Tag Archives: Disc reviews

Tracy & The Plastics – Culture for Pigeon – Album Review

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by Emma

This album, out to buy now, is an electro lover’s dream. ‘Tracy’ has created her own alter egos, Cola and Nikki on drums and keyboard, who together form an eerie and imaginative sound, complemented by Tracy’s super-sleek purring vocals.

Tracy & The Plastics is the brainchild of artist Wynne Greenwood who fuses art and music to become one. The result is really quite brilliant, and the disjointed tracks are pretty intriguing even for those like myself who aren’t the greatest fans of electro.
My favourite track on the album has to be the opener, Big Stereo with it’s crisp and cool feel.

Simple Plan – MTV Hard Rock Live – Album review

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by Emma

October 3rd was the release date for this live album from the Simple Plan boys.

Opening with much loved pop-rock anthem Shut Up, Simple Plan are quite clearly rocking the hell out of the Orlando Hard Rock Café! The sound quality is very good and this is the perfect opportunity for the boys to prove their worth and capability of delivering a high standard of live performance and knock the doubters out of the way!

Yeah, the tracks are mostly quite light-hearted and easy, but this is their sound and it has a fun bouncy quality that makes it enjoyable to listen to. Simple Plan have a good rapport going with the crowd, and highlights include the catchy Addicted, God Must Hate Me, and Thank You.

A very good live album sure to be on many Christmas lists!

Ryan Adams & The Cardinals – Jacksonville City Nights – Album Review

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by Emma

Jacksonville City Nights is the second album Ryan Adams has released this year on the Lost Highway label.

Ryan Adams is an acquired taste, a sweet and soulful collection of smooth country style songs, touching stories told in a sleepy-town fashion. There’s no denying that Ryan Adams is a suberb artist, vocals are filled to the brim with emotion and meaning and the guitar is mellow and shy. The album features Norah Jones guesting on vocals for Dear John, which works extremely well. The more upbeat tracks are the likes of Trains and Don’t Fail Me Now, although a party album this is not!

Think relaxing in the tub with a glass of wine, or laying on a beach somewhere…this is chill out music. At it’s finest.

Bloodhound Gang – Hefty Fine – Album Review

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by Emma

Funny from the very first line, Bloodhound gang effervesce right through the album Hefty Fine.

The album opens with a fantastically grinding bass line and tongue in cheek lines galore. This is an exceptionally good collection of songs with a couple of skits thrown in for good measure. From the excellent and powerful Balls Out and Ralph Wiggum to the softer and smooth tones of Farting With A Walkman On, Bloodhound Gang do not fail to please. Back to the familiar sound is Pennsylvania, a clever song with really nice vocals and clear loud drums.

Jokes and rudeness aside, this album is technically very good and provides forty-odd minutes of excellent music. Hefty Fine is out now, so go buy it…then hide it where your mum/kids/gran/sister won’t find it (delete as appropriate)!

Maximo Park – Apply Some Pressure – Single Review

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by Emma

Apply Some Pressure is a re-release as Maximo Park are high in demand!

Taken from the debut album A Certain Trigger, this track is one of three top twenty singles earning the band a damn good reputation and an army of fans. Apply Some Pressure is fast-paced and confident, the music is tight and precise and the vocals are strong and honest. This band deserves every inch of the credit received.

Five O’Clock Heroes – White Girls – Single Review

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by Emma

White Girls is the disco-tastic single from Five O’Clock Heroes, released on 31st October.
White Girls is a funky disco melody with snappy vocals and an easy-going jangly riff. It seems to almost belong to a different time, but is nevertheless a good old dance tune worthy of an ass-shake or three! B track Skin Deep is a more up to date track – kooky, light hearted and catchy.

Millionaire – I’m On A High – Single Review

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by Emma

Millionaire sweep through the cobwebs like a hurricane with new single I’m On A High.

This track is a nice guitar-thick tune with slick vocals sliding from high pitched to low without effort. This is nice and steadily paced, with a dirty striptease inducing and floaty-head sound.

This is probably best suited to a more mature audience, dark and thick with mood.


