Album Review

Awake At the Funeral is the debut album from Los Angeles band Deep 6 Holiday.  The band is self-described as "the skinned-kneed orphan of the rock community who was raised by a pack of jazz musicians while spending too much time with its best friend's classical music family."That description is not too far off.  The album is lush with string and woodwind arrangements which build on a strong roc

The Jesus & Mary Chain boxset, The Power Of Negative Thinking, is out and it's a doozy.  Spanning 4-CDs and 81-tracks it's a powerful shot of feedback-drenched guitar pop.  Right off the bat I will warn you, if you own the previous b-sides collections Sound Of Speed and Barbed-Wire Kisses you already have about a third of these songs (like "Bo Diddly Is Jesus" and "Penetration").  Howeve

"The Status: 'So This is Progress' Album Review"By Michael Aaron GallagherReview: 4 ½ Stars (Out of 5 Stars)If you’re looking for the perfect anthem for your New Year’s Eve bash, the title track, “So This is Progress,” from the debut album by The Status is the song you’ve been waiting for. It’s the type of sing-along, party song that begs you to play air guitar and drag out the karaok

Mercury Rev have a long tradition of making very atmospheric music.  Their new album, Snowflake Midnight, sees the Buffalo band take their traditionally medieval feeling sound and add a space age blanket to it.In addition to Jonathan Donahue's always lilting vocals, the band has added previously unused electronics and programming.  The sound is not dissimilar to what we've come to expect from r

There's little as charming as an Irish lass (except my wife).  Singer Gemma Hayes is proof of this theory.Hayes' new album, Hollow of Morning, is a look into a fascinating soul.  Sometimes delicate, sometimes fierce, her songs are always intimate and intense.Songs such as "In Over My Head" and "At Constant Speed" seem to be walking the minuscule tightrope between control and beautiful chaos whil

I blame Grey's Anatomy for this, but when I think of singer/songwriter Brandi Carlile I generally envision a slick, polished performer.Imagine my pleasant surprise then when I listened to her new iTunes EP- Boston.  What I heard was grittier and more soulful than I ever expected.  Instead of polished pop songs, Carlile provides us with raw, country/bluesy renditions.Throw in a cover version of

In many ways Way To Normal is a return to form for alt-piano man Ben Folds.  Being brutally honest, other than the odd song here and there Ben Folds has been pretty damn boring.Way To Normal fixes that problem.  Folds veers away from the bad lounge singer act and moves back to a rockin' piano plunker.  Songs like "Brainwascht" and "Dr. Yang" bring back the glory days of Whatever and Ever Amen

Most album reviews are usually just the writer trying to impress you with big words and complex sentence structure and not really getting to the point.  They will usually mention the history of the artist and how this album works in comparison to their other efforts and some other worthless babble.  I am going to [...]

I'll call it like I see it, Strange Attractor is not the greatest piece of work in the Mercury Rev catalogue.  But nobody expected it to be.Strange Attractor is the free instrumental album and companion piece to the proper record Snowflake Midnight.  All you need to do to get your copy of the 11-track effort is submit your name to the Mercury Rev mailing list (here).On the album, the Buffalo b

Modey Lemon - Season of Sweets is released on Birdman Records Modey Lemon are a loud, expansive mix of garage rock, post-punk aggression, spasmooodic moogs, fuzzy guitars, a good helping of psychedelia and synthesizer kraut-rock. The success is in the way that Modey Lemon seamless blend of all of these influences into one massive album. The album [...]

TV On the Radio is one of the most highly regarded indie rock bands on the planet.  After the enormous success of 2006's Return to Cookie Mountain TV On the Radio were on top of the world.Having heard lots of negative evaluation of the album prior to its release, I have to say that those saying ill of the new album Dear Science have no idea what they are talking about.While there is nothing as

Who Killed Amanda Palmer (gotta love a Twin Peaks reference) is the new solo album from one half of the Dresden Dolls, Amanda Palmer.Produced by piano man Ben Folds, the album is a stripped down version of the Goth/punk cabaret that we've come to expect from the Dresden Dolls.  Piano and strings are the main instruments used here.Unfortunately, the songs are fairly unimaginative.  We get neith

