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Sunday is for drinking with the Seldom Seen Kid indeed and not a nicer band could you wish to spent the evening in the company of and sink a few cold ones. Elbow are currently riding the crest of a wave with the Mercury Award winning 'The Seldom Seen Kid' and it's no more than they deserve as no band has been as consistently brilliant as Elbow continue to be. And so to tonight's gig. The room erupts in cheers as Guy Garvey walks onstage to introduce the warm-up he admits that due to being 'a tight bastard' they couldn't afford to pay for a backing band so we'll be getting a solo acoustic performance tonight so all keep quiet and embrace Jesca Hoop. Miss Hoop arrives suitably dressed for this bloody freezing Scottish weather in a huge polar bear hat looking and sounding kind of like Katie Melua now hold on it's not as bad as it sounds. Admitedly her songs could do with a band to bring them fully to life but she holds her own well tonight on songs like 'Enemy' and 'Seed Of Wonder' but...
Elbow - Live 19th October Carling Academy, Glasgow
Feat. Jesca Hoop

Altsounds Recommends Elbow - Live 19th October Carling Academy, Glasgow
I live for electro music so I was delighted when I popped this CD in to the computer and iTunes pops up electronic as its genre. The delight however was pretty short lived. Kicking off with ‘Stadiums are OK too’ things sounded promising, it saw me nodding my head to what is a pretty nice dirty synth riff. I was getting excited about the big fat juicy beat that was surely on its way. Nope. The beat is has is an 8 bit old drum machine sound. It’s far from energetic and lends little to the track. This combined with the repetitive synth gets tiring to the ear rather quickly. Maybe if there were a few breaks in the noise things would improve? For me this is sadly the story of the entire album, and it’s a great shame because I think there’s potentially some good stuff on there. Track two starts with a really nice bit of synth which reminds me of Doctor Who, back in the day, when everything was done on tape loops, and this album does well to capture that analogue sound. With the...
Skew - Skew [Album]
It's Bananas Music 		Well first things first this evening is already going to be a dissappointment for me, i walk in through the metal detector 'beep, beep' all is good, i don't need to be inappropriatly touched all is good, so i walk on through get to the ticket girl she smiles takes my ticket all is good, i head up the stairs and notice a poster on the wall that reads 'Late Of The Pier will not be playing due to injury' and instantly i cannot get to the bar quick enough all is not good. Hugely unhappy not to be seeing this band it would appear there has been a leg break (get well soon). So the first act are bumped up to second on the bill and as a replacement we get Dundee band Alto Elite who at short notice appear to have snuck in a mini-fanclub of sorts, their songs are kinda catchy and all but for me it's the awe inspiring sight of Art Garfunkel on drums how they pulled that coup off i've got no idea?!?! Leeds locals The Hair are promoted up the league table and they provide a solid set as support ...
Kaiser Chiefs Live 17th October Glasgow Barrowlands
with The Hair and Alto Elite
The Curve of the Earth is the third full-length release from Canadian boys Attack in Black. The album is a solely acoustic affair, drawing away from the punk-edged sound of their other releases. By doing this they show that they are adept at creating great music across a range of styles and can appeal to a wide range of fans. The album starts with the wonderful ‘I’m Going to Forget’, a song, which is warm and heartfelt with oodles of grace, the vocals softly caressing your ears with effortless vigour. There are a variety of styles on this album with some rockier tracks and some more folkie tracks like the Jack Johnson-esq ‘Sparrow’. Being signed to Dine Alone records has really helped the band to develop themselves and their band awareness. The label also boasts the likes of City and Colour, Black Lungs and the Cancer Bats. They also recently supported City and Colour and acted as the backing back for Dallas Green. The singer and guitarist also helped Dallas on the latest City and...
Attack In Black - The Curve Of The Earth
Dine Alone Records 		Austrian Death Machine is the brainchild of Tim Lambesis, the singer in heavy weight metal core heroes, As I Lay Dying. The album pays homage to the great and mighty Arnold Schwarzenegger. The track titles include such classic lines as ‘Come With Me If Want To Live’, ‘It’s Not A Tumour’ and ‘Who Is Your Daddy, And What Does He Do?’ Lambesis takes it upon himself to fulfil the role of playing every instrument. The album makes a point of being typically metal, with thundering riffs, angry vocals and the obligatory guitar solo in every song. There are several guest solos on the album including a shred-tastic appearance by Killswitch Engage’s Adam D, on the track “Come With Me If You Want To Live”. The album is littered with little bits of banter and Arnie jokes, which are funny the first couple of times you hear them. Also there are some great lyrics in there as well. Due to Lambesis’ experience he is able to craft a very high quality of metal and makes this release something more...