Bloodhound Gang – F,U,C,K – Single Review

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by Emma

The boys are back in town and it’s time to cover the kids’ ears! Bloodhound Gang never hold back and will say exactly what they want, and that’s why we like them.

Foxtrot, Uniform, Charlie, Kilo is a good catchy tune with lyrics to make you laugh and they are perfectly delivered and supported by a damn good tune! This is quite tame for Bloodhound Gang and is an excellent new single which will project them back into the ranks. Hurrah!

The Glitterati – Back In Power – Single Review

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by Emma

24th October was the release date for Back In Power, taken from the band’s debut Glitterati that has seen them rise up to the MTV ranks and begin to get themselves heard.

The Glitterati sound sleazy and self-assured for this track and it seems this was the exact intention. The attitude took Guns N Roses to the top and it may just work albeit on a smaller scale for these guys. Back In Power is a slightly lazy sounding track, with a slow sounding riff and drawling vocals. These guys have the image, they have their sound and their ever-growing fanbase. Join the bandwagon and enjoy the ride that is The Glitterati.


The Automatic – Recover – Single Review

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by Emma

Welsh quartet The Automatic are here to demand your attention with their debut single Recover released on 24th October.

Recover is a funky and quick track with edgy vocals and some nice guitar which leans ever so slightly towards the twangs of Franz Ferdinand and then knocks them right over with a big fact injection of fearlessness. The Automatic are onto a good sound and have no necessity to conform to the standards of any genre. They are refreshing, entertaining and bring much more energy to their performance than many bands on the scene at the moment.

The Kills – No Wow – Single Review

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by Emma

Just another ‘The’ band? Nah! The Kills bring something original to the table with their eclectic mix of electro beats and funky rythms.

The single is released with various remixes by the likes of Death From Above 1979’s Jesse and Chicken Lips. I can’t help feeling that there is something missing from this track though – it is kinda catchy and definitely different, however it’s almost like I am waiting for some amazing hard riff or thumping beat that never happens.

The Fallout Trust – Before The Light Goes – Single Review

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by Emma

Before The Light Goes was released on 31st October on At Large. This is their second single and is quite a mellow and intelligent track.

The Fallout Trust are a band for the thinking person. Vocals reminiscent of Bowie and a solid backing of quite straight-forward guitar and the inclusion of keyboard are clearly a formula to a mature and off-beat sound. The other tracks on the single are actually very different and show that this band is by no means a one trick pony. Worth a good listen for sure.

Goldie Lookin Chain – R ‘n’ B – Single Review

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by Emma

Oh dear, we’re in for trouble! GLC are back with the second single from album Safe As Fuck and they are certainly on top form.

R ‘n’ B is a hilarious song about boy band love and urban music, a soft East 17 stylee song which even features a little tribute to New Kids On The Block taking me back 16 years! This track is great for a laugh and actually quite easy on the lobes! The rapping is pretty well executed so I am definitely liking this track.


Alkaline Trio – Mercy Me

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by Emma

Due for release on 21 November, Mercy Me is the second single from the album Crimson.

Mercy Me is a great easy-going track, upbeat and with lovely clean melodic vocals and nice toe-tapping guitars and drums. It’s quite a sunny and soft sounding track and I think it will hit the charts with gusto! A dance floor packer if I ever heard one!

Humanzi – Fix The Cracks – Single Review

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by Emma

Humanzi’s next single, double-A sider Fix The Cracks/Get Your Shit Together is released 7th November, and is an eye-opener!

Think Alamos … if you like them you will probably like Humanzi’s sharp vocals and dance-meets-rock sound. Of the two tracks I prefer Get Your Shit Together, it’s a much easier listen.

Simple Plan – Untitled

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by Emma

I have a certain amount of respect for Simple Plan and their mild brand of pop/punk rock. It so far has proved to be a recipe for success for the boys, however with the single Untitled, they have decided to see how a ballad will go down with the public ear.

The result is a good track – not great, but I can see exactly where the appeal lies. The younger female fans will love it, however it is bit too bleak for moi! Having said that the piano backing is beautiful and lifts the song. Give me back the mischievous leaping-around-while-playing-guitar Simple Plan!


