This week sees the release of the fifth studio album from Welsh rocking 5-piece Funeral For A Friend. Rock festival favourites, it has been a long while since their last album release Tales Don’t Tell Themselves. We wait eagerly in anticipation to hear what they will have to offer this time round.

Funeral For A Friend - Welcome Home Armageddon

Intro ‘This Side of Brightness’ leads the listener in to a chilled out false sense of security. Anyone who knows this band previously will surely anticipate the calm before the storm… Belting into the trademark recognisable tones of an all out rocking riff from Funeral For A Friend, ‘Old Hymns’ has a real punk rock vibe. This is true Funeral through and through with sing along melodies set against heavy drum beats and guitar climaxes. These are belt your heart out tracks that translate well for an onstage performance.  A positive start to a downright cracking album.

The mega-riffic tones of ‘Front Row Seats To The End Of The World’ kick in with a screaming vocal that blends into another melodic chorus for a tune that has hit written all over it. This first single offering from the album is a great choice for giving a hint as to what to expect from the gargantuan sounds of Welcome Home Armageddon.

Next single ‘Sixteen’ is another great track that blends winding riffs with catchy vocals and head nodding beats that will sit comfortably in Funeral For A Friend’s back catalogue of successes. Meanwhile, ‘Aftertaste’ is instantaneously catchy with dirty riffs and a bass line not to be reckoned with. This would be a fine selection for a future single release and is sure to become a fan favourite.

‘Owls (Are Watching)’ is a killer track that leads into the second half of the album with force and ferocity. This climaxes in the form of ‘Damned If You Do, Dead If You Don’t’, a lethal belter of a track that is sure to churn up fan hysteria down in the pit. Packed with a punch this mammoth track breathes energy and is a credit to the album. In contrast, ‘Medicated’ brings a slightly calmer and softer side to the album in contrast to the previous track. Fusing vibes of earlier career tracks ‘History’ and ‘Drive’, ‘Medicated’ harps back to a more classic Funeral For A Friend sound with its rising melodies and heartfelt vocals.

There is a real raw quality to Welcome Home Armageddon but it still has a perfectly polished finish that proves just how far this band have come in 5 albums; and admirably how true they have remained to their sound. With scream out loud lyrics that will send shivers down your spine, this collection of tracks is full of quality songs. Front man Matt Davies describes the new album as “a fist in the face followed by a kiss on the cheek” and this sums up this album perfectly. It has a heavy sound that will rock your socks off but features warmth in vocals and lyrics, combining emotion that many rock bands struggle to achieve.

For a band that have achieved such success with Hours and Casually Dressed And Deep In Conversation so long ago it is good to hear that that they still have what it takes. And boy do they still have what it takes. Ladies and gentlemen the boys are back in town.

Girl with attitude Beth Ditto returns to the airwaves this month with her first solo EP. A collaboration with Simian Mobile Disco, this 4 track EP is dance-tastic and a fresh change from her work with The Gossip.

Beth Ditto - EP

Beth Ditto’s softer side comes across straight away with a much more sultry vocal with a real clarity; far from the outcry of bellowing and booming vocals with The Gossip. There is a real melodic and sweet sound to these tracks, set against a pulsating beat and disco feel vibes.

The tracks are surprisingly heartfelt and vulnerable which creates a real contrast of styles from what you would expect of dance music. This is also far from what we expected from Beth Ditto; the usual upfront and in your face role model.

‘I Wrote The Book’ is the strongest and liveliest track that blends electro house grooves with a simple vocal about regret, revenge and heartbreak. ‘Open Heart Surgery’ is a ditty about ending a relationship, a well written track that is catchy and intense whilst being packed full of feelings and experiences. The lyrics seem very personal. Meanwhile, ‘Do You Need Someone’ sets an eerie vocal against a real electro beat backing track, an interesting blend of sounds keeping the listener wanting more.

The fact that Ditto’s solo effort is far removed from The Gossip’s work is a success in itself as we hear so many solo efforts that barely stray from the singers origin; it is nice to hear an EP with a purpose to bring out a different side. In fact had we not been told we may well have never known that this was Beth Ditto.

The only negative of releasing the EP is that it does not demonstrate a great deal of variety within her solo sound; but arguably this is to create a strong front and confidence in her style . But what would be really interesting would be to see what she would do with a whole album. Maybe one day we will find out…

Fran Healy - Wreckorder

The first solo album from Travis’ Fran Healy hits our airwaves this month with a much more mature sound. With support from Paul McCartney who even plays bass on one track, Wreckorder is sure to attract the attention of many.