Hawk Is Howling (due out Sept. 23rd) is the new studio album from Scottish instrumentalists Mogwai.Now with the exception of RATATAT and old Shadowy Men On a Shadowy Planet I'm not much for completely instrumental albums.  I think it's my television generation attention span.However, most of the tracks on Hawk Is Howling taken on their own are very entertaining and engaging.  The standard rock

Heavy Jack are a garage rock trio comprised of brothers Ben, Adam, and Jon Falk.  They've recently released their debut album Multiply.The album's opening guitar riff and drum clatter can't help but leave the first impression that Heavy Jack have listened to their fair share of Mudhoney records in their day.  There's a sludgy quality to many songs that evoke the Seattle grunge godfathers.As one

Cockney hip hop.  Does it really get any better in that genre than Mike Skinner, aka The Streets?Okay, so he may be the only artist who actually qualifies in the genre, but that doesn't mean he's not outstanding.Everything Is Borrowed is the fourth studio album from The Streets (North American release Oct. 7th).  On it we find Skinner up to many of his old tricks musically.  There are the mid-

The Good: Innovative sound, great lyrical content, rude boi swaggerThe Bad: His reggae/dancehall/hip-hop hybrid sound is not for everyone, a few forgettable jointsBottom Line: Kardi drops a fresh original LP that bangs in the club, the dancehall and the radio.YFWB Rating: (out of 5)Full disclosure - I represent the T-Dot, so I've been up on Kardinal for a minute. Even before I listened t

Little Daggers is the forthcoming studio album (to be released Sept. 23rd) from musician/actor Val Emmich.  The New Jersey-born musician has recorded a fantastic collection of bright pop rock songs.  It's the kind of music you would expect if Josh Ritter had a pop bent in place of his folk one.  It's that good.Emmich's songs are inviting from the first note.  The "do do do"s and whistles and

If you don't like Matthew Sweet you just don't like music with hooks. There's almost nobody on the planet who pens melodic power pop as seemingly effortlessly as him.The new self-produced record Sunshine Lies is no exception. As soon as you pop the album in you can say to yourself with confidence, "Yep, that's Matthew Sweet". The album is 13 tracks of alternating sugary sweet ballads, raw rockers,

There's been a lot of mixed reviews generated by The Verve's new comeback album Forth. Most of the criticism seems to revolve around the style, complaining that the band hasn't progressed since 1997's massive hit Urban Hymns. Well the band hasn't written songs together in 10 fricken' years, how are they supposed to "progress"?Now the quality of the songs can be a legitimate criticism. They tend to

Syracuse, NY's Ra Ra Riot has taken an interesting path to their first full length release. After the release of their EP, tragedy struck as they lost their drummer John Ryan Pike. But the band soldiered on after their loss, and as a result we now have The Rhumb Line.The Rhumb Line consists of ten tracks of dramatic indie rock. The songs are punctuated by cellist Alexandra Lawn and violinist Rebec

The Game L.A.X. Geffen Records/Interscope 6.5/10 Written By: Samir Siddiqui The Game’s eagerness to engage in any and all rap beefs might be perceived as a legitimate hunger for competition,... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Corsica is an alternative folk collective formed in San Francisco, CA. Members of the group have performed with such luminaries as Noel Redding and Ponsonby DC's (Review).Sight of the Sun is the group's new album. Thanks to the diverse musical backgrounds of the players, tte record is made up of 12 lush songs, many of which include elaborate string arrangements and elements of world music.Vocals

Our brother-in-blogging Captain Melody has posted a review of Chemical Chords, the new Stereolab album over at his site.I own a couple of earlier Stereolab albums (Emperor Tomato Ketchup, and Cobra and Phases Group Play Voltage In The Milky Night) and enjoy them. Unfortunately, everything the put out sounds exactly like them to me...so what's the point? You own one spacey post-rock album you own '

Damon Albarn must have a wildly creative mind. How else would he make the leap from Blur to Gorillaz to Monkey?His new project, Monkey: Journey To The West, is based on an opera of the same name. It sees a cadre of Chinese singers perform the Albarn-composed music backed by electronic music as well as an orchestra of European players.It is an album of musical snippets, lacing together the story to

