ALBUMs
- Album Reviews
It’s Saturday night, we are down the Boars Head, a couple of ales, the place is packed as the band take the stage, and launch into ‘Becoming A Nuisance’, from an album “recorded loud for playing louder”. The pounding of the guitar, bass and drums grows stronger, louder, with punk attitude to the fore. What a night is in store for the audience!
That’s how I’d imagine The Brian James Band performing new album ‘The Guitar that Dripped Blood’ in a live environment because through the speakers it seems grungy, muddy and massively to the point for a sonic live show.
THE Dammed and Lords of The New Church founder has returned with a no holds barred rock’n’roll record, not for the faint hearted. The band includes a couple of special guests: Dead Boys legend Cheetah Chrome and Adam Becvare (Black Halos/LustKillers) and the cover is by noted horror poster artist Graham Humphries.
Ten tracks recorded for the most part in Brighton, have produced a raw rock n’ roll record.
“I didn’t do this to be rich and famous. I started off because it’s the only thing I wanted to do in life, and it still is.” Said Brian recently, so let’s be thankful that these guys still keep on doing it!
Pete
7/11
- Album Reviews
This EP from Benjamin Verdoes , ex- Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band is something that quite defies genre branding. The vibe of ‘The One & The Other’ is, chilled, laidback, ethereal and an EP with a magnetic sound over it’s 25 minutes duration.
Benjamin, a multi-instrumentalist, has spent the last five years developing as a producer and beat-maker. Set in in six chronological night time scenes the EP has layers of texture that transport the listener into the night outside, whilst listening to the record comfortably at home.
No indie rock from Benjamin this time around on what is a very promising electronic EP. It’s a crowded marketplace out there buy this guy deserves your attention.
Pete
8/11
The EP is available now from Brick Lane Records
{https://soundcloud.com/brick-lane-records/sets/the-one-the-other-by-benjamin-verdoes}
- Album Reviews
They Might Be Giants have always tiptoed the line between quirkiness and genuine indie heroes, but with 2015’s 2nd album release Why?, the band have released a genuine “family” album, supposedly appealing to both kids and parents alike.
At 18 tracks, and averaging approx 2 minutes per song, this is a band who don’t know the meaning of writers block, and are even relaunching their Dial a Song campaign, releasing a new song a week during 2015.
Why? also happens to be TMBG’s 18th (!) album, and the first aimed at kids and parents alike (maybe only Laura Veirs has released something approaching this concept ?)
The album kicks off with the nursery rhyme style Oh You Did, which is sung by guest vocalist Robin Goldwasser, a cautionary tale of telling kids not to do stuff, but guess what ? They did.
Omnicorn, up next, is more typically TMBG and fully fleshed out song, even though its less that 2 minutes long.
And Mom and Kid is another fully formed song, this time celebrating family unit, and even though again incredibly short, the production on this is typically fully formed with no corners seemingly being cut.
I Made A Mess, does exactly what it says on the tin, but with humerous baritone backing vocals counterpointing the usual TMBG sound.
Personal favourite of the album comes along at track 10. Elephants, sung by Danny Weinkauf, is a simple yet irresistible melody and ultimately sing along song about, er, elephants......”get out of the way, get out of the way, elephants are coming through your town today”
Robin Goldwasser again takes vocal duties on Long White Beard, a fantastical take about waking up with said facial hair.
The album closes with Then The Kids Took Over, another simple song, done beautifully with a lovely melody and sing along quality and probably the message aimed at when creating this collection.
I guess it would be easy to be sniffy about this album, as its not a “proper” TMBG’s album, but I admire the courage of their convictions and certainly their prolific output. My only concern would be who exactly this album would be aimed at, as its unashamedly American and adults may not exactly have it on heavy rotation when the kids have stopped listening to it. Good on them for giving it a go.
Keith
7/11
Pre-order Why? Out 27th Nov
They Might Be Giants UK Tour Dates
27 JAN: Leeds, UK @ Brudenell Social Club
28 JAN: Newcastle @ Riverside
30 JAN: Belfast @ Limelight 1
31 JAN: Glasgow @ Celtic Connections Festival (2 shows)
1 FEB: Manchester @ Academy 2
3 FEB: Cambridge @ Cambridge Junction
4 FEB: London @ Shepherd’s Bush Empire
- Album Reviews
Light Creates Shadow is the musical creation of singer/guitarist, Marc Changnon a veteran of the Portland Oregon music scene along with, guitarist Antreo Pukay, bassist Nicholas Von Pless and drummer Frank Canepa. The band have just released their debut album ‘ Emerge From The Illusion’ which I think would immediately find a home with a legion of Post and Progressive rock fans very quickly.
