We've listed singles/EPs/demos in order of star rating. Best first.
RIESER Drinking Den EP
www.rieser.co.uk
Scotland's Rieser released an excellent debut album a couple of years ago (Well
Dressed Thief) and they've been treading the boards north of the border ever
since. Hopefully they'll be pulled southward this year and on the strength of
this four-track EP fully deserve wider recognition.
The EP is an excellent stop-gap before album no.2 and reflects the band's
quality songwriting skills and ability to knock out tunes that repay repeated
listening. You can't say that about many of the current crop of indie wannabes
and Rieser have a maturity that will surely broaden their appeal to an older
demographic as well as the young. I mean, come on, frontman Chris Blair even
likes Jethro Tull.
All the right elements are in place on this: Drinking Den has U2 echoes (no bad
thing as they are back in fashion), 'The Actor' bounces along like Franz
Ferdinand, 'Call Me Round' recalls classic Cast and 'The Ringmaster' - long a live
favourite - is like Big Country meets Runrig whilst saying hello to Alex Harvey.
In short, Rieser have pretty much got all bases covered and with the mandatory
lucky break could be the next great Scottish export. If you are lucky to get the
limited edition you'll have a beer mat to rest your celebratory glass on. And
not before time, either. *****
Review by David Randall
>> Check out our Rieser Podcast
THE ANSWER On And On (Albert Productions)
The Irish blues rockers are on the ascendancy again and are currently supporting
AC/DC on their world tour. If they don't go massive after that there is no hope,
or justice.
Whilst there is nothing original in this track, it is very well done and
- moreover - it keeps the classic rock flame burning.
A fast-paced rocker, it's probably best to enjoy this track on the new album
'Everyday Demons'. ****
Review by David Randall
HEAVEN'S BASEMENT EP
www.heavensbasement.com
Heaven's Basement remain unsigned and along with a number of 2009 UK contenders
(including Voodoo Johnson, Jaded Heart ) are unlikely to remain so by the end of
the year. They supported Thunder last year and this debut six-track EP captures
their live sound and urgency.
'Tear Your Heart Out', 'Graduation" and "Fear Of Getting Off" are all the stuff
of a sweaty night out in a rock club, throwing shapes that echo Page, Perry and
Slash. An interesting future awaits. ****
Review by David Randall
25 YARD SCREAMER Ghost
www.themusicindex.com
GRTR! Rising Stars 25 Yard Screamer nail their colours firmly to the 1970s with
Ghost - their first release since their excellent debut album - Cassandra.
A moody improvisation piece, with CSN/Home-era vocals over a gently strummed
acoustic, and with some tasteful Gilmour style guitar circa 'On An Island' (The Blue/ Castellorizon).
An excellent number and a worthy addition to their canon, but in truth more an
album track than a single. But then you could say that of much of Mr Gilmour's
output as well. ****
Review by Pete Whalley
FIGHTSTAR Mercury Summer
Well who would have thought that from the ashes of Busted and over a beer or
two at a Party – Fightstar were born, consisting of Alex Westaway, Charlie
Simpson, Dan Haigh & Omar Abidi.
Mercury Summer is taken from the forthcoming album 'Be Human' due for release on
20 Apr 09 and I must say that I am impressed – not normally my style but with
good lyrics and harmonies and a nice easy beat I think it will be a hit – yes
its commercial but for some bands that’s what sells.
It has a more mature feel to it than previous outings and could project them
towards an older audience, which is’nt a bad thing.
Would I buy it? Honestly no but it will a hit I have no doubt. ****
Review by The Unforgiven
GRAMMATICS Shadow Committee (Dance To The Radio)
Grammatics have been described as prog but this is nothing of the sort: it's
electronic art-rock that owes more to OMD than Genesis. Vocalist Owen Brinley
has a distinctive style that makes me think of Sparks or even Dean Friedman.
Don't let that put you off, this is pleasant enough fare punctuated by cello and
the self-titled album (reviewed elsewhere) is quirky and worthy of your
attention.
There's a non-album bonus, the acoustic 'Time Capsules & The Greater Truth' .
***½
Review by David Randall
DROPSCIENCE There's An Awful Lot Of Weirdo's In Our Neighbourhood (EP)
www.myspace.com/dropsciencefans
Punk Rock Ska, in a nutshell. This 5 track CD kicks off with the energetic 'Jack
The Lad', that mixes The Clash with early Specials / TwoTone. Solid Ska with
rough'n'ready guitars beefed up. The single 'Cocaine Nation' follows, well worth
checking out.
After that the Ska influence is watered down, still strong, but little more than
some punk bands had at the time.
The tracks are to the point, upbeat, raw, fun. ***½
Review by Joe Geesin
ANTHONEY WRIGHT No Me Without You
Anthoney Wright's recent single Reset To Zero got a fair degree of airplay
on Radio 2. Yet another of the current crop of 'up and comings' seeking fame and
fortune by revisiting the sixties - this time the sixties classic Motown and
Stax era.
No Me Without You, taken from his debut album Feet On The Ground, and co-written
and produced by Pete and Steve (Simply Red) Lewinson again hits the hits the
money, and should cement his position on the Radio 2 playlists. ***
Review by Pete Whalley
ATTACK! ATTACK! Honesty
Up and coming Welsh rockers Attack! Attack! release the third single from their
eponymous album released last year.
