Tag Archives: Disc reviews

The Bleeding Hearts – ‘You Bring Me To My Knees’ (single)

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by Davey

Surprisingly upbeat and honest, ‘You Bring Me To My Knees’ is a light hearted indie pop anthem, with a subject matter everyone can relate to – saying “I love you” and not meaning it. The Bleeding Hearts take the anguish that follows in their stride, soothing ones guilty conscious. I was expecting a My Chemical Romance type affair, but a slice of Brit pop is much more welcome, with gentle Arctic Monkeys-esque riffs and simple, poetic lyrics: “You blinded me with your arrows, Cupid; shoot them to my heart and not my eyes this time”.
Gorgeously addictive, The Bleeding Hearts have everything going for them.

Jeff Klein – The Hustler (album)

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by Davey

Jeff Klein, one of the most honest and intimate songwriters around, still riding the wave of success following his second album ‘Everybody Loves A Winner’ is all set to release a new completely different album. Why? Because he can, and because he wants to prove he’s not just the one trick pony that made that stripped down sexy album a couple of years back.
‘The Hustler’ is rich and languid, atmospheric, and just a little bit uncomfortable to listen to. Klein drew the inspiration behind his relaxed acoustic style from the New Orleans culture; it’s a cliché thing, but it seems to work for Klein, who etches velvet images of the sunsets and hot cracked streets of the city with his voice. Deep and sincere, Klein has the talent and the attitude to take him places, provided he wants to visit them. I get the feeling he’s very much his own man.

Richard Ashcroft – Break The Night With Colour – Single Review

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by Louise

He’s been away for a while, but now he’s back, and judging by this single he’s on top form. Richard Ashcroft has a knack of sculpting beautiful music. This, his first single from his new album, is no exception. Break The Night With Colour is a gentle, melodic track, lovingly glazed with Richard’s instantly recognizable and somewhat soothing voice. The single is taken from his third album, which is set for release on January 23rd, and it sounds as if it will be as much a triumph as his previous work, both with The Verve, and as a solo artist.
Break The Night With Colour is out NOW!


Imperial Vipers – Promised Land – Single Review

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by Emma

Woah there – have I slipped back in time about thirty years?! Imperial Vipers have an unrushed classic rock sound unmistakeably inspired by some of the legends. Think Zeppelin, sit back and smile! Promised Land is an awesome piece of grinding rock with a thick bass and crisp riffs topped off by one of those voices that was just made for rock.

Lyrically, Promised Land may be a little more daring and sleazy, and this pulls the track back into the now. Keep an eye on the ‘Vipers because I have a feeling that we will be hearing much, much more from this British treasure.

The Bled – My Assassin – Single Review

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by Emma

Crank up the volume this is a track that needs to be played loud and proud! Taken from the second album Found In The Flood, My Assassin is a hardcore delight, allowing front man James Munoz to demonstrate his versatility and vocal range. Between manic throaty screams, soft gentle cooing he brings a rawness to the main vocals of the verse that is quite something. The track twists easily from hard screamo thrashes to a melodic and more mainstream chorus.

If range is the key then The Bled have unlocked a winning formula to create music of a high quality that will continue to draw interest like bees to honey.

Reggie & The Full Effect – Take Me Home, Please – Single Review

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by Emma

Reggie & The Full Effect is a breath of fresh air! Cracking live performances as proved by the recent slot on the Taste Of Chaos tour and majorly appealing tracks such as this, the latest single.

You can always rely on Reggie’ to bring a cool and sleek synth-rock sound with humorous lyrics, however Take Me Home, Please is a little more serious. A catchy keyboard based track with sweet lyrics and honest message, I do really like this track. This is poppy enough to reach and retain a wider audience than some of the heavier material, but it’s just a taster – I would strongly urge you to check out a lot more of the catalogue of delights released by Reggie & The Full Effect.

Get Amped – Tyrannosaurus – Single Review

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by Emma

Get Amped are about to burst onto the rock scene with the release of their debut album Postcards From Hell, but up until now you may not have heard of this UK trio.

Get Amped are the kind of band who are focusing stiffly on music and pushing aside image or fashion that seems to be smothering the scene of late. Tyrannosaurus is a humorous and thoughtful track with a solid chugging bass line and features some nice harmonies that are still a little rough around the edges. B track Plug Me In has some nice dirty grungy guitar work and the boys pull some nice riffage out from under their sleeves.

So what is different about Get Amped? A bit of middle-eastern flavour brought back by Rick Parkhouse after living abroad for three years. This sounds odd, but I assure you it is a subtlety that does really work.

