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The welsh metal-core band's second EP shows several aspects of improvement from the first, 'An Innocent Confession' released in 2006. However, there is room for greater things in the future. The music, sounding similar to that of Throwdown or Testament, contains skillful and modern guitar riffs with your average drums that could be played by most fairly decent drummers. The vocals, on the other hand, somewhat let the EP down in places, while rescuing it in others - there's no real balance. The first track - 'Tides' - begins well and gives a promising start to the EP. This is until the vocals first come in. They don't fit with the style of riff played by the guitar, and what's more they're mixed far too quietly. However, the end of the track will please the fans with the seperate parts finally coming together. It's a shame this track is so short, if the end continued for much longer, the let down of the beginning will be forgotten. This is until the second track starts. ...
Through Solace - The Stand EP
Hold Fast Records 		Fusing guitar rock and electronic dance music is nothing new. Musicians have been trying to get away with it for years. The latest band to try this is Irish five-piece Noise Control, the name immediately setting it up for a fall with the inevitable question: There is noise but is there control? The debut double A-side single (this term no longer makes sense in the age of the CD but we get the idea) of 'Cities of Dreams' and 'Mudbath', packaged with three other songs making it more of an EP, is a good introduction to the band who sound like Kasabian meets Senser as remixed by Orbital. What is strange about 'Cities of Dreams / Mudbath' is that the two lead songs are the weakest. The music on 'Cities Of Dreams' is great in contrast to Mark Kid's awkward vocal delivery. The song becomes a vacuous attempt to stir things up rather than make a statement. Only when the guitars kick in do we get the full force. The hapless lyrics let things down enormously. The festival experience inspired...
Noise Control - Cities Of Dreams / Mudbath [Single]
Self Released 		This EP fails to leave an impression as it is a completely forgettable effort from the New Jersey foursome. It starts with ‘A Few Minutes’ which is mediocre and sees nothing of the suspense or tension often needed in this genre of music to make it work. The song is overlong and one finds oneself waiting for it to end as it gets slower and slower, longer and longer. The next song ‘Breakin’ Shit’ is similarly mediocre although it does manage to fit more into its shorter length. The lyrics, like those which preceded them, are trying too hard to be arty and intellectual. They are in fact nonsensical and impossible to relate to unless one likes to ‘sweep up the ashes of tv screens and diamond barrettes.’ Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr (correct number of r’s) is the best song on the EP although still fails as an overall song. However, in order to not seem too dour, one should point out the lyrics are a lot better than in the other songs (as they are written by Connallon rather than Caverly) and one...
Scream Hello - Smart and Stupid [EP]
Red Leader Records

Altsounds thinks Scream Hello - Smart and Stupid [EP] is terrible
What an extraordinary gig! I, along with thousands of Metallica fans across the country were more than a little intrigued when metal’s forerunners announced this very special performance. Celebrating the release of their thrashier-than-ever new album Death Magnetic (currently #1 in the UK Album charts) the band set out to showcase the new tracks, as well as some rarely played gems. A real treat for the hardcore fans who have heard Enter Sandman live more times than James Hetfield’s guitar chugs in Master of Puppets, in the usual ‘greatest hits’ style shows. Tickets went on sale to their most dedicated of fans across three days – day one being limited to paying ‘Metallica Club’ members, the second day extending sales to the slightly cheaper ‘Platinum’ club’s members, and finally on day three for the free ‘Mission Metallica’ members. For the next-to-nothing sum of £5, it wouldn’t have been a surprise in the slightest if tickets had sold out before the third day, but never-the-less,...
Metallica – Death Magnetic Launch Party Show Report
02 Arena – 15 September 2008

Altsounds Recommends Metallica – Death Magnetic Launch Party Show Report
Ben Folds survived one-hit-wonderdom by sheer passion alone - passionate songs and even more passionate fans. Though he has not scored another hit, Ben Folds remains one of those names in the backs of our minds, Rock enough for the mainstream but cool enough for the hipsters. For those who were introduced to him by his quirky and misnomered trio, Ben Folds Five (I know the hipsters know why the band was named that... but I don't so you don't need to correct me), you may remember the hit song "Brick" - you know "Sheee's a brick and I'm drowning slowly..." Excellent song. On his latest "solo" effort, Folds offers less an album, than a study in quirky melodramotic songs. Influences on the disk range from Buddy Holly to Nine Inch Nails to Musical Theater. Despite the disparate sounds, the disk actually offers a fairly coherent journey - often eclectic artists like Folds release albums that sound like extended demos rather than records. Way to Normal, however, is tied together not by...