Riding the electron flow of the information superhighway a full two months before the release of the physical CD is Intimacy, the much frothed over third album from Bloc Party.The opening track "Ares" opens with a Chemical Brothers (a la "Setting Sun") riff that hardly indicates the album will live up to its serene title. But would you really expect that from Bloc Party?The new songs are predomina

Who is Joy Whitlock?  Maybe you have heard of her already?  I hadn’t.  She has toured with Todd Agnew and Rush of Fools and has a couple of EPs under her belt. Joy grew up in Mississippi where her dad was a minister.  She wanted nothing to do with Christianity and left home at 17 to [...]

Juliana Hatfield – How To Walk Away (Ye Olde Records) - Album Review The 10th solo album from Juliana Hatfield begins with The Fact Remains. Like many of the tracks on How To Walk Away, the song sounds instantly recognisable as a Juliana Hatfield bitter-sweet melodic pop song; and from its opening vocal, sounds familiar in [...]

I recently took a big gamble and spent $30 on a Japanese import album by a UK artist from which I had never heard an LP. Having just discovered the Canterbury scene over the past year or so I had heard all of the classic Soft Machine, Caravan, Matching Mole, Gong, Kevin Ayers, Robert Wyatt, Hatfield and the North, National Health, etc., but had never managed to get a hold of an Egg album. Curi

By Faisal QuraishiShehzad Roy pulls off another Saali in Qismet Apnay Haath Mein.lt’s easy to see where Shehzad Roy is coming from with his latest album, Qismet Apnay Haath Mein, launched this Friday, given his efforts to introduce wide-scale reforms in the government’s education sector under the aegis of the Zindagi Trust, along with Sami Mustafa of CAS. A case in point is the Fatima Jinnah G

Clinic’s first two full lengths Clinic (Three EPs) (1999) and the critically lauded Internal Wrangler (2000) seem to get discussed a lot but their third LP Walking With Thee (2002) is generally less well respected. I have to say after hearing all three of these albums time and time again I can’t understand why this album got such a lukewarm reception. While it is similar in sound to the first

"There for Tomorrow" Album ReviewBy Michael Aaron GallagherRating: 4 1/2 Stars (Out of 5 Stars)“There for Tomorrow” has the kick of your favorite energy drink, without the side-effects. The debut self-titled EP from the band (in stores August 5th) is capturing everyone’s attention and rocking its way across the Internet. The music video for their first single, “No More Room to Breathe” i

Camper Van Beethoven (CVB) is one of many groups that miraculously reunited after I developed a serious interest in them (others include: The House of Love, Mission Of Burma, Pixies, Wire). A lucky man I am indeed. Unlike the Pixies, CVB managed to both reunite and record a new album. New Roman Times (2004) is a welcome gift from a band that dissolved at the height of their creative zenith. Follo

The House of Love is a criminally underappreciated UK indie rock/early shoegaze group that recorded some unbelievably good pop music in their relatively short existence. Their two self titled albums are classic and I also really enjoy their compilation album A Spy In The House Of Love (1990). Following these releases the groups major label albums were pretty disappointing; if they did have their

Tricky – Knowle West Boy (Domino Records) released on 7th July The new album from Tricky is a true return to form.  Knowle West Boy spans many genres, and covers Tricky’s musical career to date. The album starts with the bluesy pop song Puppy Toy but is packed with different genres and rhythms.  Each track offers an [...]

It really is surprising that Working Man’s Café is only 64 year old Ray Davies (lead singer/songwriter in the immortal Kinks) fourth official solo LP. Another surprise is how good Davies has become again through his recent solo efforts. After the Kinks disappeared following the abysmal Phobia (1993) [which was the rock-bottom point of a long slow decline following the Kinks half-decent late 70

Ben Partridge of leedsmusicscene.net says: “The second LP from Flying Lotus (aka Steven Ellison) comes on in waves of liquid synths and stuttering beats. Opener ‘Brainfeeder’ could be from a John Carpenter movie soundtrack, with its sci-fi tides of synth ebbing and flowing in and out; even the title conjures an eerie, post-apocalyptic image of a zombie lunching on a dead ca

Ben Partridge of leedsmusicscene.net says: “The second LP from Flying Lotus (aka Steven Ellison) comes on in waves of liquid synths and stuttering beats. Opener ‘Brainfeeder’ could be from a John Carpenter movie soundtrack, with its sci-fi tides of synth ebbing and flowing in and out; even the title conjures an eerie, post-apocalyptic image of a [...]