It's a powerful and commercial number, with more rock thrown in than many of
their indie contemporaries. Having already toured with Lostprophets, Funeral For
a Friend and The Blackout, all the indications are that the band's punchy rock
and chunky hooks could signal a big future.
And with with their previous single You And Me scheduled for inclusion on the
next edition of the Guitar Hero video game, the future looks bright. ***
Review by Pete Whalley
MARMADUKE DUKE Rubber Love
Probably the most overtly commercial track on Marmaduke Duke's Duke Pandemonium
album - a side project for Biffy Clyro guitarist Neil Simon and Sucioperro
guitarist JP Reid, who for the purposes of a three part mythological musical
trilogy are also known as The Atmosphere and The Dragon.
Sampling a Billy Joel classic, Rubber Lover is a massive slice of hook laden pop
/ rock takebn from an album that sees the pair experiment outside of their
envelope. Catchy, but at 1 minute 54 seconds, too brief by far. ***
Review by Pete Whalley
YOU ME AT SIX Save It For The Bedroom
Having supported Fall Out Boy on their arena tour, You Me At Six are hoping
that 2009 will prove a fruitful year. Save It For The Bedroom is an uptempo
piece of indie rock with a stuttering rhythm, shouty vocals and will no doubt be
a summer festival favourite.
Taken from Take Off Your Colours, the track has already attracted over 2 million
myspace plays. Impressive numbers, but to my jaded ears they could be one of, oh
so many bands. ***
Review by Pete Whalley
METRO STATION Shake It
Fronted by Trace Cyrus, son of Billy Ray and brother of teen sensation Miley
Cyrus, Metro Station deliver a NYC take on the indie brit pop scene. They sound
so scarily like an NME tour band (with perhaps just a little more US pizazz)
that one wonders how they can possibly fail.
If this sort of stuff is going to take off Stateside as well, we're all doomed.
Doomed, I tell you. ***
Review by Pete Whalley
MC RUT 25 Years EP
With a name like MC, I was expecting MC Rut to be some sort of unpleasant rap
act. In fact, MC stands for Middle Class, and there's no a rap insight.
Quite the reverse, MC Rut - fresh out of Sacramento - serve up a feisty dish of
raw rock from the Jane's Addiction cook book. Which is quite remarkable given
that MC Rut are just two men - singer / guitarist Zack Lopez and drummer /
vocalist Sean Stockham.
Each one of the 6 bludgeoning tracks on this new ep was written, performed and
produced by the duo and it's like hitting a brick wall at 30 mph. Pounding
rhythms, raw vocals and some meaty guitar work make White Stripes look like a
pair of pussycats. ***
Review by Pete Whalley
GO AUDIO Drive To The City
Go Audio's third single Drive To The City is another epic slice of pop.
After releasing their first two singles on epic, the band have gone indie as
they prepare for the release of their debut album Made Up Stories in May.
Another anthemic single, Drive To The City mixes disco synths with big pop
chorus, and can only enhance the band's growing reputation. ***
Recview by Pete Whalley
BRIGADA MERCY Roto Chico (Triumphant Sound Records)
www.myspace.com/brigadamercymusic
Quirky punk pop with eastern European touches. This is the closest I've heard to
Flipron. It's good, but the vocals and guitar aren't in Jesse Budds league.
Nice tune, worth a listen, but I wouldn't buy it. **½
Review by Joe Geesin
THE GENTLEMEN Sending Cards (Stereo Tree)
The first single from The Gentleman’s sophomore album (the pretentiously
titled ‘A Candid History Of Faith, Love, Hope’) is perfect for the indie radio
but others may find it to be dull and lacking spark.
The Sheffield four-piece have quite a loyal following in their native North East
and their debut album sold in its thousands. ‘Sending Cards’ is too
middle-of-the-road with a lack of originality and excitement. The production is
good but it’s hardly something that will set the world alight. It’s not the best
first single for a new album. **½
Review by Neil Daniels
CASTROVALVA Castrovalva (Brew Records)
www.myspace.com/castrovalvamusic
This young band's first full release on the Brew label, and from the outset
serious case of 'What The F**K??!!'
The two piece band (drums, bass, noise manipulation) kick off with 'Max Rhodes',
a driving bass line that is hypnotically alluring and extremely annoying at the
same time, worsened by the fact that everything is distorted.
Some interesting work, between metal, rhythms and axe work; occasionally
disjointed, but the big problem is the noise. Between feedback and distortion
this leaves your brain, eardrums and bowels numb and fuzzy. It's not a pleasant
feeling. **
Review by Joe Geesin
KIERONONONON Three Man Party
Formed in Hull in 2006, Kieronononon, are a bunch of mad b---ds. And they
deliver what they like to term as 'brutaltechnopunk'.
It's a kitchen sink effort. Everything is thrown into the mix and then put
through a blender. A sonic assault. Completely bonkers. And it's hard to imagine
that, even completely stoned, you could 'get off' on loony tunes such as Vampire
Vodka Party? and And Dinner was ruined. This ruined mine. *
Review by Pete Whalley
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