Far from the Travis we knew back in the days of ‘Sing’, ‘Why Does It Always Rain On Me’ and ‘Turn’, Healy’s debut album kicks off with track ‘In The Morning’. A multi layered and atmospheric track combining eerie piano melodies with orchestral harmonies and beats, it is a short but sweet start to the album.

‘Anything’ is a more traditional and simplistic offering that blends Healy’s calming vocals with layered yet subtle melodies. The strings enhance the track perfectly, pitched against light guitar riffs, and this track feels exactly as we expected Healy’s new material would; subtle yet powerful at the same time.

‘Sing Me To Sleep’ offers a slightly more upbeat intro with an instantly more commercial and radio friendly sound. More guitars and drums against a stronger vocal, including a guest female vocal performance from US breakthrough artist  Neko Case, give the track a boost and a more three dimensional sound to draw you in. It’s a real interesting creation in the middle of this album.

‘Fly In The Ointment’ is a more Travis-esque track that leads us to think that the first two tracks of the album were seemingly misleading. Meanwhile, ‘As It Comes’ is a look back to times gone by with a waltz feel and McCartney’s bass line, whilst ‘Buttercups’ is a lighter and more fruitful track that picks up the mood for the listener and lends yet another sound to the album. ‘Moonshine’ ties up the album with a catchy and repetitive vibe.

All in all, Wreckorder is a calming and beautiful fusion of tracks that start where Travis’ material left off. A melodic blend of mature vocals and harmonies against guitar strings with a feel good and laid back sound. The album is not ground-breaking but what is important is that it is not a replica of his past musical career and this should in turn give Healy the opportunity to really prove his worth as a solo artist – an opportunity that, judging by this, he truly deserves.

Brandon Flowers - Flamingo

Brandon Flowers returns to our airwaves with his debut solo album Flamingo. Following outstanding success fronting The Killers, Flowers steps out on his own to up the ante and demonstrate that he can go it alone. With a less electro sound than we have become accustomed to from the Killers, what will this album have to offer…?

‘Welcome To Fabulous Las Vegas’ is a slow tempo melancholic track that kicks off the album, bursting into life for a typical Flowers chorus. The track winds through styles and paces that keep the track interesting from start to finish. ‘Only The Young’ is an atmospheric treat for the ears, but it is all sounding very Killers so far and we find ourselves constantly forgetting that this is not a Killers album – the only edge being the slightly more experimental side to this record.

Perhaps the biggest success of the album comes in the form of ‘Hard Enough’, a duet with Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley fame, which is an unexpected treasure. Their vocals fuse and intertwine perfectly for this simplistic number. Brandon Flowers has made the perfect selection here, and we are sure he wasn’t short of offers to appear on his debut solo offering. Undeniably, ‘Crossfire’ is also one of the biggest successes of the record, with commercial appeal and a catchy feel – a fine choice for the debut single. Meanwhile, ‘The Clock Was Tickin” is a story telling track with a country and western vibe, not something we would have expected from Flowers. It is hard to say whether this track actually works, there are elements that do but it feels all just a bit too forced.

All in all Flamingo is a grower. There are some grabbing concepts that leave you wanting more and the originality that The Killers brought to the table is replicated in this record. Which is, at the same time, perhaps what makes this offering a little too mediocre and lacks that fresh sound that we were hoping for. That’s not to say that there is no variation here, as the album is vast in style and sound. But the number of tracks with single potential is minimal and we can’t help feeling that we would have preferred a brand new Killers album for our listening pleasure instead. Negative thoughts aside, Flowers has high expectations to meet and we are not sure than we can write off his solo efforts quite just yet. These are just the building blocks for a potentially sky high successful solo career.

Kylie Minogue - Aphrodite

After 23 years riding our airwaves, Kylie Minogue returns with her new album Aphrodite after a not so successful “comeback” in 2007 with album X. X reached only number 4, perhaps not seemingly a failure of a chart position, but for Kylie this was highly unusual. So is Aphrodite all glitz and glam like the Kylie Minogue we know and love?

‘All The Lovers’ is her first single offering taken from the Aphrodite album, with electro beats and a real purity of vocals. She is back on top; catchy and poptastic, this is a true Kylie sound with a mature feel that she has perfected through the experimentation on her last few albums.