Mancunian duo the Ting Tings have recently stormed the chart with their feisty, punky anthems and the critics have claimed that We Started Nothing is the soundtrack of the summer. What did the folks at Other Clothing think though, that’s the important thing! Admittedly I’m a big fan of singles Great DJ and That’s Not My [...]

Probably about three years ago I was in the mood to hear something radically new and exciting. I went down to my local tiny used record store where I spent many a Saturday afternoon. The owner of the store runs the place basically by himself so he's always there. As a result the guy had a pretty good understanding of my tastes (as well as an influence upon my taste) so I trusted that he would

I recently took a big gamble and spent $30 on a Japanese import album by a UK artist from which I had never heard an LP. Having just discovered the Canterbury scene over the past year or so I had heard all of the classic Soft Machine, Caravan, Matching Mole, Gong, Kevin Ayers, Robert Wyatt, Hatfield and the North, National Health, etc., but had never managed to get a hold of an Egg album. Curi

Sulle Corde Di Aries (1973) [Bla Bla / Ricordi]One of my favorite new musical obsessions over the past year has been Franco Battiato. I first came across him on the ProgArchives website and was drawn in by his striking cover art, critical comparisons to Brian Eno, and the single fantastic track I had heard "Pollution" from the album of the same name. I picked up Battiato's Fetus (1972) an

Album review - The Wild Beasts - Limbo, Panto (Domino Records) The Wild Beasts are truly original.  As I listen to Limbo, Panto - their debut album again, I really can’t compare them with anyone else.  Hayden Thorpe’s beautiful voice is reminiscent in parts of Billy Mackenzie’s golden tonsils, but apart from sharing an uncompromising, unconventional [...]

Film Noir - I Had A Very Hapy Childhud I Had A Very Hapy Childhud (their spelling) is an exceptional debut album from French band Film Noir. It is one of the indie pop / indie rock albums I’ve heard for some time. The14 track album starts with the razor-sharp juttering guitar of It’s Goodbye, that lives [...]

Wye Oak are playing tonight (Jun 19, 2008) at Emo's I think everyone has a system for navigating through the staggering amount of new music and new bands. I’ve developed a sort of “mental Netflix” that helps me to keep track of everything. If I read about a band I’ve never heard three or four times on my internet machine, I add them to the “queue.” A band has the ability to move up in

What’s good people’s, its ya boy D.J Sizzle hooking you up with a review of the hot new JIHAD album from a spirit filled brother that goes by the name Jovan Mackenzy. First off I know you might be wondering about the title but he’s talking about all out spiritual war. He explains it a lot better than I can. I guess you’ll have to get it to know what I’m talking about. And before I go any

Mancunian indie kids The Courteeners have released their debut album St Jude. Are they one of the up and coming bands of 2008, or have they just spent too much time in their rooms listening to The Smiths? Single What Took you So Long was very dour and whiney and I wasn’t a fan, but there [...]

N*E*R*D Seeing Sounds Interscope Records 4/5 Written By: Samir Siddiqui For superstar producer Pharrell, there’s not much at stake when he decides to gather his N*E*R*D cohorts for a new album.... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

It has been described as Paul Weller’s White Album, a double ‘concept’ album containing the most eclectic mix of music you could imagine. It is 15 years since the magnificent Wildwood was released followed two years later by Stanley Road, and since then Paul Weller has become, well boring really. With 22 Dreams, he has re-discovered the [...]

Northern rockers The Futureheads are back with their third album. It’s been quite some time since they released their last album so was it worth the wait? Opening track and single The Beginning of the Twist is a great starter, a frantic singalong which leaves you wanting more - whilst Walking Backwards is a loud and [...]