Recorded at the Modest Mouse Glacial Pace headquarters and produced, engineered and mixed by Brandon Eggleston of Modest Mouse and Swans fame, there is a lot going for the record before you even hit the play button.
The EP has a widescreen almost visual sound that fills the room and sits somewhere between Slowdive, Marillion and the Smashing Pumpkins. The music rips through the sound waves and would indicate the band must be pretty spectacular live.
Opener ‘Into The Wake Of My Wait’ has a shoegaze feel which Marc’s dreamy vocals rest upon to make an impressive introduction to the band.‘When The Mask Dropped’ has the same shoegaze intro but moves briskly towards Post Rock in the core of the song which again demonstrates the range of Marc’s vocals.
An instrumental interlude heralds the final two epic tracks that round out the record, 'Stented Growth' is a masterpiece.
All this should leave no one in any doubt that this band is here to stay.
Pete
8/11
Have a listen via Bandcamp
Emerge From The Illusion
1. Into The Wake Of My Wait (5:25)
2. When The Mask Dropped (6:09)
3. Salience (2:03)
4. Mirror Neurons (7:29)
5. Stented Growth (10:41)
- Album Reviews
You would think that Israel Nash and his band come from the West Coast, evermore the ‘Neil Young’ of his generation every time he releases an album.
It is from Texas Hill Country that Israel Nash hails and with this new album, 'Silver Season' the legacy continues to grow.
Following on from 2013’s album Rain Plans, the latest album was recorded on Israel’s 15-acre ranch in Dripping Springs, near Austin TX, where he and his band built Plum Creek Sound, a 1,400 square-foot studio.
Silver Season drip’s sunshine in a dreamy haze, one of those ‘close your eyes and drift away records’.
Pedal steel guitar resonates throughout the record and the band just mesh sublimely from opener ‘Willow’ through to closer ‘The Rag and Bone Man’ eight songs later. There is a widescreen rolling desert soundscape throughout the entire cycle of songs.
‘LA Lately’ is the dreamy lead single from the record yet it’s hard to pick one song over the other in terms of quality, the album is that good. ‘The songs are varied and sweetly paced and, not one is less than 4 ½ minutes long.
A tremendous record
Pete
10/11
Israel Nash is: Israel Nash, Eric Swanson, Joey McClellan, Aaron McClellan, Josh Fleischman
- Album Reviews
A mini album or EP, whichever terminology you prefer, with five tracks from Portugese Prog metallers, Heylel is due out on 30th October.
Being released barely a year after the release of the band’s debut album “Nebulae” this is a band hard at work honing their craft.
Opener ‘Saint’s’ is one of the standout tracks, like a Marillion meets Genesis gem.‘Heritage’ has more of a Rush edge with Ana Batista’s vocals in full flow.
Just like “Nebulae”, this EP was recorded and mixed in Narciso. This time around the production duties fell to Damien Sequei for the "more specialised sound that the band where searching for" and I guess found.
A few changes have been made to the band line-up as well. Stripped back to its original three members, Ana Batista (vocals), Narciso Monteiro (guitars, bass, keyboards) and Filipe Braga (drums and percussion. Paulo Rodrigues, singer with Debunker, was invited to record backing vocals on the aforementioned ‘Saints’ as well as main vocals on “Denial”.
In Classic Rock / Prog terms this is a fine EP and shows a band with much more to offer in the years to come and hopefully the addition of some UK dates soon.
Pete
8/11
Have a listen on Bandcamp
- Album Reviews
Bellowhead the multi-talented,multi-instrument playing, multi-award winning, multi-membered folk band are calling it a day after 11 years. Jon Boden lead singer and fiddle player has moved on to new pastures and the remaining members have decided they didn't wish to continue without him.
This compilation of tracks from their five studio albums has been selected by the band, and as is often the case with 'Best Ofs', we can all cry “why, oh why” about the inclusion or omission of various individual favourites. However these 13 tracks epitomise the spread of their recording career and will make a great set list for the upcoming tour which covers the whole of the UK later this year and early 2016 (Leicester for me, and you really should be trying to get tickets for a show).