Ben Folds - Way To Normal
In an oddly audacious move, the album starts with a fun tune called Hiroshima (has there ever been a fun tune called Hiroshima?) 		I’ve always been a fan of Alkaline Trio’s music, as they always seem to produce good pop-punk music. ‘I Found Away’ is another Alkaline Trio classic in my eyes, as it is just as good as other Alkaline Trio songs such as ‘Mercy Me’, ‘Time To Waste’ and ‘Private Eye’. The intro has a very Coheed and Cambria feel about it, but it soon grows out of that and bursts into a flurry of pop-punk! The likes of which you would most associate with bands such as Blink 182 and +44. The disco style drumbeat in the chorus adds that extra bit of class to the song. I love it when bands you don’t associate keyboards and synthesizers with put them to good use in one or two of their songs. Alkaline Trio haven’t set out to make it a dominant instrument in the song, but add it subtly in the chorus and at the end of the song. I think without the synthesizer in the song, ‘I Found Away’ would fall into the dangerous category of an ‘OK song’. Alkaline Trio are well known for their catchy chorus, and this...
Alkaline Trio - I Found Away [Single]
V2

Altsounds Recommends Alkaline Trio - I Found Away [Single]
Black Lungs seem to be appearing more and more out of nowhere recently and with their latest CD release ‘Send Flowers’ it might just give them that little extra push they may need. Recently toured the UK and now back over to the US to tour with Anti-Flag, everything seems to be going well. Knowing full well that Wade Macneil is also in Alexisonfire I didn’t know if Black Lungs will be like them or completely different. In my head I wanted Macneil to show his fans that he could produce music which is different to Alexisonfire. As I have been writing the last few sentences I have been listening to ‘Send Flowers’ and I have to be honest....I don’t know what to think of it. From track 1 to 4 it all seemed to be one big song with the rocking guitar which has been similar throughout the album so far. The only thing which breaks up track 4 and track 5, ‘These moments Define Us’ is the acoustic introduction. I don’t really know what to think about his vocals either, I can’t work out if...
Black Lungs – Send Flowers [Album]
Hassle Records 		One mission for this band, rocking out to the fullest to the sounds they call rock and only ROCK, the rest doesn’t matter in their eyes. Four dudes migrating from East to West Canada all compiling together in Toronto to jam. From the tiny buzz surrounding these guys it seems as though they are pleasing the crowds wherever they go. Having not witnessed the rocking of Surefire Machine live, I can however tell you about their self titled eight track record. Currently on their “Rock For Your Big Block” Canadian tour to promote the current release which was produced by up and coming producer John Nazario, and written by the band; Rail Road Wilson – Vocals/Guitar, Zeke - Guitar, Jonny Fantastic – drums/Vox and Bones Bowman on the Bass. Two of these larries RR Wilson and Zeke met during a brawl in British Columbia later deciding to stop swinging and start rocking forming the band ‘Tar Bender’ but they had some severe A.D.D and decided to go for the gold by hooking up with ‘Banned From...
SUREFIRE MACHINE
SUREFIRE MACHINE RECORDS 		Dance/rock music is on a particular high at the moment. The racy genre full of bands such as “Mindless Self-Indulgence” and “Innerparty System” all getting lots of attention recently as they release new material. Fitting into that genre is “Pause. Break. Riot!”, who have an increasing fan base in the UK and beyond. Instrumentally, this single has a lot of what it takes to make anyone want to dance along. However, the single, “Retro”, has no melody to follow whatsoever. The vocals are just basically an uncharacteristic English accent rambling on at us about how we don’t party as hard as we used to. I argue that as a nation we party way harder than we used to. For example, Rave betters Disco in it’s hardcore partying nature. More annoying than anything on this single is the “singer’s” voice; it’s just someone taking in the most boring way possible. It honestly sounds more like a middle-aged gentleman who spends his Saturday evenings at the theatre than someone who has the right to...
Pause. Break. Riot! - Retro [Single]
Diffusion Records
The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster may be tonight’s support band, but they conduct themselves like headliners, with a light show that puts Scars on Broadway to shame; apparently limitless amounts of energy and enthusiasm; and an easy confidence at performing in front of what is, presumably, quite a large crowd for them. Frontman Guy McKnight’s unusually deep vocal style is custom-made to catch the attention of any causally-interested audience, as his voice cuts across their driving, stop-start prog and you can actually understand what he’s saying. It sees everyone paying just a little bit more attention to The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster. The initially lukewarm crowd gradually warm to the Brighton five-piece and, as their set comes to an end and half the venue file towards the bar, there’s a tangible buzz and many enthusiastic words being passed around. The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster have definitely won a few new fans with tonight’s performance. Headlining...
Scars on Broadway at Manchester Academy 2 (Live)
21st September 2008

Altsounds Recommends Scars on Broadway at Manchester Academy 2 (Live)
It’s fair to say that Estelle’s career has exploded somewhat after being picked up by Atlantic following the acclaim that surrounded her self released debut album The 18th Day. Estelle picked up the MOBO for best newcomer way back in 2004, and four years on things are starting to look rosy for the Hammersmith born rapper, singer and producer. Set for further accolades this year having been nominated in no less than five MOBO categories, the credits on her second album Shine read like a who’s who of contemporary urban music and her collaboration with a certain Kanye West (you’ve heard of him right?) produced a UK chart topper that also went top ten Stateside. Pretty Please, the fourth single to be taken from Shine sees the guest appearances continue, this time the it’s the turn of Gnarls Barkley’s soul filled mouthpiece Cee-Lo Green to lend a helping hand. The big man’s contributions however, might be hard for the casual listener to spot. I’d love to say that’s down to the...
