Frightened Rabbit - The Midnight Organ Fight
It is getting terribly hard to pigeonhole music these days. Alright, bands don’t like it. After all, why should they be forced into a niche with some other people who have similar haircuts or a female bassist too? They spend their time making art which is built to be unique and interesting in its own right, and they deserve some respect for their wishes. … Continue Reading
The Computers - You Can't Hide From The Computers
“Destroy everything,” The Computers’ frontman Alex Kershaw screams by way of introduction to this, the Exeter quartet’s mini album. Yep, that’s right – anarchic existential angst from Exeter, and golly, has it been a long time in coming. … Continue Reading
Guns 'n Roses - Chinese Democracy
It’s not too often that a bona fide 100 million album-selling act releases a new record. That’s a lot of albums shifted, and a lot of fans who love your work. But what if you took that love and let it make excuses for you, let it make you do crazy things? Hmmm, like, let’s say, taking 15 years to release a follow-up record – maybe that sort of madness? … Continue Reading
Rest Now, Weary Head! You Will Get Well Soon - Get Well Soon
Another day in December, another Christmas release. This time from German singer, songwriter and instrumentalist Konstantin Gropper, aka Get Well Soon. What Christmas songs are made of is anyone’s guess. Will it mention the word ‘Christmas’? Ideally. Should it be packed with comfort and joy? Not necessarily. What about the baby Jesus, should he be in there? … Continue Reading
The Lucksmiths - First Frost
First of all, some confusion to clear up. Is a lucksmith someone who makes luck, like a ‘smith’ would have in the old days? If so, there must be someone whose bought up all of The Lucksmiths’ bright, shiny, new luck, because this Aussie band have been going for 15 years and they’re still not a household name. Maybe that’s down to more than just bad luck, but still, the irrepressible Lucksmiths smile on through their troubles! … Continue Reading
Glasvegas - A Snowflake Fell (And It Felt Like A Kiss)
Christmas records are a real curse on the music world. Take an artist who has previously confirmed themselves as a chart big-hitter and watch them compromise their ideals for a song with 15 mentions of ‘Rudolph’. As a fan, it’s disheartening, and not a little embarrassing. As an artist, it’s a pension, because after all, there are only so many Christmas records out there, right? … Continue Reading
James Yorkston - When The Haar Rolls In
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If folk is alive and well, it’s been living in Fife, Scotland and very happy about it, thank you. Except that the quaint Scottish fishing villages grew too small, and lovely talents like King Creosote and this here James Yorkston much too big.
Seal - Soul
In the true meaning of the word, soul is under-represented in modern music. Soul which incorporated gospel and old-style rhythm and blues, belted out by Otis, or Sam Cooke, or Marvin Gaye – in true grandad style, they simply don’t make them like that anymore.
Snow Patrol - A Hundred Million Suns
Heavily accented vocals are a toughie. Who could deny affecting an oirish brogue when taking off ‘Fairytale Of New York’ a la McGowan? Or dusting off the Auchtermuchty burr for a closing time rendition of ‘(I’m Gonna Be) 500 Miles’ like the bespectacled Reid twins?
The Kills - Midnight Boom
There is a market for everything. Salesmen will tell you that and, in 2008, everyone’s a salesman, baby. If you think you’re unique, unheard of, dizzyingly different, chances are the powers that be can shove you into an attractive package in less time than it takes to say “I hate myself and want to die”.
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