Austrian Death Machine - Total Brutal
Metal Blade Records 		Overcast are a band that have been around the block a few times, originally forming back in 1991 and disbanding in 1998, due to never really taking off and being screwed over by labels and promoters for far too long and never getting anywhere. They all then went on to form other various bands, some becoming more successful than others namely Brian who went on to join Shadows Fall and Mike who formed Killswitch Engage, the others in lesser known bands. So 10 years on they find themselves with some free time on their hands and decide to resurrect their old passion. Maybe with the view that due to their greater position within the industry, that this album will do better and create and interest on their older creations. This album is comprised of 11 old tracks, which have been re-recorded and 2 unreleased tracks, which are produced by Adam D of Killswitch. The songs are typical of the sounds that they have continued to make in their respective bands, but with a harder more punk edge...
Overcast - Reborn To Kill Again
Metal Blade Records
Want to hear some new heavy gut wrenching death metal? Then maybe the aptly named album; ‘The Daily Grind’ from the young German band, Anima, may suit your needs. After gigging for several years and the recording of some demo tracks, Metal Blade Records picked up the young band, culminating in the release of this full-length album. The album is very reminiscent of current metal favourites Job For A Cowboy, hinted with elements of Black Dahlia Murder, thrown in for good measure. The tracks are brutal and whilst not being as technical as someone like All Shall Perish, still deliver a punch. The riffs tend to be slightly geared towards a more metalcore-esq styling as opposed to full on death grind, with the deep rasping vocals giving a brutal edge that gives a harder heard to the sound. There are some great swirling, winding, reverb drenched guitar solos on the album starting with the very BDM styled effort on the opening track ‘Behind The Mask’. Overall this album has a lot of...
Anima - The Daily Grind
Metal Blade Records 		“What happened to you?” howls lofty frontman Hamilton Leithauser, on the first single to be released from The Walkmen’s fourth album, ‘You and Me’, and the honest answer is “not a lot”. Still vastly undiscovered this side of the pond, they have always sounded like a band that feels underappreciated, and I don’t see things changing here. ‘The Blue Route’ is as slow burning as you would expect from this band, perhaps even more so than previous efforts, and it took at least 6 listens to really sink its hooks into me. At just over the minute mark, Leithauser’s sandpaper snarl arrives like a sulky, drunken Rod Stewart, and when I finally succumbed, this is where it happened. B-side ‘Candian Girl’ is even better, waltzing in at an almost identical pace with the same surfy guitars, echoing from the back of the room, but this time accompanied by brass rather than strings, and all the better for it. It’s a brilliant track, possibly the best off ‘You and Me’, with Leithauser now seemingly...
The Walkmen - The Blue Route [Single]
Fierce Panda 		We all know Sweden produces great pop music even more frequently than it produces flat-pack furniture. There’s clearly something in the frozen water ‘round them parts. However, with a childhood spent in Portugal, Morocco, Nepal and India, it seems perhaps Lykke Li has more than her homeland to thank for shaping her music. This said, although ‘Little Bit’ opens with steel drums, it’s perhaps New York, the city where her debut album was recorded, that has had the biggest influence. Growing up on a mountaintop in Portugal, the only music available to her was Madonna's 'Immaculate Collection', on cassette, and the most obvious musical reference throughout ‘Little Bit’ is another NYC pop princess, Cyndi Lauper. As well as featuring the vastly underused and underrated steel drums, ‘Little Bit’ also features some interesting lyrics. “It’s for you I keep my legs apart”, she lusts breathlessly, “’Cos I would give anything to have you as my man”. So it would seem. It’s a fantastic pop...
Lykke Li - Little Bit [Single]
LL Recordings
Is there any music that is more appropriate for the summer than reggae? That is partly the reason I’m reviewing this single, to try and hold onto what was quite a poor British summertime. The other reason is down to a fantastic Jools Holland performance a few weeks ago. From the outset the track has that quintessential reggae feel, and for its entirety never disappoints. It bounces along nicely and with Natty's husky tones never raising above conversation level it makes the perfect sound track to your day. I’m not strictly a reggae fan but dub and drum and bass both have their roots firmly anchored there so this would be a great tune to put on your stereo after the club, to get back to normality. I strongly recommend Natty - Bedroom Eyes to fans of all types of music, and with a free live EP available to download from his Myspace you’d be a fool to miss out. MySpace.com - Natty - 17 - Female - Jhb - www.myspace.com/Natty
Natty - Bedroom Eyes [Single]
Atlantic, Vibes and Pressure 		I was surprised to hear that Bettie Serveert have been around for 15 years. "That's a long time," I said to myself. When I put some thought into the significance of those 15 years a different type of surprise quickly took over; more a vague panic than any type of surprise as such. Additional calculations revealed that I first heard Bettie Serveert on Dust Bunnies (their third album) as a freshman. In 1997. Nine years ago. Has the post-collegiate stupor and aversion to adult endeavour meant that I've missed out on something? Something like time? More likely than not I was/am asleep. As bands go, "The Betties" are best described as reliable. Their first album, Palomine, is often billed as something of a college radio triumph. Subsequent albums were by most standards better, but they never really thought outside of the box, Serveert-wise. After an album of Velvet Underground covers and two more studio full lengths, we arrive at Bare Stripped Naked, an acoustic collection of...