SINGLE REVIEW: ESTELLE – PRETTY PLEASE (LOVE ME)
Featuring Cee-Lo – Atlantic – 15th Sept 2008, CD, 7” & Download 		This new Lost Prophets album sounds exactly like their previous effort ‘Liberation Transmission’. Oh wait this is not a new Lost Prophets album, it’s the debut album from Welsh band Attack! Attack! Now, before I even begin the review I’d like to give Attack! Attack! a 0 out of 10 for creativity due to its blatant lack of originality. I am unsure whether their copycat feel comes from recording at the same studio that the legendary Lost Prophets have recorded many of their albums or whether too many Attack! Attack! support slot tours with the Lost Prophets but, this album feels like nothing other than an extended bonus version of ‘Liberation Transmission’. Regardless of this I have to admit that some parts of the album -like the first track simply titled ‘Honesty’ are catchy. Gang vocals are attempted in parts on this album, such as track three; however they sound more like a few guys in a room than a gang. Track seven is the most interesting song on the album, however...
Attack! Attack! - This is a Test
Rock Ridge Music
The moment the rap vocals of ‘I’ll Do It’ kick in, a lot of people will probably turn this EP straight off. However, Illegitimate Sons of The Kings are worth sticking with, as given half a chance they might just charm you with the incisive, socially aware lyrics that lie being that machine-gun rap rattle. ‘I’ll Do It’ is all larger louts, anti-social behaviour and pub brawls that could have been written about your own dodgy local. In a stroke of genius, Illegitimate Sons of The King blend in an undercurrent of smooth pop vocals that act as the initial hook for all those who usually steer well clear of the rap genre. Once its pop leanings have secured your attention, those rap vocals gradually reveal themselves as the tongue-in-cheek social commentary they are. Toss in some squealing chords and rattling drums that keep time with the vocals and give them a harder-rocking edge, and ‘I’ll Do It’ might just surprise you by worming its way into your affections. Illegitimate Sons of...
Illegitimate Sons of The King - Untitled (EP) 		Once upon a time, Emo used to be the music of the US. Young American bands dominated the scene from Green Day to Bowling For Soup to New Found Glory and UK bands didn't even try to compete. Ever since Busted appeared with their infectious brand of Brit-emo-pop, the genre has been wide open. This has lead to bands like Lostprophets, and more recently Proceed, to venture into this new world bringing in heavier guitars and a more mature sound. To counteract this respectability, and in the wake of Busted, we have the mighty McFly. With the industry in the palms of their grubby little hands, they backed off into the safety of mainstream pop. Why? Because the UK cannot do Emo. Not in its purest, exuberant and vibrant form. But now there is You Me At Six. 'Jealous Minds Think Alike' gets right into the action with a torrent of crashing drums and squealing guitars. Lead singer Josh Franceschi comes in as the music predictably drops. His voice is not as whiny and as nasal as you would expect...
You Me At Six - Jealous Minds Think Alike [Single]
Slam Dunk Records 		Volcanoes are not quite as explosive as their name suggests but both A-side and B-side of this single are strong and memorable songs. “Long Live My Enemies” shows off an Anthony Kiedis (Red Hot Chilli Peppers) type vocal with an Arctic Monkeys-esque song behind. The song builds from just drums and acoustic guitar into a powerful guitar driven chorus with backing vocals that compliment the lead vocal perfectly. With the A-side being such a gem of a money making song, you’d expect the band to put one of the less commercial songs on the B-side. I personally think that there were no weak songs on the “Fruits of the Fuzz” ep so the B-side, “Gunter the Shooter”, is inevitably another strong song. Even though the songs are good, there is never any standout part, any amazing musicianship or anything particularly original. I like the single but there’s no real attempt to do anything new and exciting. However, the band aren’t trying to be the next “Dream Theatre”, as they’re ep cover...
Volcanoes - Long Live My Enemies [Single]
Self-Released
Hold Fire are an upbeat indie band from Brighton, England. Their single "Power Cuts" kicks in and it reminds me a lot of Feeder in it's style and refrain. It's a decent track that is catchy enough to get me interested and leaving me eager to hear what's coming up however, instantly I am not too much of a fan of the blatantly obvious lyrical content. The production is good on this single and over the course of these two songs it is obvious that Hold Fire definitely have their own sound. On their Myspace, Hold Fire claim to have had four previous releases. I personally don't feel a free EP of which only 30 copies were made really constitues a release does it? One of the aforementioned EPs only has two songs on it which to me makes it a single. Hopefully that means Hold Fire are in the studio producing their debut album because, it's easy to just keep releasing singles and EPs but a full album release is what really proves the men from the boys!! The second track on this...