Magnet – Fall At Your Feet – Single Review

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by Lucie

Even Johanson (alias Magnet) continues to produce his unique brand of introspective chill-out music with this latest single, ‘Fall At Your Feet’, taken from his critically acclaimed ‘The Tourniquet’ album. He’s like the Norwegian version of Jack Johnson, and having just toured with indie giants Athlete, is making a name for himself in the UK and building up a strong fanbase. Smatterings of sweet melodies make this single what it is, with intimate loving lyrics and a relaxing seaside aura. Forget Coldplay, forget REM; discover Magnet

Athlete – Twenty Four Hours – Single Review

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by Lucie

Cute-as-a-button indie clan Athlete melt some hearts with this tune to brandish your lighter in the air to.
Their second album ‘Tourist’ breathed new life into the band, drawing a mixed reaction from the public with ‘Wires’, and then the heavier, happier ‘Half Light’. ‘Twenty Four Hours’ is a beautiful ballad with a distinct air of Englishness that lead singer Joel Potts maintains effortlessly, with not so much emotion that the single can be written off as overtly sappy, but just enough to make you appreciate each side of the Athlete coin. Awww, they’re just so lovely!

The Pariahs – Album Review

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by Lucie

A third helping of dirty scuzz-rock from the Toronto fivesome, as this self-titled album provides more of the same kick-arse enthusiasm for all things rawk as its predecessors. This is the first of their records to be released in the UK, and they couldn’t have picked a better time to unleash it; Britain being the home of rock, and being particularly partial to it right now. This is a band who like to take the piss out of themselves, which can only be admired and encouraged, but there’s no doubt as to their dedication to the music they love, with eardrum-tearing riffs shredding through everything in sight, and the necessary manic vocalist who yells over the musical backdrop as if he’s just hijacked the studio and forced the band at gunpoint to let him sing on their record. Fucking fantastic.

Coldplay – Talk – Single Review

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by Lucie

It’s hard not to be impressed by this single, although I’m rather embarrassed to admit it. ‘Talk’ isn’t a whiny ballad, which is refreshing in itself, and it even begins with quite a nice little guitar intro. The lyrics are, as always, a bit too arty and pretentious for a pleb like me to appreciate, but it seems they’ve got back to their much more tolerable ‘Parachute’ days to produce a light, dare I say it, likeable song that’s reminiscent of the time when Chris Martin wasn’t such a git. Hard to remember, I know.

Diamond Dogs – Bound To Ravage – Album Review

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by Lucie

Diamond Dogs are just a bunch of teases. They’ve been honing their sound for over a decade, and keeping this debut UK album from us for all that time! Disgraceful. Worth the wait though, if you like your rock classic and your roll seriously fun-ky. This isn’t the Darkness/Headrush/Glitterati rock ‘n’ roll that we’ve become accustomed to of recent. This is the old time stuff, reminiscent of dusty bars in the old West. Think Quireboys ‘7 O’Clock’; think Chuck Berry, ‘Johnny B Goode’. Completely different to any Scandinavian rock you’ve heard before, I guarantee it, heavy on sweet guitar solos and crashing cymbals… God, I love it.

Kaiser Chiefs – Modern Way – Single Review

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by Lucie

Being someone who would normally despise such a trendy band, I never had the highest of expectations for the Kaiser Chiefs; and ‘Oh My God’ confirmed for me that they were crap. But it took just one listen of ‘Every Day I Love You Less And Less’ to prove to me their talent not only as musicians, but perhaps even more so as lyricists.
‘Modern Way’ doesn’t have quite the same energy as ‘EDILYLAL’ or ‘I Predict A Riot’, but the chorus is heavy and harder on the rock edge than the indie. Ricky Wilson and co.’s unique take on British life is a huge part of their appeal, and this single is a fantastic choice to wave farewell to the scene on. It’s the final record to be lifted from the million-selling album ‘Employment’, so as long as the lads don’t go all egotistical on us, I think we can expect more of the same kind of genius.


Erin McKeown – We Become Like Birds Album Review

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by Emma

Multi-talented and critically acclaimed artist Erin McKeown released her third album earlier this year. We Will Become Like Birds is a serene recording with a simple elegance that compliments McKeown’s silky vocals perfectly.

The tracks on this album are mature, sincere and in part quite personal. The accompaniment of soft percussion, sleek gentle guitar and subtle keyboard makes this an easy going and relaxing album. One to take on holiday and daze away to whilst sunbathing. There is a quirky and delightful feel to this album to make you smile, sit back and take notice. I wouldn’t even try to suggest a genre for We Will Become Like Birds, it’s universal. My favourite tracks on the album are the cheery To The Stars and the clicky and upbeat We Are More.