‘Get Outta My Way’ is not as strong an offering as the first track but with disco beats this is a grower and after two or three listens we are hooked. ‘Put Your Hands Up’ is a another dancetastic number that will have you movin’ and groovin’ through ‘till next week and we finally start to fully appreciate the vibe of this album.

While this album is not all killer and there is definitely some filler, key tracks draw us in and forgive some of the weaker offerings. Title track ‘Aphrodite’ is a surefire hit with it’s punch-packed pop choruses and clear vocals. A real standout track, this has single potential and hit written all over it and is the greatest success on this album by far. A return to form for Kylie that makes us reconsider perceptions of this album so far.

‘Illusion’, with its slow intro, changes the pace for a lighter and more diverse sound. With soft vocals pitched against electro sounds this track is subtle but catchy and there is just something about this track that makes it glow. Meanwhile, ‘Better Than That’ has an old school Kylie vibe with a less mature sound which reminds us of albums gone by but with her new twist added.

If you were hoping for a full blown large scale sound on Aphrodite like ‘Can’t Get You Out Of My Head’ then you will be disappointed. However, Kylie Minogue has come a long way since then and this offering fits perfectly into 2010′s music environment. Don’t expect to be overwhelmed by the greatness of Aphrodite on first listen, as your second listen is just oh so much better. However, where Kylie has always excelled is in creating classic pop songs that will be played over and over for years to come and unfortunately this album just doesn’t provide many tracks to add to that list.

My Tiger My Timing

Is this an ’80s Madonna single? No it’s the latest offering from pop five piece My Tiger My Timing. The fresh female vocals make a nice change; recent times have provided a real surge in indie/pop female lyricists, seemingly a winning ingredient.

With funky beats and happy jingly pop vibes ‘I Am The Sound’ could almost be a La Roux track; but with less oomph. Onto a winner, are you thinking? Having been pitched as a dance floor hit, frankly on first listen we are disappointed. This track is certainly not getting our party started; there is something lacking here. Imagine the Ting Tings without the heavy drums and catchy lyrics….

With support from NME that other bands would give their right arm for we were expecting more from this band. In a musical climate that is drowning in new acts, only the strongest will stay afloat and if My Tiger My Timing are going to do that they will need to prove themselves far stronger than this track. Here’s hoping that their forthcoming EP will prove us wrong, because this band does have potential, they just need to find that final magic ingredient.  It’s early days and we are not ready to write them off quite just yet.

Mirrors

The first church organ sounding notes blare through our speakers and wind into a very Pulp sounding mildly psychedelic track, with electro beats and similar tones to those of Jarvis Cocker. This is Mirrors.

This song is a little repetitive; it certainly won’t win any awards for creativity of lyrics (“Into the heart that wallows in the dark”), but their sound is intriguing and we find ourselves wanting to hear more.

There is something very likeable about ‘Into The Heart’ but we cannot quite put our finger on what it is. Maybe the nostalgia of the ’90s?

B-side ‘Lights and Offerings’ is more bizarre from start to finish, with an intro that sounds like it’s taken from Lily Allen’s latest album, but soon develops into a track that very much reflects the vibes of the A-side. There is a certain military like feel to this track, the harshness of the vocals against the whirling background.

We find ourselves thinking that our liking for this sound may be short lived. How many times can we actually listen to Mirrors without tiring?

Frank Turner

Ex-hardcore band Million Dead-member Frank Turner has a new offering in the form of album ‘Poetry Of The Deed’, and what a treat it is. Turner is simplistic and original with his folk-punk style sound. His music is very personal and is far from the repetitive over-produced tracks that drown the music market on a daily basis.

Opening track ‘Live Fast Die Young’ is instantly catchy with the simplistic and endearing trademark Frank Turner sound. A one-man-vocal that details personal accounts of life situations, the song is sung with real feeling and sincerity. This is an album highlight that will win listeners over from the start.

This album is one man with a guitar and his thoughts set to a backing band. Every song is like a journey, telling stories that allow you to feel like you really get to know just who Frank Turner is and how he thinks.

‘Try This At Home’ is a faster paced and lively sing along track about the superficiality of being a rock star and writing songs. “There’s no such thing as rock stars/there’s just people who play music/and some of them are just like us/and some of them are dicks/so quick turn off your stereo/pick up that pen and paper/yeah, you can do much better than some skinny half arsed English country singer”.