Here is a random find that’s well worth mentioning. Ben Ratliff is a New York singer/songwriter originally from Austin, Texas. He has recorded under the names Ben Ratliff, Earlwine and most recently as aMerkin. Songs For The New Depression presents and interesting and frequently rewarding variety of blues inflected rock, tasteful electronic work and compelling songwriting. The album bounces back

After 12 years and 12(ish) albums, Centro-matic/South San Gabriel remain mainstays of Texas music. In that time they've found acceptance beyond the Lone Star State – namely SSG in Europe – but they've always been very much a "Texas" band, having danced the "Denton-Austin-Houston Three Step" thousands of times, and never having strayed far away from home for long. With such feelings of familia

Lil Wayne Tha Carter III Cash Money/Universal 3.5/5 By: Samir Siddiqui He’s been self-proclaimed and dubbed by others as the ‘best rapper alive,’ has enjoyed over a year of being... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Spiritualized have taken a bit of a break since their last album The Complete Works, due to illness, but are now back on the music scene with recent album Songs in A and E. When I found this cd on my doorstep, I was shocked to see that there were eighteen tracks on there to [...]

The Laurel Collective - Feel Good Hits of a Nuclear Winter (Domino Records) The Laurel Collective are definitely what this summer needs. After shrinking the band from nineteen members to the current six, the musicians from Wales, England, Nigeria and Italy have made a masterpiece. Harking back to the days of Britpop, the album is set to [...]

No New York is the famous compilation produced by endlessly talented Brian Eno which documents the New York post-punk/noise movement known as “No Wave”. “No Wave” of course is an artistic rejection of the glam-rock inspired new wave movement at the time. That Eno’s early career was considered glam-rock only helps to show how board his artistic appreciation

I’ve never been a big fan of the Kooks - to me they have been the McFly of the indie world, stage school brats with poppy fluffy anthems, and most recent single Always Where I Need To Be didn’t really do much to dispel this theory. I must admit that the rest of this album wasn’t [...]

Usher Here I Stand LaFace Records 4/5 Written By: Samir Siddiqui Four albums deep into an incredibly-successful career, hit-making is no longer a challenge for R&B superstar Usher, its common... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Feel good albums are a tricky thing. Every time I put one on, I dig all over it for a couple of listens, and then I feel kind of dirty for listening to something so obviously happy. No matter what’s getting your goat-gears a-grindin’, I can assure you that This is Ivy League will cheer you up, that’s a given. From the introductory cymbal roll of “The Richest Kids

You Could Be Born Again, released in 1968 is the second album by The Free Design. The group was a family act, all were members of the Dedrick family. Despite the title, this is no Christian rock album, this is a moving blend of 60’s pop, jazz rhythms and amazing multi-part vocal harmonies. I first became aware of the Free Design when Stereolab named a song and an EP after the group in 1999 (grea

The Boxing Lesson are a three piece band from Austin in Texas comprising Paul Waclawsky, Jaylinn Davidson and Jake Mitchell. The album is a diverse collection of indie tracks fused with electronics and psychedelic guitar patterns with excellent songwriting and mature vocals. The guitar is what does it for me, full of reverb and feedback, crashing power [...]

Wherever I Lay My Head is a collection of ten Tom Waits songs recorded by actress Scarlett Johansson, with the help of Yeah Yeah Yeah’s guitarist Nick Zinner and producer David Sitek. David Bowie has famously given his blessing to the album after adding backing tracks and even Tom Waits has given the album the seal [...]

Zany British Rockers the Guillemots recently released their second album. Is it any good? I really liked their most recent single Get Over it, an chilled out, synthy track which reminded me of festivals and lukewarm overpriced lager. Opening track Kriss Kross took a couple of listens to get into but it was also a good [...]

Album Review - The Last Shadow Puppets - The Age Of The Understatement (Domino Records) The Last Shadow Puppets are Alex Turner of The Arctic Monkeys and Miles Kane of The Rascals. This is the debut album of songs written and performed by Alex Turner, Miles Kane and The London Metropolitan Orchestra.  The twin vocal delivery of [...]

Phantom Planet are back with their latest album - and are now signed to the trendy Fueled by Ramen label. I’m a big fan of their second album The Guest, so I was really looking forward to giving this album a spin on the ol’ cd player. The album is a lot rockier than what the [...]