Bettie Serveert - Bare Stripped Naked (Minty Fresh Records)

Altsounds thinks Bettie Serveert - Bare Stripped Naked (Minty Fresh Records) is terrible
Technically the fith single from Birmingham outfit Johnny Foreigner (third from Best Before Records), "Salt, Peppa and Spinderella" was originally written for a small Kerrang! session at first, but then made it on to their debut album "Waited up til it was light" and then finally as a single. Controversially given a ridiculously low rank when reviewed by the NME, despite the magazine citing this song as one of the best from their highly praised album previously, 'Salt, Peppa and Spinderella' is a short sharp piece about watching the nightlife activity in their favourite Birmingham chip shop, incidently called "Salt and Pepper". With a gradual building intro, that soon moves into thumping drums, lead singers Alexei Berrow belts in forcefully "We walk out like lions, short on prey", and continues to tell the story quite simply of how they "like to watch the fights break out and end in grief from these cheap plastic seats", with the help of bassist Kelly Southern. This song is really...
Johnny Foreigner - Salt, Peppa and Spinderella [Single]
Best Before Records
Ok, so not exactly a new release but I noticed no one had reviewed it as yet and felt that was a bit of an injustice to such a good, good album. I honestly hadn't expected to like smart casual half as much as I do, when I received it as a promo from a kind friend who represents them, I happily took it thinking it'd be nice cheesy songs to listen to while getting ready for a night out, maybe a handful of really catchy ones from start to finish, and the rest forgetful fillers. Boy, how I was wrong. From the moments it opens with the intense rage (I know!) fuelled guitars of Fisticuffs, it felt like a breath of fresh air. The band pull off skillfull musicianship that belies their age, and lead singer Aled Phillips' unashamedly and often brutal lyrics are very perceptive for a young man of that maturity. But maybe that's just me not giving these younguns enough credit in the first place, Anyways, if you've been following Kids in Glass Houses then you're probably aware a good few singles...
Kids in Glass Houses - Smart Casual [Album]
Roadrunner Records

Altsounds Recommends Kids in Glass Houses - Smart Casual [Album]
Described as Rock / Happy Hardcore / Progressive, this band are certainly a hefty meal for the ears. This is their first release since June 2007, and they haven’t changed. The glow stick phenomenon was an annoyance, and their music follows suite. Previously demoed back in 2006, ‘We Can Breathe In Space’ has been re-worked, re-glued for Enter Shikari 08/09. The track is fun, great for the dance-floor of those grubby rock venues with sticky floors and 13 year old children throwing up over each other. The guitar riff reminds me of Funeral For A Friend’s ‘Street Car’, with a high pitched hammer-on/pull-off sound. The use of atmospheric synths with heavy guitar works together as an original sound. Reynolds’ vocals at times seem extremely strained, intentional or not it adds an extra unique approach. Shikari include the inevitable break down that comes part and parcel with this genre, you know that bit where the emo kids lean back and point to the sky? Maybe Enter Shikari are like...
Enter Shikari - We Can Breathe In Space [Single]
Ambush Reality 		So, here we are again. You know the drill by now, Belgiun electro-rock-gods Soulwax (A.K.A '2ManyDJs') take a popular track and remix it into a dancefloor anthem; but according to a recent interview with mainman Stef Dewaele in The Guardian, this happens "only if we feel that we can add something to it". According to this statement then, this remix of New Yorkers MGMT's brand new single 'Kids' is a blinding example of what Soulwax do, and is a great introduction to the band fo those who have never listened to their work. Following their successful mash-ups of Gossip, Klaxons, The Rolling Stones , Daft Punk, LCD Soundsystem and erm, Kylie, the pressure to comeup with the goods has never been higher for Soulwax. Nicely timed with the release of their first DVD 'Part Of The Weekend Never Dies', the club and late night radio exposure that this piece will get is great promotion for both MGMT and Soulwax and wil no doubt result in bigger things for both parties. Sticking to his word,...
MGMT - Kids (Soulwax Remix) [Single]
Columbia Records

Altsounds Recommends MGMT - Kids (Soulwax Remix) [Single]
If you haven't heard of Those Dancing Days yet, then you most likely haven't tuned into MTV2 or The NME Channel recently. Televised adverts for their debut album, 'In Our Space Hero Suits', released this week have been HEAVILY on rotation on these channels. A good thing, I think, as it's very hard to imagine somebody not liking this band so giving out as much access to them as possible is the best step forward, in this instance definately. 'Home Sweet Home' is the fourth UK single release from swedish dolly popgroup, Those Dancing Days. The bands' name is taken from the Led Zeppelin song (which they covered as their first single release) 'Dancing Days' and sums up their musical style perfectly. A mixture of northern soul with some elements of riot grrrl, packaged in a cutesy quirky female five piece, Those Dancing Days are no doubt going to be big. With a formula like this, how could they not be? The song starts of slowly, with psychedielic guitar strumming and then whimsical...
