Album Review: Everything Everything – Arc
Dan Jenko reviews Mercury-nominated band Everything Everything’s second album ‘Arc’, available now. You might remember Everything Everything as the lively Mancunians waving the indie flag at the Mercury Prize in 2011. But in 2013 they’re an entirely different proposition. Their second effort is a record designed to take the band to stadium-sized glory – and in many... Read More
Album Review: Yes Sir Boss – Desperation State
Mark Butler delivers his verdict on the Bristol band’s debut album, out on November 5th. The first act to be snapped up by Joss Stone’s record label ‘Stone’d', Yes Sir Boss specialise in brass-infused rock that combines elements of funk, reggae and ska. As you might expect, for the most part it’s lively, energetic stuff – but the band do attempt... Read More
Album Review: Caravan Palace – Panic
Mark Butler delivers his verdict on the electro-swing act’s second album, out in the UK on November 5th. Probably the world’s leading proponents of electro-swing and Gypsy-funk, ultra-slick Parisian outfit Caravan Palace are a dab hand at splicing the vintage vibes of old-school jazz and roaring dancehall with the ultra-modern sounds of hip house and electronica. It’s... Read More
Album Review: The Killers – Battle Born
Dan Jenko delivers his verdict on the Las Vegas quartet’s highly-anticipated fourth studio album. Not many bands have achieved what Brandon Flowers and co have with just three records. Having amassed an expansive library of international hits, The Killers have become one of the biggest rock bands on the planet quicker than just about anyone since Oasis in the nineties. An extended... Read More
Leeds Festival 2012 Review
Mark Butler reports on the highs and lows of this year’s Leeds Festival, including sets by Foo Fighters, Kasabian and The Cure. With guitar music supposedly out of fashion these days, there’s been a great deal of skepticism aimed towards events such as Leeds Festival – which have typically relied upon contemporary favourites drawn from the heavier aspects of... Read More
Album Review: Spector – Enjoy It While It Lasts
Mark Butler delivers his verdict on the hugely-anticipated debut from the hotly-tipped London indie band, out on August 13th. It’s fair to say that there’s a little bit of hype surrounding the release of Spector’s debut album. Music critics have been queuing up to label them as the inevitable Next Big Thing, they’ve been packing out venues up and down... Read More
Album Review: Scissor Sisters – Magic Hour
James Hopper delivers his verdict on the new release from the New York popsters, out May 28th. When hip, flamboyant New York pop act Scissor Sisters propelled themselves into the big-time back in 2004, they did so on the back of a debut album packed full of insatiable, funky and unashamedly camp dancefloor-fillers – the kind of tunes that anchor themselves into your internal... Read More
Album Review: Alt-J – An Awesome Wave
Could Alt-J be the most unlikely breakthrough act of 2012? Mark Butler delivers his verdict on the art-rockers’ extraordinary debut, out May 28th. They’ve been hailed in some quarters as the heirs to Radiohead, and although the comparison is only sporadically accurate it’s easy to understand why. Alt-J are about as far away from your typical rock band as it’s possible... Read More
Album Review: Feeder – Generation Freakshow
Dan Jenko delivers his verdict on the Welsh rockers’ eighth studio album, out now. Despite Feeder’s chart-success over the years, most notably their defining single Buck Rogers, they’ve never really broken into that exclusive circle we like to call the ‘British Indie Rock scene’. It’s not that they haven’t been in the picture, but with eight albums now under their... Read More
Gig Review: Tricky
Surreal, shambolic yet highly entertaining – Tricky’s live show in Manchester last weekend proved he hasn’t mellowed with age. Liv Walker was there to witness the chaos. There are some albums so intrinsically linked to a time and place that you only need to hear a few bars to be instantly thrown back there. Maxinquaye by Tricky, with its mesh of dreamy off-kilter... Read More
