' from Christmas Island. It is more of this amazing music around at the moment. A little unvaried yes, but it is brilliant ramshackle strumming of people who can make music at home, bands who sing about love, California and drinking. Most of the numbers are about rejection and sadness but with guitars and singing of the sunniest variety. Another unexpected treat, mixing the best elements of Girls and The Drums in an amateur, yet charming way.
Introducing... Mount McKinley
I stumbled across this small band from New Jersey whilst on myspace. If you like Bon Iver or Beach House (and who doesn't?) and you have a pair of ears (or even just the one), I suggest you give them a listen. Glorious lo-fi romps with layers of gazing beauty. Amazing.
LIGHTSPEED CHAMPION - LIFE IS SWEET! NICE TO MEET YOU
Released this week is Lightspeed Champion's follow up to 2008's 'Falling Off The Lavender Bridge', nicely titled 'Life Is Sweet! Nice To Meet You'. If you haven't heard Dev Hynes before, then after this album, you'll be glad he met you. Recorded at the end of 2009 in Brooklyn with Ben Allen (Gnarles Barkley, Animal Collective), Lightspeed's sophomore album showcases how far he has come and developed since those Test Icicles days.
The country vibe to his first album (which was one of my favourites from 2008) has been swapped for chamber pop, and indie style opera, which sounds crazy, but it works for Lightpseed - the man can get away with alot, he's that talented. You almost feel he could try his hand at anything and produce quality music.
Opener 'Dead Head Blues' is a great start and sets the tone for the album. The emotional angst on display set against an America Wild West backdrop shows how Hynes can now showcase how far he's developed. This leads on to single 'Marlene' which is just amazing, complex lyrics with a huge number of musical styles; western, shredding guitar solo's and pop rock. Acoustic guitars and violins dominate the middle of the album, along with electric piano interludes before the melody and male choirs build up to the climax of the album, full of heartbreak anthems.
'Life Is Sweet!..' has been produced really well, and with Lightspeeds imagination and scope, that is a hard thing to do. I could not say where he'll go after this, what sort of album he can do to top this, but I'm not too bothered at the moment, I'm just glad I have this album to enjoy.
Expecting... MGMT
MGMT's new album 'Congratulations' is to be released in April, the band have confirmed. They have announced the tracklisting, but claim that there will be no singles released from it, claiming it should be listened to as a whole piece of work. They have said however, that a 'surf' them will run through the nine tracks.
'It's Working'
'Song for Dan Treacy'
'Someone's Missing'
'Flash Delirium'
'I Found a Whistle'
'Siberian Breaks'
'Brian Eno'
'Lady Dada's Nightmare'
'Congratulations'
'Song for Dan Treacy'
'Someone's Missing'
'Flash Delirium'
'I Found a Whistle'
'Siberian Breaks'
'Brian Eno'
'Lady Dada's Nightmare'
'Congratulations'
Welcoming Back... The Futureheads
The Futureheads are returning this year with a new fourth album. You can listen to new single 'Heartbeat Song' on their myspace now, as well as getting a free download of 'Struck Dumb' on their website. Both tracks will appear on 'The Chaos', released in April. The band are also hitting the road in May for a string of dates.
Friday 5 February 2010
THE SOFT PACK - THE SOFT PACK
Alot of bands suffer from hype. Early buzz can be great; all the press coverage and attention gives you a leg up, gets you an audience. But bands need to follow up the hype with music that is worth all the early praise. So many bands fall at the first hurdle - disappointing albums and live shows that don't justify the hype and people stop paying attention. The Soft Pack are a band who have been subject to massive hype. They were in 'ones-to-watch' lists in 2008 while they were called The Muslims, and then again when they changed their name. Some early releases (Parasites EP, Extinction EP) showed alot of promise, but fans and critics were waiting for their full length debut before deciding their fate - did they live up to the buzz?
Well The Soft Pack's self titled debut record is finally released for everyone to hear. And it does live up to the hype, or at least the first half does. Tracks like 'C'mon', 'Answer To Yourself' and 'More Or Less' are the exciting indie rock 'n' roll staples that we would expect after those exhilarating early releases. In fact the whole album is a solid garage rock album with basic indie structure but with a modern lo-fi twist. But after about half way into the album, nothing really changes and the formula seems a little tired. The Soft Pack do guitar parts and vocal harmonies just aswell as any Californian garage band from the last 30 years, I was just hoping for a little more, as only shown in the slower, ballad like 'Mexico'. A little more variation over the 10 tracks and The Soft Pack would have had a classic pop-punk debut, which after the hype, I expected. That will teach me a lesson (no it won't).
Thursday 4 February 2010
Wednesday 3 February 2010
Introducing... Esben & the Witch
"The suave country cousin of Portishead, who's come to town toting a porcelain owl under their provincial arm and surprising everybody with their perfect diction and savoir faire."
TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB - TOURIST HISTORY
'Tourist History' is an album with familiar features; angular indie guitars and electro rhythms, much like a Bloc Party mixed with Foals. Two Door Cinema Club, another band from Northern Ireland, present a debut album here that goes beyond just another generic 'indie' album. Most songs on this 10-track album are instantly catchy and recall some of the better bands from the last decade; Vampire Weekend and Born Ruffians on 'Something Good Can Work' and The Futureheads and Editors on 'I Can Talk'.
It's with good reason that Two Door Cinema Club were singled out as one of the bands to watch in 2010 (they were included in BBC's Sound Of 2010). Along with Delphic, whom they share some electro similarities but are more guitar driven, they are defiantly one of the better new bands out there and this is a really strong debut album, with enough variety to pick up a strong following. Expect bigger tours and strong festival appearances this year.
Here is the bands next single, 'Undercover Martyn';
The Drums - Best Friend
Probably one of the most blogged/talked/listed about bands for 2010, The Drums made really big waves after their EP 'Summertime' last year. The band fully deserved the praise and hype they received, but after last single 'I Felt Stupid' and now 'Best Friend', I can't help but think their album will be a let-down. I hope it isn't but, neither of the last two singles are a 'Let's Go Surfing'. Hopefully I'm making a fuss over nothing and their debut this year will be surf-pop-tastic. I'll be checking them out live this Saturday as well on the NME Awards Tour.
Tuesday 2 February 2010
Welcoming Back... Lightspeed Champion
Lightspeed Champion is back! Hurrah! After 2008's glorious 'Falling Off The Lavender Bridge', the former Test-Icicle will be releasing new album 'Life Is Sweet, Nice To Meet You' (which is probably the loveliest album title I have ever heard, if it has a picture of a kitten in a basket as the artwork, people would probably die), and I'll be reviewing it here soon. Meanwhile, check out the awesome comeback single 'Marlene' filled with great pop moments, an awesome guitar solo, violins and the word 'Deutschmarks'. Oh Lightspeed, how we've missed you.
Welcoming Back... The Strange Boys
The Strange Boys return after last years '...And Girls Club' with new single 'Be Brave' up on their myspace. It's more great lo-fi garage fun that we've come to love from the Texans in the same vain as The Black Lips. The single is ramshackle brilliance that sounds like its been made on a hazy, white hot afternoon in Austin, with a great sax breakdown in the middle. Expect more of this great racket from an upcoming album they've promised in the coming months.
Monday 1 February 2010
Introducing... John Smith
"The playing style he adopts may cause your jaw to hit the floor…he has all the flair for the gathering storm that made Jeff Buckley so attractive...one hesitates to mention Nick Drake but well, one already has done.”
THE SUNSHINE UNDERGROUND - NOBODY'S COMING TO SAVE YOU
Chances are that if you are reading this you will have been in an indie club between now and 2005. And if that is the case, even higher chances are that you will have heard either 'Put You In Your Place' or 'Commercial Breakdown' at some point. Both are taken from The Sunshine Undergrounds debut album from 2006, 'Raise The Alarm', which I am struggling to name another song from, despite NME calling it the 'first great album of the new-rave scene' (how long did that last?). But that's not the point, the point was that TSU made great indie disco floorfillers, it has been 4 years since that album, and so will 'Nobody's Coming To Save You' be relevant any more, or even any good?
On first listen, the album was worth the wait (even though four years is too long to wait for any bands second album - I wonder how many 'die-hard' fans stuck around?). There is still the electro rhythms there that first got them labelled as 'new-rave' but the guitars this time are alot more driven and the vocals strained, at times sounding like an indie disco Muse and at other times sounding like a heavier Rapture. This might hold TSU in good stead, there isn't too much indie disco type material surfacing at the moment and those dance floors need to be filled; 'Nobody's Coming...' is filled with tracks that can do this, especially 'Coming To Save You' and 'We've Always Been You're Friends'. It's good to have the Sunshine back, and this is just as good as their debut - let's just hope there is still an audience for it.
LOS CAMPESINOS! - ROMANCE IS BORING
Ditching their 'twee' image, gained on the release of two albums in 2008, Los Campesinos! return with a much stronger, serious album. Both 'Hold On Now Youngster' and 'We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed' were great albums, agonisingly honest lyrics set to glorious indie pop, but LC! have stepped their game up with 'Romance Is Boring', released in February. It's a big step forward for the band, these 15 songs are better than anything recorded by the band before, and 'twee' is definitely not a word you would associate with this album.
'Romance...' may not be as catchy as earlier work, but this is work that benefits from every listen, there is alot more going on technically, from lo-fi arrangements, pop punk and electronic breakdowns. The title track is a great piece of indie pop with a punk edge, and 'The Sea Is A Good Place To Think Of The Future' (yes they still do reeeaaallly long song titles) is a spoken word delivery over violins and crashing choruses. This album really is alot more coherent and stands up well as a single listen.
However LC! change musically or in influence, they do heartbreak and dark matters of the heart so well. So if you're into that sort of thing, this is for you.
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