Hold Fire - Power Cuts [Single]
The Trigger Club 		Cuddle Up is an R&B pop track by the four member boy band crew Pretty Ricky. What usually makes R&B tracks good for me is their beats. A fly and banging beat hooking the listener in for what is coming next. In the case of "Cuddle Up" there is no banging beat. The beat is nothing byt a simple one kick, one snare, disco beat (similar to that of Michael Jacksons "Beat It" HOWEVER, "Beat It" actually sounds good). This beat does not. It is SOOOOOOOO boring. The same monotenous kick, snare, kick, snare, over and over again with the only change being when the producer decides to stop the beat completely for a whole beat before kicking back into much of the same. I take it that Butta Creame is the girl featuring on this track? If so, she's pretty good and has a nice voice but she, like so many girl singers before her, succumbs to the same thing many good feamle vocalists do. Unneccessarily over the top Celine Dion / Whitney Houston style adlibs that actually really grate on me and...
Pretty Ricky Feat.Butta Creame - Cuddle Up [Single]
Atlantic Records

Altsounds thinks Pretty Ricky Feat.Butta Creame - Cuddle Up [Single] is terrible
Every so often an album comes along that makes you smile. It makes you smile because it reminds you that there is hope in a dark world, a light at the end of the scary tunnel and a comforting arm around your shivering shoulder. 'Under Summer Sun' tries very hard to be THAT album. After nearly eight years of life as an independent, US singer songwriter Matt Wertz has made an unsteady leap to a major label. Curiously the album is a collection of previously released songs plus a few extras. If you don't know the back catalogue, you would not know the old songs from the new - such is the blend of styles and sounds. Even though everything fits together, at times this feels like an anthology of songs and not a free-flowing piece of work. But Matt Wertz is at home writing small punchy breezy pop rather than huge rumbling epics, and this style is present throughout. The highlights of 'Under Summer Sun' are undoubtedly the more upbeat songs. Opener 'Everything's Right' is wonderful bouncy...
Matt Wertz - Under Summer Sun
Universal Records
For anyone that is unfamliar with the sounds of Innerpartysystem I would sum them up by saying they are a rock band that has blatantly lived on a diet of the entire BT catalogue. This single "Die Tonight Live Forever", the second from their self titled debut album actually sounds almost identical in parts to the BT track "Somnabulist". Particularly the part where it transitions from the chorus into the next verse. These BTisms are also present with the granular synthesized vocal parts and the overall feel to the production. I even find myself questioning whether BT in fact produced this single - probably not though. Being a massive fan of BT you would think I would love this. Innerpartysystem sounding so much like BT kinda bothers me, and puts this great band down a peg or two due to a blatant lack of originality. Luckily for them, the scene in which their label is pushing them won't have any clue who BT is so will inevitably think that Innerpartysystem are the most original...
Innerpartysystem - Die Tonight Live Forever [Single]
Island Records 		"What am I drinking? Nyquil on the rocks." By now, Mitch Hedberg is legendary among anyone who enjoys comedy, so I'll spare you the pseudo-bio. Comedy Central Records has just released a post-humus comedy record from Hedberg (Tupac style). Since he died in 2005, I have listened to his 2 releases over and over and over, disappointed that he left this world leaving so little material behind. I was overjoyed to find out he had been recording shows in preparation for an album to be recorded and released later that year. In my opinion, Do You Believe in Gosh? is the best of the Mitch Hedberg stand up CDs and shows a comedian that was getting closer to perfecting his art. His stage fright and self-consciousness evident in earlier performances were endearing qualities, but the latest (and unfortunately last) CD hints at perhaps overcoming those handicaps. Or maybe that's just the drugs. He engages the audience more directly and it's not difficult to imagine him actually making eye...
Mitch Hedberg- Do You Believe in Gosh?
Comedy Central Records

Altsounds Recommends Mitch Hedberg- Do You Believe in Gosh?
The multi-layered vocals and old school pop riffs of ‘Hello-Hello’ makes it apparent right from the start that The Transpersonals worship at the altar of The Beatles. But, if you’re going to take pointers from someone, then why not take them from one of the greatest pop bands of all time? This ethos certainly works for The Transpersonals, as they’re so old-fashioned that you’d be hard pressed to find another modern-day band who sounds quite like them. Opening track ‘Hello-Hello’ seems to have an entire choir of vocalists at its disposal, all contributing Beatles-esque pop vocals. Piano flourishes, psychedelic synths and finger-slicking sound effects put the final polish to this blast-from-the-past, perfectly-crafted pop song. ‘Coming Through You’ sees The Transpersonals churning out a haze of distorted vocals spiked with prominent drumbeats and indie riffs. However, this edge quickly dissolves into a style-over-substance fug of pleasantly blurry vocals, and not much else. It’s...