The big arrangements and sing along choruses benefits most from the live interpretation of their music and shows Bellowhead at their best (witness the number of live awards they've won). The John Leckie produced Hedonism and Broadside albums captured the full live band sound better than the first two albums did. If you compare the huge brassy-string songs such as 'Roll The Woodpile Down' or 'New York Girls' from those two albums, to a track from Matachin their second album 'Whiskey Is The Life Of Man' which feels a little thin you'll see what I mean . However the live version of this track celebrating alcohol is often a highlight of their shows, even though narrator describes the effect it's had exterminating various members of his family.
Bellowhead's songs are mainly their arrangements of traditional songs, which often split into one of three categories concerning either drinking, ship related or sea-faring or describing ladies with a variety of interpretations of morals such those in the aforementioned 'New York Girls'. 'Yarmouth Town' covers all three in one track with the brass section doing their best New Orleans style jazz on the instrumental break. The string section isn't forgotten and has their day on the emotive 'Cold Blows The Wind' which is written for the loss of a dead love.
So farewell to all those who crewed the good ship Bellowhead as you sail onto your various solo, duo, other band projects. Thanks for the great live shows, the album title branded real ale and thanks for tolerating me and others in a drunk (us not them) after show conversation in a pub in Chesterfield (I can confirm they are thoroughly nice people as well).
This compilation is a great starter for those unfamiliar (shame on you) with Bellowhead's music and should lead you to check out the five albums from which these tracks have been selected.
Alisdair Whyte
11( one point for each band member)/11
- Album Reviews
I must admit to not following the career of Reverend & The Makers that closely but with the release of the slight psych driven new album ‘Mirrors’ that is all about to change.
This is the band’s fifth album and was recorded at 2 Fly Studios in Sheffield and Geejam Studios in Jamaica. The contrasts of those two very different places reflect in wide array of music styles on the record from, the psych rock of ‘Black Widow’ and title track ‘Mirrors’ to a Clash like ‘Stuck on You’ to ballads like The Beach and the Sea.
The special CD & DVD version of Mirrors is available with a film by director Roger Sargent, filmed in Jamaica to accompany each song on the album. All formats of the album also include a twenty-three minute dub version of Mirrors (Overproof Dub by Youth) and bonus radio versions of three of the album tracks.
The album really does evoke the care and attention to detail that all the above activity describes. ‘El Cabrera’ is only 1.17 minutes of Tijuana brass but that drifts seamlessly into the garage rock of ‘Blue’. This is followed by the spiky new single ‘Mr Glassalfempty’ Singer Jon McClure says of the song. “It's about a bloke we know who is a right misery guts. The video was the only one we didn't have anything for out in Jamaica so we did it in my kitchen. Both Joe and myself needed a shave and so we shot each frame at different stages of facial fuzz and sent the results to Roger Sargent. What he came back with was awesome.”
A very engaging and varied album and one well worth adding to your collection!
Pete
9/11
Reverend & The Makers are on the road for a twelve-date UK tour in November and December.
NOVEMBER
FRI 13th Manchester Ritz
SAT 14th Sheffield Academy
MON 16th Wolverhampton Wulfurn
TUE 17th Portsmouth Wedgwood Rooms
Wed 18th London Koko
FRI 20th Leeds Stylus
SAT 21st Liverpool Academy 1
SUN 22nd Glasgow King Tuts
WED 25th Newcastle Riverside
THU 26th Bristol Bierkeller
FRI 27th Lowestoft Aquarium
DECEMBER
THU 3rd Nottingham Rock City
- Album Reviews
The last year has seen Black Country 5-piece EofE send a storm filled letter of intent out into the UK rock venues and festivals coupled with a wave of social media frenzy. This new band and their legion of followers the “EofE Army “are posting, quoting, tweeting and selfiing themselves into raptures about the talent of this very promising young band.
The relentless touring and three epic singles, has seen EofE regularly feature in the rock press, including the Kerrang charts, as the most hotly-tipped newcomers of recent years, with their thunderous brand of pop rock.
The truth is that those in the know might just be right, the album is an 11 track explosion of contemporary rock (14 with the deluxe version) that hits with hook after hook. The all-killer not filler anecdote is cheesy and overused but here it genuinely seems to fit. Those that have already seen these guys live know the quality of the tracks and their fantastically tight delivery plays exceptionally well in the UK’s quirky rock cellars, but equally, once these guys break, there are stadium filling sounds in here as well.
Track after track of potential hit singles flow effortlessly for the duration of the album, with every track instantly likable and notable. From the heavy guitar lines of ‘Get Caught’ and ‘Lifeboat’, and the huge choruses of ‘Wake Up’, ‘Stars In Hollywood’ and ‘Ruins’, the album is a triumph which I hope is the start of a stellar career.