‘Dan’s Song’ is another highlight of the album, a real storytelling track about getting older, easy to relate to with mouth organ melodies injected over guitar rhythms.

Frank Turner brings out his more melancholic and endearing side through the heartfelt track that is ‘Faithful Son’, in its pure and storytelling form. We see a softer side to his lyrics with smoother melodies and likeable reflective words. “What would any of us do/if all the dreams that we had came true/what would there be left to dream about?”

A track that would have made a fine album closer is ‘Sunday Nights’ with a song that sums up the exact Sunday evening feeling (in fact we are feeling it as we write). So many songs have been written about Friday and Saturday feelgood nights but few have attempted to write a track about the feeling of the realisation on a Sunday evening when the weekend is over and the week ahead seems long and tormenting. Turner sums his feelings up perfectly and coherently.

‘Our Lady Of The Campfires’ breathes life into the album with a stronger sound and all out vocal performance. An injection that seems to fall in the wrong place on the album, this would have been better placed sooner as the power of this song is lost in the opening notes of ‘Journey Of The Magi’.

The third studio album from Frank Turner proves that his popularity and success are well deserved; a collection of well written songs, there is something here for everyone. He may have started his career in a hardcore band but his sincere lyrics and wholesome songs are evidently his true calling. Long may he reign.

Attack!Attack!

September 17th 2009

Here at Muso’s Guide we love to find new and upcoming bands, so when we were invited along to the launch of Red Bull Bedroom Jam season we were there quicker than our noteworthy purple boots could carry us…
So what’s on the cards for this evening aside from a whole lot of energy drink? Well, taking place at the owned-by-legendary rockers- Iron Maiden’s hotel in Soho, Central London, we are to be treated to performances from modern rock successes The Blackout, Attack!Attack!, Young Guns and Bedroom Jam veterans Saving Aimee. But this is not just any performance. In fact a performance in each of the four penthouse suites on the top floor of this hotel, complete with bar and Jacuzzi… rock stars, hotels and Jacuzzis… we’ll let you do the maths.

Although a small capacity is workable in such a venue (yes, these bedrooms are notably smaller than Wembley), the outdoor area is hooked up with large TVs , so should we not fit into the bedrooms we can still watch a full live performance from each of the bands.

Kicking things off tonight are Young Guns, who we have previously checked out at The Great Escape Festival in Brighton and are certainly ones to watch. Their sound can only be described as huge. They know how to rock and tonight they rock this bedroom to its foundations. ‘In The Night’ demonstrates a real strength in sounds and that this up and coming band have a lot to offer the music scene, well worthy of a place on a line-up with the likes of The Blackout and Attack!Attack! tonight.  Having just supported some dates with LostProphets and just announced to support Fightstar on tour this October, we are sure to be seeing more of this five piece.

Having started out life as a Bedroom Jam band, Saving Aimee are a sure-fire hit on the line-up tonight, showing just how worthwhile this format has been during its last season of broadcasting new talent live and online. This six piece strong electro-rock band from London have an individual sound that reverberates around our eardrums and gets our feet moving. Latest single ‘We’re The Good Guys’ is an all out energy fuelled performance that leaves us struggling to classify this band into a genre, they are individual and exciting.  A band such of these should be well taken note of, frankly we are impressed.

We get front row for a close and intimate yet rocking performance from Attack!Attack!; and when we say close we mean we are pretty lucky to make it out of there without being smacked over the head with a guitar! The four Welsh wonders are on form tonight and their energy and charisma is as high as when playing to large venues of fans, regardless of energy drink endorsements! We are treated to commercial favourites ‘Honesty’ and ‘You and Me’ which has hit scribbled all over it. They interact well with their audience. The pace is slowed down for ‘From Now On’ which is a slower number with an Attack!Attack! kick. This ain’t no boy band ditty. Still with its all-out rocking riffs and heavy beats this track marks a highlight of their set tonight.  ‘Say It To Me’ is fast becoming a favourite with its intricate rocking guitars and scream-out-loud lyrics; it is hard to keep still to this one.

Yes, we put our hands up, by now we are officially a fan of this band, but judging from tonight’s performance, who wouldn’t be? Having several months ago written them off as paramount to a Welsh Fall Out Boy, we have since eaten our words because this band have proven that their sound is more varied and far stronger than that with an album to be reckoned with, comparisons have now been left at the front door. ‘This Is A Test’ rocks the room and all who are in it, “This is a test/a wakeup call/it’s a mission too tall”; no challenge seems too big for this band, even drawing energy from such a small crowd capacity in this bedroom tonight.