Another somewhat 80's inspired electro/synth pop type album, but with some guitar and some vocal harmonies with reverb, which I love. In Ghost Colours is out now on Modular. [Myspace] Cut Copy [Website] Cut Copy.

Let me start this album review off by telling you a story. In 2005 I went to see the White Stripes in Blackpool where they were supported by a band called the Greenhornes - who were a bit rubbish. I listened to them for about two minutes and then hotfooted it to the bar. It turns [...]

Track List 1. Pour Some Sugar On Me 2. Photograph 3. Love Bites 4. Let's Get Rocked 5. Two Steps Behind 6. Animal 7. Heaven Is 8. Rocket 9. When Love And Hate Collide 10. Action 11. Long Long Way To Go 12. Make Love Like A Man 13. Armageddon It 14. Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad 15. Rock Of Ages 16. Hysteria 17. Bringin' On The Heartbreak Review Totally blown away..... [...]

I’ve got to admit, I’ve never been a big fan of indie stalwarts R.E.M. I’m not too sure why this is, whether I find them a little bit preachy or maybe a bit old for the music scene, but when Other Clothing joyfully threw this cd onto my desk and told me to review it, [...]

Madonna - Hard Candy [Album Review]Yes it leaked, and I had it up for a couple hours but due to blogs being deleted I have taken it down. This marks Madonna's eleventh studio album and she has yet again changed it up. First single "4 Minutes" has already proven to be a solid hit and with this album many more are to come. I was open to anything going into the album and came out pretty pleased. It stays true to Madonna's Dance/Pop days but it adds more of a Urban/Hip-hop influence. With top of the line producers Timbaland, Danja, and Pharrell Williams by her side Madonna couldn't do wrong with this album. It's a hOtt innovative dance album that you'll find yourself moving to from beginning to end. Madonna still has it so be sure to check it out and BUY YOUR COPY APRIL 29TH!!(LINKS TAKEN DOW

Part of writing reviews means scouting around for new bands that you’ve never heard of before. A friend tipped me off about American punk band Crash Romeo, so I was really keen to have a listen. Cheesy album name aside, this album was alright. It’s more poppy than punk, but it reminded me of a more [...]

Danish band Horrorpops are back with their third album Kiss Kiss Kill Kill. I loved their previous album Bring it on! so will this effort be as good? Thelma and Louise is a good start on the album, with its surfer rock vibes and Patricia Day’s sultry vocals. Heading for the Disco? is a short-but-sweet slice [...]

If the sound of Cut Copy’s new album In Ghost Colours (their second record, and an improvement over their enjoyable but somewhat stolid debut Bright Like Neon Love) were encapsulated in a conversation, it would go something like this: ...

As one of the anchors that has been a popular face with longstanding label, Duck Down Records, Ebbets Field, Brooklyn bar layer – Buckshot, is a vet in the game and has managed to stay relevant unlike many artists that emerged during his break in the game with Black Moon. Staying true to the essence that kept him in the eye this far, he and hot producer 9th Wonder teamed together again to drop [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

It's Been Almost 3 Years To The Day That The Biggest Female Recording Artist Of All Time - Mariah Carey, Released Her Career Defining Album - The Emancipation Of Mimi. Now She Returns With The Highly Anticipated New Record - E=MC2.Will 'E=MC2' Really Be 'The Emancipation' To The Power Of 2?Find Out In My Review.Track ListingMigrate ft. T-PainTouch My Body Cruise Control ft. Damien marley I Stay In Love Side Effects ft. Young Jeezy I'm That Chick Love Story I'll Be Lovin' U Long Time Last Kiss Thanx 4 Nothin' O.O.C. For The Record Bye Bye I Wish You Well HeatIntroductionThe first point to make about E=MC2 is the fact that the title confirms that the aim of the album is to be (In Mariah's own word) - "The Emancipation Of Mimi To The Power Of 2". Basi

Escucha lo nuevo de Leona Lewis, y dime que tal es...aqui les dejamos el tracklist y las canciones para escuchar...Bleeding LoveWhatever It TakesBetter In TimeYesterdayTake A BowI Will BeAngelThe Best You Never HadA Moment Like ThisMisses GlassForgive MeYou Bring Me Down

It’s always good getting something for nothing, especially when it comes to music. Madchester band the Charlatans have very nicely put their most recent album out as a free download through the XFM website. Indiemonkey got very excited at the thought of a freebie, but is it worth downloading? A Day for Letting go is a [...]