The Transpersonals - Hello-Hello (EP)
Guerrilla Music
There aren’t many bands with this brand of weird timing and de-tuned sounding riffs at the moment in the UK, but even if there were, Deaf Havana would still be at the top of their league. Mixing brutal riffs with a very light pop-style voice in occasions makess the EP of high interest to me. Opener ‘This afternoon was a total disaster’ is a nice heavy start and 43 seconds into the track is where my interest is drawn - a very “Every Time I Die” style riff is introduced and has my head fully rocking. The whole EP has a similar feel to it, with a slight mix of ‘Underoath’ mixed in there for good measure. Track 3 is the next prominent track; a very promising song and I can imagine how energetic this would sound live, but yet again, parts of the song are starting to sound a little too similar to "Every Time I Die". This is when I ask myself the question "Is this really such a bad thing??" The next track ‘The tune of ID’ show’s a very different side to the band, opening with a...
Deaf Havana – It’s called the easy life
Wolf at Your Door Records 		In truth, expectations for this release have not been the highest. It’s seems a long time now since Original Pirate Material redefined an entire genre, and it’s hard to shake the feeling that today’s Mike Skinner is a man at odds with himself. Earlier this year it was widely reported that the Brit-hop maestro had scrapped nearly every track recorded for the The Streets fourth LP, bemoaning a “preachy” tone to the new material and starting over again. More recent reports that Skinner claims to have become “fucking sick” of The Streets and everything the name implies, have also failed to inspire confidence in his latest work, but will have come as little surprise to anyone who heard 2006’s The Hardest Way To Make An Easy Living. Skinner has himself described his third album as a “disturbing work”. Listeners and reviewers, however were often less romanticised in their descriptions of a record which seemed largely to deal with the tiring tribulations of fame. You know the ones; it’s...
SINGLE REVIEW: THE STREETS - EVERYTHING IS BORROWED
The Beats – Sept 15th Download only / Sept 29th 2008 CD & 7” 		We have to face up to reality: Pop stars are getting younger. With the latest participants of X-Factor typically still in school, it is no wonder that someone like Charli XCX exists - and more importantly has been noticed by a record label and 'snapped up' early. With a mixture of spurious retro fashion statements and a simplistic vocal style, this 15 year old girl from the home counties is a bit too over eager to shake off the 'posh' tag and do something different. The effect is more Lily Allen than Duffy; like Hannah Montana if she was a Grange Hill exchange student. The appallingly titled '!Francheskaar!' opens with some neat buzzing electronica. For six seconds, the song is acceptable and then it really starts. The basic structure is to intertwine the lines of the verses with a horrible incessant repeating of the central subject. It plagues much of the arrangement to the point that an actual drill in the side of your head quickly becomes a viable alternative. After thirty seconds...
Charli XCX - !Francheskaar! [Single]
Orgy Records
The normally placid Noel Gallagher has spent a hefty part of the summer months openly bad-mouthing some of the biggest names in the music biz. There’s already been a bust up Stateside (sort of), whispers of a change of direction and premature talk of kid brother Liam leaving the country for good. Now there’s a growing call-to-arms taking over the nations airwaves and every magazine on the newsagents shelf seems to have at least one pair of eyebrows taking up a little too much of the front cover. Anyone smell a new Oasis album? The Shock of the Lightning is the first track to be taken from the much hyped seventh studio album Dig Out Your Soul and if you haven’t heard it before it’s 29th September release date, you almost certainly don’t have ears. It’s rolling drums, growling bass lines, instantly memorable melody and Definitely Maybe style hook combine to form exactly the same huge sound that Oasis have used to introduce the public to their new material since the awesome D’you Know...
SINGLE REVIEW: OASIS - THE SHOCK OF THE LIGHTNING
Big Brother Recordings - 29th Sept 2008 - CD, 7" & Download 		Spirituality and rock have never been the happiest of bed-fellows. It conjures up images of smiling clapping teenagers swaying to the music of a pristine white-clad acoustic guitar band, lost in the euphoria. Music seems to lose all credibility when religion takes over. North Carolina three-piece My Epic does not assume this unfortunate stereotype. On the surface they look and sound like just another melodic-rock outfit blending guitars and drums with thought-provoking lyrics and ideas. Far from it. The band has an inner vision driven by their truly spiritual ideals and this permeates everything they do - a blatant yet honest heartfelt celebration of what drives them, 'I Am Undone' is as sombre as it is uplifting. My Epic has a distinct vocal style, at best it is focused and emotional but this tends to veer into the mournful and the melancholy. This just adds to the overall submissive nature of the band, fully aware of a higher purpose at work; a guiding light not to be abused but to...
My Epic - I Am Undone
Facedown Records 		Traditionally an eponymously titled EP will be among a fledgling bands first releases. Not so for post-grunge rockers, Enjoy Destroy. Well received and widely acclaimed debut, Little Dreams may have drawn gushing comparisons to Feeder and Foo Fighters from reviewers eager to unearth the next British stadium fillers (the album was produced by Feeders Grant Nicholas after all), but the band themselves were less impressed. By the time of it’s physical release in March of this year, the four-piece were already disillusioned with the records production, and after admitting they felt they’d been steered away from their true sound as they took a back seat in the studio, the Basingstoke boys wasted no time in enlisting the help of Matt Hyde (see Slipknot, Funeral For A Friend) and going back to basics with a self titled five track. The shifting tempos, throw-your-head back choruses, growling riffs and strong, simple melodies that brought Little Dreams an enthusiastic, if not gargantuan...