Fall Out Boy – Sugar, We’re Goin’ Down – Single Review

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by Emma

Fall Out Boy have managed to create a universally loved song in Sugar, We’re Goin’ Down.

This is a pop-come-punk diamond of a track that catches the ear of listener regardless of their preferred genre. This has catchy lyrics, a great melody and rocks enough for the slanty-fringed emo generation. A fab tune – you probably have a copy already – if you don’t then you need to get one!

Funeral For A Friend – History – Single Review

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by Emma

Funeral For A Friend release History on 14th November, making an excellent choice for the third single from the huge album Hours.

History is a beautiful and poignant track with soft backing music and leaving the main focus on the smooth vocals and harmonies. Accompanied by a personal and meaningful music video this track should prove to be highly successful. I spoke to Kris and Ryan before the Manchester Taste of Chaos show and they both said that History is one of their very favourite Funeral For A Friend songs. Well boys, it’s one of ours too!

Korn – Twisted Transistor – Single Review

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by Emma

Ha ha! Korn are back on top fucking form and I couldn’t be happier to say that! Twisted Transistor is the first single from the forthcoming album See You On The Other Side due for release on 5th December.

Twisted Transistor is a great throbbing piece of metal funk and of course features those unique and unmistakeable vocals of Jonathan Davis. The tune twists and turns like the corkscrew at Alton Towers and is an essential for your CD collection. The single is available from 21 November so fix the date firmly in your mind and make sure you get your copy.


OWTTHAB single reviews

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by Fans!

Was weeing myself with excitement this morning. Had to have the radio on as the computer was being an arse, so everyone got to watch me bouncing on my chair with excitement. However, my clutch of non-Darkness fanatic colleagues all thought it was good – and if they hated it, they’d definitely let me know.

Basically, I think its great. Fantastic guitar, Justin’s voice sounds great, and a nice little sitar break in the middle. Not sure how they’ll handle that bit live, but we’ll wait and see.

Catchy chorus too.

I’d love to have a transcript of the lyrics, as at the moment I’m “la la la-ing along to the bits I can’t make out. Newspaper reports are claiming its all about drug abuse, so a sqizz at the lyrics may shed some light on that one.

Now where is that video …………. Q magazine say they have it on rotation through October.

The boys are definitely back in town!!!!!!

Welcome back, cos we’ve been gagging for it!

Taffy

One way ticket to hell.

After waiting for so long for anything new from camp Darkness. We
finally have something!

One way ticket is the first single to be released for the forthcoming
album One Way Ticket to Hell….. And Back.

It opens with riffs reminiscent of AC/DC, and a cowbell. It instantly
makes you foot tap along. We have the familiar falsetto vocals, and a
chorus that’s as catchy as hell. It is in no way a rip your face off
rock song, but it does rock. From the first listen you’ll be singing
along with the chorus and it won’t leave your head. The Darkness are
back on form!

If this is the quality of the rest of the album I can’t wait!

Spid

On the 3rd of October, anxious Darklings across the land clung
aggressively to their radios like a pack of slavering shrews, hungry
for the veritable juicy grub that is ‘One Way Ticket’… I don’t think
there was an ounce of disappointment within our fine nation that misty
morning
Debuted on national radio, the new single oozes the magnificent
insanity we all now know and love, sounding flawlessly slick with the
help of Sir Roy Thomas Baker, rock producer extraordinaire. So some of
the ‘Permission To Land’ rawness has been lost, but the transition to
international superstars has meant a huge boost in the kind of
grandeur that they tried so hard to achieve the first time round with
just twenty grand and two weeks. This is just an extension of the
mind-boggling greatness that was thrust upon us three years back.
It’s been a long time coming, but it seems the ridiculously long
months of recording and perfecting was just a preliminary for The
Darkness proving that they’re back, and in fantastic form. ‘One Way
Ticket’ is bold and beautiful and shamelessly catchy, with the warble
that seemed delightfully ubiquitous last year making a very welcome
return. Grief Hammer for b-side… please?
I don’t know about you, but I can’t fucking wait for the album.

Davey