Those Dancing Days - Home Sweet Home [Single]
Wichita Recordings 		It has taken me a while to understand this band. At first they sound like a manufactured solo artist, but they are the Davincis BAND. They are a singer/songwriter lead trio whose inspired story of overcoming ethnic and artistic adversity to create a band that redefines what pop music could be, whilst exploring their spiritual path over an open book that would challenge their audience to look at themselves and the world in an entirely new light. Personally they lost me at the line “we can fly as far as our eyes can see / without even looking down” 43 seconds into the first track. Especially after reading that singer/songwriter Ian Saint John is described as “lyrically ambitious” in their myspace bio. They also describe their influences spanning "soul, folk, blues, jazz, heavy-rock, classical…" but I can only hear pop. The E.P. sounds great, if over-produced. There are some nice chords, the vocals are good; everything is there. The only thing is that there is a ‘but…’ only I couldn’t...
Davincis BAND
E.P. 		When Heavy Jack's 'Multiply' landed on my doormat, I have to admit I knew absolutely nothing about the band. A bit of internet research and a few listens later, I'm ready to review the debut album from this brotherly garage-rock trio from Vancouver, Canada. My first impression of the 'pirate rabbit' front cover design was that it wouldn't draw me in if I was browsing in a record (or rather CD) shop. However, not being one to judge an album by its cover, I pressed the play button. 'Bushfire', the opening track, started with a funky (if a little musically messy) rhythm section. I thought to myself 'I'm going to like this'. Unfortunately (and don't tell my boyfriend I said this) I was wrong. Once singer Ben Falk's vocal started, I couldn't help thinking this was all a bit 'Justin-Hawkins-out-of-The-Darkness' wailing, but without the irony. The situation doesn't improve a great deal throughout tracks 2 and 3, 'Blood Red Sun' and 'Movin' On'. Sadly, the great melodic guitar is somewhat...
Heavy Jack - Multiply
Brought to light again thanks to his recent New Zealand Music award win for Best Aotearoa Roots Album, Tiki Taane’s late 2007 release, Past Present Future, is well deserving of the award and the constant praise. The former front man of New Zealand reggae roots group Salmonella Dub offers his first solo album as a bold, emotional and cultural recording showcasing his undeniable talent as a lyricist, musician and producer. The opening track, An Awakening, performed by his father, sets the initial tone for the impending, giving a sense of somber reflection from a man whose heritage and respect for the same pours out from the very first note. Tangaroa, the first single nationally released from the album, looms in with a haka-like chant forged with a powerful beat to form some sort of tribal dance fight song. These chants can be heard throughout the album, bringing with them a sense of power and presence. The title track to the album, and my personal favourite, has an almost haunting...
Tiki - Past Present Future [album]

Altsounds Recommends Tiki - Past Present Future [album]
After 2006's 'Return To Cookie Mountain' it was going to be difficult to go one better for starters it had David Bowie howling on 'Province' but also it had seen the TVOTR sound honed down into superb songs from their previous avant-garde rabble that had the potential to become actual tunes, well it made it. So how to leap forward again or more to the point was there a want to leap forward as Dave Sitek continued to protest that this was not a band but merely a project as if it was all dispensible to him, however luckily for us Sitek has in essence formed the band on this album unleashing a dizzying array of musical stylings. Opener 'Halfway Home' lurches in all tribal drumming and hand-clapping with synth undertones and almost hymnal vocals that breaks into a grooving riff at it's close, it's a breathtaking start to the album and certainly one of the best on show here. 'Crying' has a very distinctive Prince sound to it not that Prince has done anything this good in oh say 20 years...
TV On The Radio - Dear Science (Album)
4AD

Altsounds Recommends TV On The Radio - Dear Science (Album)
It would seem that some bands get to a certain stage in their career when they are selling millions of records and doing sell-out stadium shows that they begin to coast a little bit when it comes to releasing music and that time would appear to have arrived for the Kaiser Chiefs at album number three as 'Off With Their Heads' is a hugely dissapointing album that retreads their previous two efforts only with little in the way of tunes such as 'I Predict A Riot' or 'The Angry Mob' to lift it above the mediocre. This is where Kaiser Chiefs attraction has been before in their ability to write quirky, catchy songs that zip by and allow everyone to have a good ol' sing-sing, songs that can be sung in harmony by groups of tens of thousands. On 'Off With Their Heads' there is barely a sniff of that kind of song lead single 'Never Miss A Beat' is the closest they get to it and even that fails to recover from the line ' what do you want for tea? i want crisps' ridiculous. Mark Ronson has been...
Kaiser Chiefs - Off With Their Heads (Album)
Polydor
When it comes to concerts I am usually quite happy chilling about three quarters back so I can see and hear everything but this concert was different. For some reason I was compelled to get as close to the action as possible and I was quite happy with 4 rows back from the front :D. Anyways I won't even bother talking about the Mastodon performance because thats not why I went there and to be honest I was too busy being excited about Tool to even care about what Mastodon were doing. They leave the stage and the tool show begins slowly. They start off by playing some quite weird American radio show in the background while the audience conversates. You can tell this is the beginning of their performance but most people don't notice. This gradual build continues for another 40 minutes or so and by the time the band grace the stage I am so ready for this. Tool storm the stage and instantly break into their first track. Now I am a fairly new Tool fan (few years) and although I...