EP REVIEW: ENJOY DESTROY – ENJOY DESTROY
Fire One Records – October 6th 2008 – CD, 7” & Download
My friends in the UK are probably much more familiar with The Stupids than I am. My foray into the world of punk music was almost entirely American with very limited exposure to the lesser known British artists. The Stupids had popped up on my radar, specifically because of their familiar US hardcore style combined with a distinctly British sense of humor. They were only around from 1984 to 1987 and never broke through in the States but achieved modest popularity in their homeland. Visible Noise has decided it is necessary to remind everyone of how okay The Stupids used to be in the form of a re-issue. Van Stupid/Frankfurter is available now for purchase. To sweeten the deal, additional tracks have been included. Fans of The Stupids will consider this album a must-have. If you're not already familiar with The Stupids but are a fan of modern hardcore punk, it would be worth a pick up if only for the historical reference. ...
The Stupids - Van Stupid / Frankfurter
Visible Noise 		This is probably one of the best albums I’ve ever had the pleasure of reviewing. From the first track to the last, We The Kings have really outdone themselves. The opening track on the album ‘Secret Valentine’ has quite an epic chorus, with a cracking melody built around really nice lyrics. This track is a possible release track in my eyes, without a doubt one of the best songs on the album. The first release off We The Kings ‘Check Yes Juliet’ is an instant winner. Great melody, great guitar riffs, great harmonies and clapping! I do love a good clapping section in songs. I can see why We The Kings chose to release this as the first single, it’s again one of the best, if not the best song on the album. Although some people will say that We The Kings sound like a lot of other bands around, notable ones being Boys Like Girls, The Academy is… and a few other American pop-punk bands. I have heard a few people putting We The Kings in the ‘overrated pile’ but these are people who know...
We The Kings - Self-titled [Album]
Virgin

Altsounds Recommends We The Kings - Self-titled [Album]
“Our Long Road Home” gets straight to the point. Album opener “Path Less Taken” comes in with a heavy and dirty guitar riff then kicks forward into a more mellow verse. Then before you know it, less than a minute into the song, you are taken to this incredibly catchy chorus (after just the first listen of this song, the chorus was lodged in my head. Deservedly its still there.) The chorus lyric, “A past worth saving, at last we’re paving, the path less taken.” really represents that this band is trying to do something different and far more interesting than everyone else on the current music scene. In my eyes, they have been successful. The album seems to start heavy but becomes lighter hearted as it goes along. This could be a bad thing for some people, who expect the weight of the first six or so songs to carry through to the end. However, Taproot manage to pull off ballad type songs in an incredibly melodic and sweet sounding way. “Run To” is a perfect example of this. It bears...
Taproot - Our Long Road Home [Album]
RED
Attic Lights are the next big Scottish harmony-guitar band. They have already released a few impressive singles, been a huge hit on the festival circuit - making headlines for befriending David Gest, and enlisted the help of Teenage Fanclub drummer Francis MacDonald for production and Bjorn Yttling for strings. Vocals form the core of their songs with Kev Sherry and Colin McArdle sharing the duties, with backing and harmonies from the rest of the band. 'Friday Night Lights' is the band's debut album. The album opens with its strongest trio of songs. A previous single 'Never Get Sick Of The Sea' kicks off with guitars and pounding drums before the vocals join in. It all works up to the chorus which sounds like there are some notes missing or the record is skipping. It is a very disjointed melody. Beyond the wash of guitars and vocals, a neat piano can be heard. The song only really comes alive at the end as the last minute shines with tuneful exuberance. A solid start. 'Bring You...
Attic Lights - Friday Night Lights
Island Records 		Two albums and two frontmen later and Dallas 4-piece Drowning Pool are still trying to match the winning formula that earned them the high kudos of their impossible to dislike debut ‘Sinner’. After the untimely death of original frontman Dave Williams in 2002 the band hired lacklustre vocalist and former tattoo artist Jason ‘Gong’ Jones who featured on their widely panned second album ‘Desensitized’, in all honesty the only track worth listening to off the whole thing is the cheesy fist pumping single ‘Step Up’ which even though it was pretty fun did lack the heart and general relevance that their fans had become used to. Now with ex SOiL lead singer Ryan McCombs onboard for apparently permanent duties, new album ‘Full Circle’ has been hyped as a fresh start for a band who have endured much turmoil in their days, unfortunately, it’s nothing to get that excited about. I guess I’m not really off to a good start with this, I always detested SOiL with a passion and it mainly came down to...