Headlining tonight are The Blackout who have gone from strength to strength this year, having released their second album and completely rocked out crowds at festivals such as Give It A Name and Download back in June. This band are known for their energy and power on stage; so how do you condense that down to one bedroom? Well try as you might you can never quite retain that full impact, but what The Blackout do tonight is the most that can be expected. They rock this crowded penthouse suite to its foundations, so much so that Iron Maiden themselves would surely be proud (assuming their room doesn’t get trashed of course!) Turn the energy and bass up to number eleven because this band is not to be messed with, with anthems such as ‘Children Of The Night’, and we can truly see why they were chosen to play this show tonight. Rock domination is potentially just a stone’s throw away, if you forgive the sweeping black and peroxide blonde hair cuts. We like their attitude and there is not a rock star diva-like attitude in sight….

A bunch of energy fuelled down to earth rockers, and we are officially thrilled.

Basement Jaxx - Scars

Basement Jaxx are back with their fifth album, following 2006 release Crazy Itch Radio. These are exciting times, or so we expect.

The question is, is their time up? Having experienced the peak of their success with first albums Remedy and Rooty? Back then they were something a bit different, but have dance acts with new points of difference such as Pendulum stolen the attention?

Scars allows Basement Jaxx to call upon some famous collaborators. Not shy to the world of using guest vocalists, this is not a new concept; but the line-up on this album is somewhat fierce. Sam Sparro, Chipmunk, Kelis, Lightspeed Champion and even Yoko Ono. Well if nothing else the album sleeve line-up will certainly get people talking…

Summer top twenty hit ‘Raindrops’ kicks off the album with a rare showcasing of Felix’s own vocals. The first question we ask ourselves is where has the power behind their tracks gone? The essence is there but it lacks the face and impact that we have come to know this duo for. With vocal distortion effects there are some points of interest but they are rather few and far between. It is all a little too mediocre and lacklustre, surely they have more to offer? In time this track is a grower but it is certainly no ‘Bingo Bango’. A track to please fans but it will certainly gain no new ones.

By the time ‘Twerk’ kicks in we start to lose all hope. This very American sounding track with its hip hop intro (Is this a Black Eyed Peas album?) is far too all over the place.  There is no focus and it causes some irritation to the ears. This track is bizarre and certainly not in a unique and likeable way. We are quickly losing faith.

‘Feelings Gone’ comes just in time; we were just about to give up hope. With recognisable Sam Sparro vocals and the strings we know from Basement Jaxx classics such as ‘Good Luck’ we have our interest immediately restored. This track works well, with a great contrast created between Sparro’s soulful voice and Basement Jaxx’s ability to great groovy electro vibes. They may have just saved this album.

‘Saga’ featuring Santigold leaves us thinking that in an industry where there are so many artists they need to gain back their instantaneously addictive vibes else their time may well be up.

‘My Turn’, a collaboration with Lightspeed Champion is the highlight of this album right from the start. My what a contrast, but it works perfectly. The laid back vocals infused against the trademark Basement Jaxx sound is unique and endearing. On paper this idea was a long shot but in reality it is a stonker. It is probably not Basement Jaxx single material but it is an album track that makes this album noteworthy. With hints of Remedy strings, our opinion on this album has just done a full 360 degrees. But this is short lived.

The most obscure and bizarre award for a track goes to ‘Day Of The Sunflowers (We March On)’. With a surprisingly positive and dance-fused intro we expected something a little more mellow considering it is a collaboration with Yoko Ono. It is obscure, hearing Yoko’s vocals on such an electro-vibed track. Is this just because we know who she is? If this vocalist were not famous would this track just be written off as a failure? It becomes even more bizarre halfway through and we cannot decide if the track actually works or not, so fazed we are by this extremely random collaboration. But there is just something mildly likeable about it…. and when we say mild we mean mild.

The final three tracks of the album become lost and confusing. They don’t fit and it feels like they have been included to fill a gap.

Scars is far from what we were expecting. A listen to a Basement Jaxx album normally brings thoughts of going out and having fun in a club, but we finish this album feeling somewhat mellow and disappointed. If there were three words to sum it up they would surely be obscure, unpredictable and filler. In a suffering industry that is drowned in acts, we may just find that Basement Jaxx’s fifth album is their last. Let’s hope next time around they remember what we knew and loved them for.