Tool @ CIA Cardiff - 30.11.2006

Altsounds Recommends Tool @ CIA Cardiff - 30.11.2006
There is obviously the HUGE stigma that comes with Fightstar, but they are a good band. If you can look past the Busted years then you will appreciate Fightstar for what they are, a hard working, Progressive / Rock / Metal band. This single contains all the same elements as the previous releases; heartfelt vocals, catchy chorus and some great production. It’s clear to see that they have found a format that works successfully. Listen back to singles such as ‘Waste A Moment’, ‘Grand Unification Pt1’, ‘We Apologize For Nothing’ and you will see what i mean. The song ‘The English Way’ is supposed to be about ‘our broken society and how we should re-build it’. One lyric includes; “Too many lives have been lost under orders of too many people, they have lost their voices” a political approach to lyrics Charlie? This is our first taster of what is next for Fightstar, and they seem to be getting better. It just makes you wonder how big they would actually be if Busted were never around...
Fightstar - The English Way (Radio Edit) [Single]
Search And Destroy 		To be really honest, the very first time I heard this song, I hated the entire three minutes and thirteen seconds of it. The vocals are loose and lack in emotion and the lyrics aren’t the best. “We know where you’ve dug those holes,” for example. The more I listened to it to gain some sort of an idea why it had even been brought to the production table, my opinion altered somewhat. It is catchy if nothing else. It would certainly appeal to a niche audience. However, I tried to listen to the song several times, remaining optimistic, but, once you’ve heard this song you’ve basically heard Pint Shot Riot. I doubt that they will be the pillars of originality in the future either. They are a stereotypical modern-day ‘indie’ band, which has lost all meaning to the genre and instead have been allowed to record terrible songs like Holes. The song was featured on Soccer AM however and Tim Lovejoy has sung the band’s praises, which will probably boost their popularity a little. For...
Pint Shot Riot - Holes [Single]
Life In The Big City Records

Altsounds thinks Pint Shot Riot - Holes [Single] is terrible
Not knowing much about Post War Years before the gig, I jump on MySpace to try and see what I’m in for, only to find them described as “ambient, big beat, indie”… Consequently, I turn up at 229 none the wiser on what to expect, to find the openers, Model Horror, going for gold to the seemingly non-existent crowd. Once I locate the other punters passed the obligatory “no man’s land” gap in front of the stage, I can nestle into a good viewing spot, next to some guy carrying his missus’ handbag and wearing his grandpa’s jumper, all the while trying not to judge a band on the people that turn up to their gig. The talented lads of PWYs slap it in your face from the beginning combining dance, electronic, rock, folk and break beat styles to form an interesting turn of events. They actually start to look like they are enjoying themselves somewhere near You and Me Both, one of the stand out tracks of the night. Unfortunately, their enjoyment doesn’t translate into the stiff crowd, whose...
Post War Years @ CMU Social (229), London
support: Model Horror 		The truth is I was very sceptical about listening to this album. The lack of creativity in Trash Fashion’s most acclaimed song –It’s a Rave Dave- made me more contemptuous than Jeremy Kyle; this combined with how angered I am by the fact that strobe lighted indie pop has its own name in Nu Rave made it very hard for Trash Fashion to win me over. However, I have to eat a piece of humble pie and admit that Trash Fashion have actually produced at the least a decent album in Nights of Error. The opening track ‘Beat Goes Around’ immediately had me dancing around the room; a slight contrast from my recent foul mood. If it manages to be that uplifting in a living room PC then I would certainly be cutting the dance floor up should this come on in a club. So maybe Nu Rave and in particular Trash Fashion aren’t so bad, right? Wrong. After managing to maintain powerful beats, uplifting melodies and bearable vocals for three or four tracks the album is ruined for me and Trash Fashion’s...
Trash Fashion - Nights of Error
Propaganda Records 		Having released debut album 'Hold On Now Youngster...' merely 8 months ago this is an unexpected release, though as the band themselves have put it this is no second album not to them anyway but we must all treat it as such because though there is the same spiky way with a tune underneath is a dark undercurrent. Now was this always going to be the case or has the last 8 months had a profound effect on this young bunch from Cardiff. To emphasise my point there is a group singalong in the title track that recalls the Arcade Fire though seemingly uplifting the lyric goes 'we kid ourselves there's future in the fucking, but there is no fucking future' now this from a band that is still predominantly in the twilight of their teenage years where they still have plenty of a future. Gone are the songs about dancing and the joys of sexual awakenings with the replacement being songs of relationship struggles, teenage jealousy, and generally a feeling that whatever lyricist and chief vocalist...