Drowning Pool - Full Circle [CD]
Eleven Seven 		In 1990 the world lost one of it’s most influential blues guitarists, It should have been Eric Clapton that got on that helicopter after another performance that royally dumped on everything that Cream ever did, but no, it was Stevie Ray Vaughan. Seen by many as the greatest guitarist since Jimi Hendrix this is definitely a career that was cut far too short by tragedy, along with Hendrix Vaughan was the only man to carry the blues torch strong enough to make other musicians of the genre question their ability and ultimately make some give up all together, I wonder if SRV were still alive today would he have done the same to soulless technical wonder Luke Mulholland, one can only hope and dream so. As a self taught guitarist (my only lesson lasting 10 minutes) I have always detested guitar academies, cloning factories for wannabe Vai’s and Satriani’s the world over who learn the technique as opposed to the feel, Luke Mulholland is currently studying at the Berklee College of Music and...
The Luke Mulholland Band - Further
Unsigned

Altsounds thinks The Luke Mulholland Band - Further is terrible
Primal Scream kick off in promising fashion with the imagination-grabbing ‘Beautiful Future.’ The chorus repeatedly insisting that “you’ve got a beautiful future” (complete with celebratory bells) may see ‘Beautiful Future’ walk a fine line between upbeat, and irritatingly upbeat, but beneath the chipper surface lies black-hearted lyrics denouncing a society of materialism, capital punishment and ignorance. Towards the end Primal Scream do test the listener’s patience by repeating the same line approximately thirty times until fade, but ‘Beautiful Future’ is for the most part a bright, sparky tune with some weight behind it. Worth a listen, if only for that moment when you realise just what Bobby Gillespie is singing about, and this song’s Prozac bounce suddenly makes sense. ‘Suicide Bomb’ is equally innovative, featuring pulsing chords and drumbeats that constantly sound as though they’re winding to a halt. Even better, it steadily chugs to a crescendo of insistent vocals and...
Primal Scream - Beautiful Future (CD)
B-unique 		"Beyond The Horizon" is probably my most anticipated album of 2008. I haven't really looked forward to a new album like this since "In Utero" by Nirvana. The feelings were the same even though it’s over ten years later. As I waited for this new album I listened to their first album over and over, waiting and wanting it to be bigger and better. On receiving the CD I was very pleased with the package. The album actually comes with a free Live DVD which I have only seen a select few tracks off so far but that looks amazing and showcases how amazing PIP are live. After a first listen to the album the thing that disappointed me most was unbeknown to me I had actually already heard four of the twelve tracks on this album. The first listen to this actually just skimmed me by cause I had been anticipating listening to it for so long. The usual quirky weirdness of People in Planes is still present in this album. They have the ability to slip in some VERY strange timing into songs and...
People in Planes - Beyond The Horizon
Wind Up Records 		BTBAM changed my perspective on music and was one of the first metal bands that interested me enough due to their eclecticism to really delve into metal as a genre and to start truly appreciating its beauty. I am now a huge fan and have since invested my time in many other metal bands. Even though my metal band knowledge is now bulging, I have always found myself going back to “Mordecai “ by BTBAM and listening to it over and over again – even now; Always trying to show it to people that could get their ears and eyes opened by listening to this band. The same happened for me when their second full length album “Alaska” came out. Since then however, for some reason new Between the Buried and Me material has seemed to pass me by. In fact, "Colors" also passed me by when it was released but luckily through a friend I managed to get my mitts on a copy of it and thank fuck I did! Colors, is a mere eight songs in length. Judging by this you may come under the impression that this is...
Between The Buried and Me - Colors
Victory Records

Altsounds Recommends Between The Buried and Me - Colors
On the one hand, I can understand why Little Man Tate have chosen Hey Little Sweetie as the follow up to What Your Boyfriend Said, the first single to be taken from that eternally tricky second album. Like What Your Boyfriend Said it’s packed with a fun loving boyish nature that will appeal to fans of The Fratellis and fellow Yorkshiremen The Pigeon Detectives. It’s a track blessed with jaunty guitar twangling, a pretty wicked solo, an upbeat disco spirit and an almost annoyingly catchy hook; Four elements certain to ensure a level of radio play capable of attracting new listeners to a band who’s impressive 2006 debut LP struggled for commercial success under the Arctic weight of Sheffield’s Monkey empire. Good choice then. On the other hand, it does seem rather strange to afford such a high profile to a track which lyrically seems to bad-mouth a demographic that must make up a fair percentage of the bands fan base. Hey Little Sweetie tells a tale of a young ladies time away at...