Serena Maneesh Album Review

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by Emma

The self-titled debut from Norwegian rockers Serena-Maneesh is an eerie and experimental offering, showcasing a wealth of style and variation. Both vocals and the distorted screams of the guitar float spookily throughout this album leading the listener quite softly from one track to the next. Tracks such as Beehiver have a little more excitement with it’s basement echoey feel and tortured screams.

The majority of the tracks are very busy, and have so many things going on at once it can prove difficult to listen to each track as a whole without being distracted from one element of the sound to another. For this reason the quiet calmness of Her Name Is Suicide is a welcome break. This album requires several listens before you can really get past the business, and is by no means easy listening! A rewarding soundtrack for the more intense listener!

Korn – See You On The Other Side Album review

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by Emma

Long awaited See you On The Other Side rips into play with the fantastic single Twisted Transistor and sets a precedent for the rest of the extensive album.

Korn are unmatched in the nu-metal genre and always have been. See You On The Other Side proves that the departure of Head has not compromised this, but unleashed a monster of creativity within other band members. Munky has stepped up his involvement in the writing of this album, and Korn decided to experiment with a different producer and the end result is a demonic giant of an album. So what does this album have? Grinding ear-rattling guitars – check. Haunting and soul-smashing vocals – check. Psychological tormenting lyrics punctuated by thunderous drums – check. This is tighter than your kecks after Christmas dinner and the production is sheer brilliance.

The best tracks of this album in my view are of course the mighty Twisted Transistor, the wickedly unrelenting beatdown that is Hypocrites, and the furious Coming Undone. All in all a masterpiece and a perfect note on which to end the year. If all this isn’t enough, the deluxe edition includes a bonus disc featuring additional tracks It’s Me Again (which is fucking awesome by the way), Eaten Up Inside and Last Legal Drug as well as two Twisted Transistor remixes and two videos from Korn’s Moscow gig (Twisted Transistor and Hypocrites).

And if that STILL isn’t enough, the deluxe edition also includes a year’s free membership to the online fan club. And the cherry on the cake is the really nice packaging! Sweet.


Kaiser Chiefs – Employment DVD Review

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by Emma

Kooky Kaiser Chiefs have taken the idea the usual format of music DVD releases and turned it on it’s head. Enjoyment is a ninety minute film with tracks from the band included as a bonus rather than the main feature!

Basically what Enjoyment delivers is a couple of hours of northern humour, amusing sketches and some quality music. The numerous live tracks from shows at my own favorite venues York Fibbers and Leeds Cockpit show off the technical quiality of Kaiser Chiefs’ live performance. Footage of the towns of Britain is accompanied by dry and witty narration by actor Bill Nighy.

Hardcore fans will enjoy the exclusive interviews of the band at ages 7 and 50!

The DVD also includes the excellent promotional videos for five singles including Oh My God and Every Day I Love You Less And Less.

To be completely honest I wasn’t sure what to expect from this DVD and wasn’t sure if I would enjoy it, but I actually have really enjoyed it and found myself laughing all the way through. A great way to spend a couple of hours and you won’tahve to be a major fan to appreciate this. Well worth adding to your Christmas list!

SixSister go to London

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by Jo

(no camping, and no Timmy the dog)

We don’t get out much, but when we do, it’s for something that fucking rocks. Top Secret ‘fan’s playback’ of the new Darkness album (don’t get out of bed for anything less). Only 9 lucky winners, folks – darklings who’ve worked hard in the Village of Upper Darkling to provide entertainment, news, views, commonsense and a lot of arsing about on forum. (this latter does not apply soley to 6S) My gog, when I got that email, I couldn’t breath for aaaaaaaaaaaggggeeeeeeeees. I might leave Rob something in my will… I went away for the weekend not knowing when this thing was going to be, who else was going, where it was.. aaaghhh. On Monday it was confirmed as being Wednesday. Thank the rock gods, I’m not working.. cancel all appointments with the Dyson. Buy cheapest train ticket, notify 6S, get in a panic, run round screaming.. well, no. the cats and Mr 3 are not of the darkling persuaion so I behaved myself. At the last minute another 6 was invited, so, due to her complete unluckiness with all other Darkness events, our Davey was pressganged in, with similar hyperventilation problems. Blimey, the most exciting thing that’s happened to SixSister.. Thanks to Rob for inviting us.. who cares that the band aren’t going to be there, if Rob is? Bless him.. he’ll be a Star Wars advent calendar and two packets of pickled onion monster munch richer when I see him. Lmao.. it’s not much, but the thought was there!