Los Campesinos! - We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed (Album)
Wichita Recordings
To keep it short and simple and to start off traditionally very British chips-and-mince-pie-with-gravy-and-bread-and-butter-and-maybe-a-pint-of-ale-that-looks-like-shit straight up honest negative viewpoint, Arkells lack originality and are nothing exciting. If you're in a rush to do nothing or to combat the credit crunch single handedly by shopping in Lidl and turning lights off like it's the blitz , you are excused from reading on. In a rather controversial (perhaps revolutionary?) boat-rocking way I have defied unwritten laws of music journalism and have began with a summary. I'm like a Che Guevara with words without the need for the camp moustache. If you're reading this, congratulations on being patient. The world needs more people like you. Anyway... As I stated, this 'Digital Sampler' from US act Arkells lacks serious originality. HOWEVER so does the majority of popular music today, so that's not a big problem (is it?). I don't imagine that the band claim to be starting...
Arkells - Digital Sampler [EP]
Dine Alone Records 		There are very few bands that consistently remain at the top of my listening list - for whom a new album is eagerly anticipated like a present on Christmas morning (or Hannukah evening). Rise Against is one of those bands for me. Their previous two albums, "Siren Song of the Counterculture" and "The Sufferer and the Witness" are two, interchangeable records of gems. Each song is catchy, well performed and angry as hell. These are songs that haunt your dreams and move you to action. Even the record before those two, "Revolutions Per Minute" is a punk rock masterpiece featuring a great cover of "Any Way You Want It" showing that these straight edge vegan hardcore punkers DO know how to have a little bit of fun. "Appeal to Reason" arrived in the mail and I instantly popped it in - the sound was instantly recognizable but also different. Present, as always, is the usual punk rock beats and Tim Mcilrath's unmistakeable, melodic but on the verge of cracking voice. There are, however, new...
Rise Against - Appeal to Reason
There are, of course, songs of love, hope, stories, journeys and action. But at the core, this is a record about making our nation and our world bette 		As if we weren’t treated to enough filthy electro from Brazil, there’s another band on the scene. The sexually charged stupidly good-looking boy/girl duo from Sao Paulo "Telepathique". Mylene provides vocals whilst producer and DJ Erico Theobaldo (also known as DJ Periferico) uses his unquestionable talent to arrange the drums, turntables and programming. Love & Lust, title track, does not live up to what I expected. The groove-step alternative-electro pop-dance beats provide a base of dance-able rhythm HOWEVER the lyrics and vocals just don’t do much for the record, they're dull. Imagine Soulwax being fronted by Fearne Cotton and you’ll get the picture. At the other end of the spectrum we have the other tracks on the EP. The second is called “Eu Gosto”, a Ladytron- meets- Soulwax- meets- the- hot- girl- on- the- bus homage to the electro-dance circuit. Reverb treated vocals, slightly muffled behind clanging guitar strings and charged synthesizers create a sexier and much...
Telepathique - Love & Lust [Single]
Urban Jungle Records/The Control Group
Metallica have through the years gained the reputation of being – shall we say – a ‘marmite’ band. You either love ‘em or hate ‘em, with little middle ground. This of course is a testament to them being one of the world’s most innovative rock bands, with several distinct changes in their sound from album to album. Such pioneering, coupled with their attitude of irreverence to anyone who would question their actions put them at the height of controversy as well as innovation. Their last change in sound, as heard on their 2003 LP, St. Anger, would indeed turn out to be their most controversial of their career. On initial listening, it was clear the guitar amp had been turned up again, banishing any painful memories of Load-era folk music, something that drew many (including me!) and a large part of the seemingly fickle music press into a false sense of security. Yet after further listens, horrible reality began to sink in. Kirk Hammett had ‘forgotten’ to do guitar solos, Bob Rock had...
Metallica - Death Magnetic

Altsounds Recommends Metallica - Death Magnetic
Anyone who noted some of the publicity (or lack of) surrounding new album Everything is Borrowed may have been led to believe that The Streets were in something of a freefall. Yet someone evidently has not told Mike Skinner, or at least it has not let it affect him. Skinner’s supposed penultimate album (Skinner recently announced that he would only release one more album as The Streets) is a decidedly chirpier effort than its two immediate predecessors, The Hardest Way to Make an Easy Living and A Grand Don’t Come For Free, two albums which were predominantly personal in their lyrical focus, as opposed to the social commentary of Original Pirate Material. Indeed, such personal lyrics or social commentary are rarely heard on Everything is Borrowed, something which is ostensibly a purposeful move by Skinner. Personal lyrics have always set a dark tone to The Streets’ music (‘Dry Your Eyes’, ‘Never Went to Church’, for example), and so a deliberate move to make a departure from this is...