The majority of fictional bands have never been that good - those old enough to remember the Brady Bunch will be able to sympathise with me. Dethklok however may be the exception to the rule. Dethklok feature on the American cartoon Metalocalypse. Athough this is well into its second series now, it has not been publicised [...]

Riding beneath the mainstream stereotypes, New York City group Mighty Joseph drink cups of Gatorade but always stay thirsty. The two MC’s that make up the group come from two diverse platforms of the city’s rhyme style. Brooklyn bred Karniege delivers tales of smooth savagery with Harlem vet Vast Aire on such tracks that come to mind, “Uprising” and “Rock-it-Science.” As two homie’s that [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Join with Us is the second album to be released by the poppy British fivepiece. I absolutely loved Twelve Stops and Home so I was really looking forward to getting to review this album. Album opener and recent single I Thought It Was Over is a good start - a big cheesy slice of disco-esque pop, [...]

Album review : Moira Stewart -  Sweetness, Yes!  (Distraction Records) Here’s an album to put a smile on your face.  Sweetness, Yes! the new release from Wallsend  electro-poppers Moira Stewart is a joyful mix of 80’s synths, indie guitars and quirky sampling.  At times they sound a lot like New Order’s younger, happier brothers - a [...]

Get Cape Wear Cape Fly is the alias of British singer/songwriter Sam Duckworth. Searching for the Hows and Whys is his most recent album, and seeing as his influences range from Billy Bragg to Nitin Sawney to Blur, you can be guaranteed that this album is an eclectic mix of sounds. Opening track Let The Journey [...]

Acclaimed Manchester band Elbow are back with their fourth album. Elbow have been one of those bands I’ve always wanted to get into but never got round to, so I was really keen to have a listen to this album. Opening track Starlings admittedly didn’t work for me, it was a little boring and over the [...]

Yes, it’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for. Sound the trumpets, bang the drums, roll out the red carpet… Panic at the Disco have released their much anticipated second album! They’ve dropped the superfluous exclamation mark from their name, but is this all that has changed since the previous album? Pretty Odd has a very [...]

A common misconception divides many of today’s Hip Hop fans. On one side of the aisle, there are those who believe that an artist has to be positive in order to be dope; the other side believing that big words and catchy metaphors about the lifestyles of the rich and famous make for a dope MC. The answer lies somewhere in the middle. All “positive” or “conscious” MCs are dope and all the dope boys aren’t whack. There are plenty of MCs on both sides of the spectrum that are great and others that are great and being terrible. Unfortunately for Island Def Jam, there newest find, Rocko, falls in the latter category. To say that his major label debut, Self Made is an abomination is an insult to the word “abomination”. Backed by the radio friendly “Umma Do Me,” Rocko proceeds

Album Review: Ivor Cutler - A Flat Man (Hoorgi House Records) Ivor Cutler’s poetry and music is wonderfully original and amusing. It brings a smile to my face and makes me feel happy. I played this album to my children who are 12 and 9 years old, and they loved it too. This week sees the [...]

Album Review: Ivor Cutler - A Flat Man (Hoorgi House Records) Ivor Cutler’s poetry and music is wonderfully original and amusing. It brings a smile to my face and makes me feel happy. I played this album to my children who are 12 and 9 years old, and they loved it too. This week sees the [...]

The Ghosts Among us is the debut album from American Hardcore band Our Last Night. Admittedly I’m not a big fan of hardcore (I think I must be getting old!) but I tried to listen with an open mind, and speakers turned up to eleven. This album is hardcore to the…um…well…the core. Shouty verses and melodic [...]

Seventh Tree is dance duo Goldfrapp’s fourth album and has already received many positive reviews. To be brutally honest - I’ve never been a big fan of Goldfrapp. They’ve had two good songs and that has been pretty much it. Therefore, I listened to this album with some trepidation. This album is a lot different to [...]