SINGLE REVIEW: LITTLE MAN TATE – HEY LITTLE SWEETIE
Skint/Yellow Van Records – September 8th 2008 – CD, 7” & Download 		‘Donna’ is a proper chill out tune. Its not too ‘in your face’, so you could find yourself drifting off after a few listens. I’m not saying that it’s boring, although the singers voice does lack that little bit of oomph, but it does add to the ‘chill factor’ Travel Mind Syndrome have going on. It’s the type of song I can imagine hearing on Radio One. There’s a catchy little synth line in the song that gives it that drive. Chill out with drive? Can’t say I’ve heard of that before. The B-side track, ‘Emergency Exit’, has the female backing vocalist on the last track singing lead vocals on it. A nice alternation between singers. Unusual to see a man and a woman exchange vocals, only a handful of bands do that. The intro to this song is funky as fudge, the piano is so bouncy and fun sounding. It’s so simple, but really effective. Travel Mind Syndrome has done a good job with this single. I can’t say if the A-side is better than the B-side or vice versa. They‘re both on par with each...
Travel Mind Syndrome - Donna [Single]
Unsigned 		Finger Eleven know how to write a great chorus. The inoffensive light rock of ‘Them Vs. You Vs. Me’ would be unremarkable if it wasn’t bursting with choruses you won’t be able to get out of your head. Of course, their catchiness is occasionally irritating. There’s something especially annoying about the super-slick groove of opening-track ‘Paralyzer’ but, strangely, the more you listen to Finger Eleven, the less annoying they become. This is probably because you give up all hope of ever getting those choruses out of your head and just accept the inevitability of liking them. A key ingredient of Finger Eleven’s perfect choruses is their build-up. The pre-chorus drum roll of ‘Paralyzer’ in particular is a stroke of genius that’ll secure your interest, before sucking you straight into that slickly addictive chorus. Similarly, the burst of pre-chorus acoustic guitar in ‘Falling On’ makes the chorus riffs feel heavier than they actually are. It’s a clever trick, kidding fans of heavier...
Finger Eleven - Them Vs. You Vs. Me (Cd)
Wind-up Records
As told in the very fancy and arty CD sleeve that slips inside an even fancier and artier CD case, ‘this is not the new Unkle album’. There is no theme sonically or stylistically and yet it is well put together. Very relaxed tracks are put next to instrumentals and pieces of classical music, and yet you will suddenly find yourself confronted by a song which has bursts of energy and a more rocky feel and these do not feel out of place at all. They can even be a welcome reminder that you are indeed listening to a CD and not simply drowning in thought with chilled out, melodic music as a soundtrack. At 22 songs long, although many of these are very short, it is easy to let your thoughts take over. Track 2 is one of these songs that is quite energetic. ‘Cut Me Loose’ combines an upbeat style with an airy voice and is a catchy start to this ‘non-album’ album. Fans of Unkle used to a more electronic sound may feel a little lost, as though electronic elements are present throughout, these...
Unkle - End Titles... Stories for Film [LP] 		It’s not very often that an album is named after something which happened during recording, usually the idea is set out in stone before even the first drum beat is recorded. However, Officer Kicks spend in the region of £6,000 recording this album according to their website, hence the name ‘The Six Grand Plot.’ Despite the expense, there’s still a very raw feel to this band, almost like an unpolished gem, however, you get the feeling this is intentionally done. The sound they have overall isn’t really anything new, neither is it especially anything old/over-saturated/over-done, they’ve got a very defined sound and they stick at it throughout and as a result have made a very strong debut album. It’s hard to comprehend that this band started out life in 2005 and by the end of that same year were in the studio making this album. The tightness and unity, and most of all, identity they developed in such a short space of time is testament to what can be done with the right sort of...
Officer Kicks - The Six Grand Plot
Redemption Records 		Having grown into somewhat of a punk rock monster over the past few years, The Arteries are stomping their feet big time with a series of three EP releases; ‘Blood, Sweat and Beers’ is all vinyl and pretty exclusive. Fear not, all three are being compiled into an album due for release later this year, I tell you this because as soon as you read this review and read about this band, chances are you’ll want to check them out. It’s hard to find superlatives to describe the five tracks on this EP. The Arteries have a nous for a good sound and they mix so many brilliant punk-rock elements into a tight, flawless package. There are in equal parts, fast paed, driving drum beats, massive solos, chant and singalong vocals and just about all the angst, passion and raw energy that could possibly be captured on record. ‘Divergence’ is probably the stand out track for melodic qualities and being a massive punk anthem. The Arteries could go far, and I’m sure when the album hits shelves they...
The Arteries - Sweat EP
self-released

Altsounds Recommends The Arteries - Sweat EP
The Story So Far seem to be striving to get as close as possible to radio friendly tunes that just make you want to sing along. The chorus as ever is instantly addictive and they’ve got the sort of cheesy sounding riff that will surely fill dance floors at school discos for years to come. Not that there’s anything wrong with that at all, on the contrary it’s quite refreshing that a band are setting out on their own initiative and not following trends or trying to be the next big thing in the alternative music scene. These boys have come a long way from being that sort of band who crowded the local Welsh scene. They have always stood out above the rest, but now they're setting off in their own direction. To their credit I don’t think any other band is doing what they do and doing it as well as they do. That’s the positives, now for that holy grail of freedom of speech and reviewing with honesty: my opinion. To be honest, it’s not "all that" as far as my taste in music goes....
The Story So Far - Are You Ready?
self-released