The Streets - Everything is Borrowed
Vice Records 		Band: Friendly Fires Album: Selt-titled Label: XL Recordings Release Date: 01/09/2008 The debut album from the indie dance rock outfit Friendly Fires is an absolute hum-dinger of a record. All the right material is in each track, layer after layer of beautiful harmonies, funky bass-lines and one hell of a lead vocalist. Upon hearing about this band, my expectations were a heavily influenced new-wave band, but I as wrong. Finally, something refreshing in the NME music limelight has gotten the recognition it deserves. Band members Edward Macfarlane, Jack Savidge and Edward Gibson have worked hard on this 10 track record, writing and producing most of the tracks. This album works, it really does. Playing this record over and over never gets tiring. Track one ‘Jump In The Pool’ is an incredible track. It has a very basic structure, verse chorus, verse chorus etc. It opens with a vocal harmony that (when played very loud) makes your hairs stand on end. The concoction of harmonies...
Friendly Fires - Friendly Fires [Album]
Debut Release from the St. Albans Indie Dance Trio

Altsounds Recommends Friendly Fires - Friendly Fires [Album]
Finished since April and being lumped around label after label 'Missiles' is as astounding as any other Dears release which makes it all the more surprising that it took so long to find a home. The band desribe it as both 'a beautiful blues album' and 'long and kinda paced for love making' which is partly true it clocks in at over 58 minutes but as for love making well could you imagine making love with a strange Damon Albarn impressionist in the background? I think not. After 2006's 'Gang Of Losers' it all kind of went a bit wrong for The Dears everyone departed with the exception of lead couple Murray Lightburn and Natalia Yanchak and of course they exited the Bella Union stable so what to do next? Well since they reckon it's better as just the two of them why not go and make a record that is stripped-down, full of vunerability, and yet incredibly layered with intricacies. Hey presto 'Missiles' was born. Opener 'Disclaimer' strolls in on a wave of trumpet with Murray easing in...
The Dears - Missiles (Album)
Dangerbird Records/MapleMusic Recordings 		O! The Joy… of the off switch. Maybe that’s a little harsh. After all, the first moments of the title track are promising. These young men from deepest darkest Sacramento have the musical ability of a great band but there’s something wrong. It’s possibly because they’re still trying to find their feet in the experimental math-rock pond. An insane mixture of different time signatures is confusing, with the occasional odd breaks in songs that sound like a 5 year old whacking a piano. They are reminiscent of The Fall of Troy avec vocals similar to Incubus’ Brandon Boyd, hitting their high hats and adding little drum rolls here and there. The guitar solos running up and down, not always executed in a way that makes the album easy to listen to. After all, Zen is a Japanese area of Buddhism, the name originally deriving from the term “meditation”! The beginning of track two “There’s No Such Thing” brings hope for something a little less harsh on the ears and for the first minute...
O! The Joy - Zen Mode [CD]
Distile Records 		Over the last five years or so the UK music scene has been awash with spiky-riffed, sharp-quipping Northern indie-pop outfits. Since Alex Turner first transferred Mike Skinners bar-propping observational witticisms to a guitar loving (read; wider) audience, a hundred scruffy haired frontmen from bands like Milburn, The Pigeon Detectives, The Fratellis and The Courteeners have been vying for our attention with their quasi-cynical tales of struggling to be cool in stereotypically uncool Northern towns. Some, it has to be said, have fared better than others. Little Man Tate are one of the bands who do it rather well. Their 2007 debut About What You Know was full of sneering putdowns and dripping with punchy one liners and gruff riffs. But the whole thing was delivered with a contrasting Northern optimism that on occasions manifested itself as cheekiness. A cheekiness that prompted parts of the music press to label them as laddish pub-rock. Despite a thriving fanbase, commercial...
ALBUM REVIEW: LITTLE MAN TATE – NOTHING WORTH HAVING COMES EASY
Skint/Yellow Van Records – 15th September 2008 – CD, LP & Download
A cliché scenario – upset young man lugs his gear to the hills and spends 3 whole months in isolation, tortured by upsetting events of the last year and eager to start again. “For Emma, Forever Ago” charts his progress from despair right back to balance and it’s evident that this is a deeply personal record that perhaps wasn’t ever intended to be released. Maybe it was merely meant to be an outlet for reasonably accomplished singer/songwriter Justin Vernon. You will identify with these songs if you’ve ever been low and wondered how to best vent frustrations – it’s clear that during the time Vernon spent holed up in a cabin in Wisconsin he made a good go of spitting out his demons and throwing them down on tape to create something that would encourage him to finally move on. This doesn’t necessarily make the album a gloomy listen. It’s a feast of ideas that were initially spontaneous, but that have been pulled together to create an innovative and moving example of music in its best...
Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago [ALBUM]
Jagjaguwar/4AD Records 		Lately, I’ve struggled to find a record that I can relate to and that means something to me in a particular aspect or point in my life, then I listened to ‘Wrecking Ball.’ Just like the very first time I heard some of my favourite songs, I got chills when I listened to this album. It is a fantastic display of true musical talent, the likes of which is scarce to come by these days. Frontman Hardy Morris continues to deliver across the entire album, making it difficult not to immediately fall for his rugged, raw Cobain-esque voice. The debut album showcases the originality that our souls have been longing for and we cannot help but be reminiscent of ‘Bleach.’ Of course, Dead Confederate are excellent musicians in their own right and so it is impossible to constantly tar them with the Nirvana-brush. Their unique sound seems to blend southern rock with grunge, though they claim to be psychedelic rock. There is a definite likeness in vocals to that of the Veils’ Finn Andrews, combined...