This is a debut of exciting quality and will have the likes of You Me at Six, Young Guns and Mallory Knox, looking over their shoulders. This album is the perfect statement of intent to launch EofE into a wider audience and possibly soon to be your new favourite band.
10.5/11
Iain @docswallow
‘EofE’ Track listing
1. Get Caught
2. Wake Up
3. Bridges
4. Save The Night
5. Waiting For Olivia
6. Lifeboat
7. Close To Me
8. Stars In Hollywood
9. Only Get Better
10. Y.O.U.
11. Ruins
- Album Reviews
Italian 5 piece group Over hit our shores recently for a short August tour and went down well enough to launch their latest single 'The Fight' onto the UK rock market.
Like a number of on trend bands such as Tonight Alive & Paramore they are blessed with a female lead vocalist, who certainly has the pipes to handle the style of music.
The single is catchy, very radio friendly, though perhaps not as punchy as their quoted influences Mallory Knox, Evanescence and Sleeping With Sirens.
After playing shows alongside the likes of Zebrahead, Our Last Night and Palisades, they have the presence to please, time will tell if an album will follow, but on this showing it will certainly be a winning combo for the poppier youthful end of the alt rock market.
Watch the video HERE
3/5
Iain @docswallow
- Album Reviews
This is a nice all moods record from Irish band Zrazy made with a style that makes it just the nicest album to listen to, chill to, drive to and cook to; ("Classic Zrazy has a rolled shape and is made of thin slices of beef, which is flavoured with salt and pepper and stuffed with vegetables, mushrooms, eggs, and potato" ) apparently!
Musicianship is excellent and the music covers all corners of the spectrum; pop, soul, jazz, blues and sprinkled electronica. The first two songs 'Forgiven' and 'You make Me Happy' are chill zone specials. The songs centre on relationships, love, hope and regret and as with all those emotions, the music shifts styles to cope with the changing mood of Carole's lyrics.
The band is based around the core duo of Maria Walsh and Carole Nelson with DaveMcCue on percussion. ‘The Art of Happy Accidents’ is the band's first record since 2005 and with a record this strong we can only hope for more to come.
Set for release Monday 2nd November, Zrazy play a collection of shows in October & November 2015 , so if you are in the mood for some Celtic jazz and soul check out the shows.
Pete
8/11
17/10 Galway, Roisin Dubh Upstairs
20/10 Dublin, Whelan’s (Album Launch Show)
29/10 Brighton, The Brunswick
01/11 London, The Slaughtered Lamb
07/11 Galway, Hungry Bookworm
14/11 Wicklow, Hot Spot Greystones
- Album Reviews
For me, Portland, Oregon’s Blitzen Trapper have always been a band I’ve been aware of, maybe even been on a cover CD from the likes of Uncut, and yet they have never really been at the forefront of my consciousness.
Well, all that has changed with the release of new album All' Across This Land'.
From the opening riff of opener and the title track, the album grabs you by the scruff of the neck and demands you have a good time.
'Rock and Roll' follows the opener, with piano and a fabulous lead guitar break thrusting the song along, until its sweaty breathless conclusion.
The pace is slowed for Mystery & Wonder, which seems to be an autobiographical tale from lead singer/songwriter Eric Earley, and the reflective tone pays off and creates a thing of beauty.
Whilst the album is a collection of influences and styles, it somehow still manages to remain a distinctive sound all of its own. I would suggest fans of Wilco, Deer Tick and even Counting Crows will get a lot from this album, with its blend of Americana and good old fashioned rock & roll.
Album highlight for me is the fabulous 'Cadillac Road', a Sprinsteen-esque story based track, about a guy down on his luck and regretting his decisions in life (Willy Vlautin himself could have penned this one).
'Lets The Cards Fall', with its harmonica breaks creates an easy listening radio friendly driving song, .“I know what I know, and I do just what I do”….
Even If You Don’t is an equally sing along tune, suggesting the lady in his life is running from something..
Album closer 'Across The River' is essentially acoustic guitar and harmonica and finds the band in reflective mood again, playing like a campfire song, again with a narrative on destiny. A lovely way to end the album.
This is an album of rare song writing craft, and exceptional playing to create something both warm hearted and joyous, and should be listened to with either a glass of Jack or a cold bottle of Bud.
Keith
8/11