I wrote most of this on the train.. I was happily worrying about getting across London on the Circle Line by 1 o’clock when the train stops and a huge signal failure at Liverpool Street is announced. Bundled off this train at Shenfield, chucked off at Stratford… luckily the Central line runs from there so it wasn’t too difficult a journey. Just panicking cos I was going to be so late.. hurried calls, texts and tube journeys later, I made it at 1.40.. they’d not started without me, for which I am profoundly grateful. I paid my respects to Sue at the door while waiting for Rob, rushed to the loo, and finally entered a room full of people on the edge of their seats. This was because the sofa eats unwary people, I found. All those missing bands you wondered about? They’re in that sofa. Right. Hush. Time for the first listen. Awed silence, shivering in anti.. ci…pation..

We rocked along as best we could to the ones we knew, but it’s difficult not to get up and dance.. that would have terribly embarrassing. The room had a plate glass wall out on to the offices! So good to hear them again, all polished up and sounding GREAT.

The ones we didn’t know.. they’re so damn catchy, so we were singing along pretty soon. They are soooooooo good! There’s only one that won’t make you get up and boogie, but that’s cos it’s slower and more thought provoking. I think you’re all in for a very pleasant surprise or two. Not that we can tell you much yet, but we will, when Rob gives the green light. You WILL love it. Several massive tracks of glorious rocking gak.. It’s going round and round and round my head, touching the parts of me that make me want to sing… (sorry, Sade)

We stopped to discuss our favourites and various aspects of the tracks, along with some other gumpf. ‘Bald’ was put on again, on request. Huge smiles and a fair amount of laughing for favourite bits of songs, and lyrics, and pure rock pleasure..

It was much easier to pick out bits and enjoy on the second listen, finding all those things we’d discussed and the lyrics that were in Kerrang! today. Hee… dirty litle tykes.. People’s favourites were changed and changed back again. To be honest, it was so difficult to pick one.. it was easier to say which ones people didn’t like as much… and that wasn’t easy either. No one really disliked anything, just liked it less, and no one was disappointed by the album as a whole. The Darkness have achieved so much with this! Lord above, you can’t forget those songs. They worm their way into your head, No one will be able to stop singing them, and I can guarantee that the album will annoy people far more than PTL currently does / has done.. cool!

The discussion carried on for a while until it was time to go. We have promo copies of the single and nice b/w pics to take home.. yum.

Many many thanks to Rob for organizing this. He was his charming, affable, sharp self. Arse to his meeting.. we wanted to take him for beer, but we finished so late, thanks to my train.. apologies to everyone for that. Anyway, he’s a little strawberry blond angel, and long may he continue to watch over us, dispensing wisdom and.. umm… whatever else he dispenses. Sarcasm?

I say thank you to The Darkness, for the songs we’re singing.

Jo

Xx

People’s favourites.. except for ‘halfnakeded’ from the darklings site, who had to go.

Darren Bald
Dave Is it just me?
Jacqui Bald
Jayne Bald and English Country Garden
Jack Seemed Like a Good Idea
Graham Seemed Like a Good Idea
Jo Girlfriend
Rob Is it just me?

No doubt these will change… once we get our hands on the album again…

Sevendust – Next – Album Review

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by Emma

Get ready to rawk! Thrashing guitar, heavy pounding drums and a vocalist with a menacing growl – quality!

First track Hero is a great opener, although the following tune and current single Ugly is a little softer and not as good. Sevendust are at their best whilst screaming on vocals, drilling on drums and scratching heavily on guitar. Fortunately for us there is plenty of this on Next. Pieces is a great example of this and shows off the bands best qualities.

I feel that This Life is a little mis-placed on this album, however other than this track – a very solid and worthy album with some delicious tracks.


Magnet – The Tourniquet – Album Review

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by Emma

The Tourniquet is the second album released by highly acclaimed Norwegian artist Magnet, aka Even Johansen.

Bathed in dreamy melodies, The Tourniquet features some truly moving and beautiful tracks, such as Duracellia and Fall At Your Feet. Johansen writes with an openness and a truth that shines right through these tracks and stirs the old heart strings. This has the kind of gentleness and quiet grace that is rarely seen in today’s music. It has a kind of Jeff Buckley quality that is quite frankly priceless.

You must listen to Magnet. It will shake you to the core.