DEAD CONFEDERATE - WRECKING BALL [ALBUM]
RAZOR & TIE 		At first I didn't really expect this album to be anything better than average, however I was rather suprised with what I heard. Scream Hello are pretty much unheard of in the UK, but this four-piece from New Jersey, US have already been signed by Red Leader Records. They are rather unique and don't sound much like any other band around today, although classifying them in a genre would be difficult. This would be my main criticism of 'Everything is always still happening' - it doesn't really flow as an album. The songs all fit in different genres, and the band themselves class themselves on their myspace as Indie/Post Punk/Punk, thats like saying it's pork, cabbage and chocolate. It doesn't combine well. Nonetheless, if you look at the tracks individually then they are mostly all quite catchy and pleasing on the ear. 'Golden Anniversary' is a particular favourite of mine. The lyrics are excellent and the way the backing vocals help to emphasise the main vocals in the chorous...
Scream Hello - Everything is Always Still Happening
Do you love pop music? Or have you developed a disdain for feckless whiny teenagers lately? Well i'm in the latter but don't get me wrong i love pop music if it's along the lines of The Beatles circa 1963 type of pop music and if your with me on that then i'm sure this album is for you. It will come as no surprise to find that this album has been produced by Francis MacDonald of Teenage Fanclub becuase this has the flavour of all those early Fannies' albums with more than a sly nod to The Beach Boys with sweeping harmonies, bells chiming, and strings all ticked on the checklist. Despite this album just getting a release there have already been four singles that have appeared at somepoint over the last year in the shape of the first track 'Never Get Sick Of The Sea' with it's driving drums and 'Ba Ba BaDa Da Da Da's', second track 'Bring You Down' which takes a more 60's western march before giving it that surf-pop chorus. 'God' which is almost a Fanclub track to be honest it's like...
Attic Lights - Friday Night Lights (Album)
Island Records 		The first thing one notices upon first hearing Undermine by Trouvail (Acoustic) is the mismatch between the orchestration/instrumentation and the quality of the singer's voice. The thin sound of her voice lacks any resonance and comes across as extremely nasal and unattractive. It would seem that some attempt has been made in production to add some reverb to try to unsuccessfully address this problem. The only track that successfully matched the instrumentation with the voice was Brave the Climb. My advice would be to stick with that sound and stop experimenting. As for the track, Undermine, it is one of the weakest in the album due to its lyrics, harmony and formal construction. It lacks the spark of creativity and is simply boring. If I came across this track playing in a venue I would move to another room without delay. Translation: the vocalist undermines the ensemble and listening to this music is just plain hard work. The only bright spot in my ear was the skill...
FOUND ON ALTSOUNDS: Undermine Trouvail (Acoustic)
This is a track review of a song that was discovered on Altsounds.com

Altsounds thinks FOUND ON ALTSOUNDS: Undermine Trouvail (Acoustic) is terrible
New York punk rockers Crime In Stereo compile a selection of tracks recorded in the last few years on their most recent release 'Selective Wreckage'. After a short break up earlier in the year CIS quickly reformed and put out this compilation as part of a series of new records planned for the next 12 months (as well as some serious touring with New Found Glory among others), as well as proving that they are very much "not dead". The cd swiftly kicks off on 'Everywhere And All The Time' with a rebellious pop-punk attitude, packing a catchy set of chords, melodies and raspy vocals into a well contructed 3 minute-er. The band continue to roll out the hooks as they progress quickly though almost the entirity of the record, their charmingly melodic approach to punk rock (gang chants and drum rolls aplenty) remains consistent but underwhelming, due to sounding somewhat recycled and almost dated. Unexpectedly (to a clueless non-fan such as myself, at least) the record climaxes on a...
CRIME IN STEREO - SELECTIVE WRECKAGE
BRIDGE NINE RECORDS - 2008
Most angry bands start off angry then lose their power and passion. Whether through advancing years, disillusionment or simply through buffing their sound, the energy and fire just slowly seeps away. Bucking the trend, Dear and the Headlights have done it the other way round. Their 2007 debut album, ‘Small Steps, Heavy Hooves’, was a charming, jangly affair with songs titled ‘Hallelujah’ and ‘Happy in Love’. Soft, sweet childlike folk rock. Now, I don’t know what happened between that album and this to piss them off but that extra virile spark jumps out of the speakers and slaps you into submission before slipping back into brooding wistfulness. “It's just endless combinations of the same old shit”, yowls front man Ian Metzger on ‘Carl Soloman Blues’, a track that has a ghost-like whisper of Radiohead weaving through it. Like Arcade Fire, the band sound as if they had access to an antique instrument emporium due to the eclectic, layered and colourful nature of the album. For...
Dear and the Headlights - Drunk Like Bible Times
Equal Vision Records