Sometimes hated, often ridiculed - and very occasionally venerated - the instrumental can be a mixed area of success for a rock band. From guitar specialists (like Steve Vai and Yngwie Malmsteen), through to contemporary prog and math rock (we're thinking our friends Rolo Tomassi, and the guys in And So I Watch You From Afar) have tried their hand at them. And yeah, plenty of bands have also dropped instrumentals somewhere onto their albums as little more than filler...but even the humble "filler" track can turn out to be something rather special every now and again. [...]

Nachdem ich mir inzwischen so viele verschiedene Jahrescharts von so vielen verschiedenen Menschen angeschaut habe, kann ich sie ehrlich gesagt nicht mehr sehen. Wenn man auf ein Jahr zurückblickt, dann kommen einem doch sowieso eher einzelne Momente in den Sinn - oft wild durcheinanderfliegend und höchstens locker verknüpft durch Assoziationen - als irgendwelche Listen. Aber es macht ja doch immer wieder Spaß, seine eigenen Favoriten gegeneinander abzuwägen und zu ordnen, Ranglisten aufzustellen und umzuschmeißen – auch wenn man an dem Kampf dabei beinahe verzweifelt. Ich hoffe jedenfalls ihr habt noch ein offenes Ohr für die Musik, die mich im vergangenen [...]
Was it another classic year in music in 2011? Does it matter? We still got to hear so much great music. Irish bands are coming on in leaps and bounds, and are mostly exceedingly generous with their music, with much of it available for free. Further afield, 2011 saw the [Read more]
We've shown you what Raz and Hugh's albums of the year are, but they're not the only ones responsible for the Thrash Hits Top 20 Albums of 2011. Oh no. We've got a whole load of contributors - writers, photographers, and miscellaneous behind-the-scenes types - that help keep Thrash Hits running smoothly, and the albums [...]
The votes are in, the arguments have been settled, and the fights concluded without too much bloodshed - The Thrash Hits Top 20 Albums of 2011 list is here. We polled all of our writers, photographers, and contributors as to what their favourite records of the year have been, and through a series of complex [...]
It's widely accepted that 2010 was a classic year for Irish bands, one that was always going to be difficult to reciprocate. Last year, the Point of Everything did a Best Songs of 2010 list that featured a measly six Irish bands. Looking back, so many more Irish bands deserved [Read more]

This year I delved through nearly every album I listened to in 2011 to pick out my personal cream of the crop. This is probably my most comprehensive list of "best of" songs I've done for BWC thus far...Hope you guys enjoy. The top albums of the year should follow shortly! If there are any mislabeled, mis-tagged links, let me know and I'll get it fixed. I wouldn't be surprised if I muddled through a few misclicks or something trying to copy and paste everything over Tim Kasher // [...]

ARTIST: The SWAG Report 83 with freebie mp3 downloads for songs by artists including Boots Electric, Al Tuck, Lagwagon, Old Wives' Tale, Ken Tizzard with Bad Intent, Hella and more! So much more! DATE: 11-23-11 WRITER: Don Loder Hey Junky, Alright, I gotta tell you – dis holiday gift-givin' season's startin' ta look great! Da music bizness is jus' pourin' onna extra reckids fer sale an' ya know what dat means: mo'stuff ta grab as I'm [view more]

"Cut My Teeth" from Peggy Sue "The Morning Charade" from SSK "Search:Party:Animal" from And So I Watch You From Afar "Dodecahedron" from Beth Jeans Houghton [...]

SINGLES: Lets kick this Month's Crop of manly Movember single reviews with South London's lively band called Dead Social Club . Despite the mention of a Jeffrey on the self titled song from EP 'Syrian Kisses' it is not a reference to all inclusive recreational joint from Take Me To The Greek with P-Diddy. This is classic Brit electronic indie rock mixing all of the glorious warehouse vibes into one head bopping tune via their 6 piece ensemble. Syrian Kisses MP3 by Dead Social Club [...]

die iren, um genauer zu sein die belfaster haben ihr zweites album am start, bereits am 08. november erschien auf sargent house / richter collective "gangs", welches erneut wieder die postrockistische instrumentalkeule auspackt, das hat was, höret: and so i watch you from afar - beautiful universe master champion and so i watch you from afar - search: party animal gut ding will weile haben, amish records verfolgt diesen ansatz konsequent, nun ist für den 24. januar ein neuer release [...]

Rock outfit And So I Watch You From Afar are thrilled to announce the release of BEAUTIFULUNIVERSEMASTERCHAMPIO N via Sargent House, one of the tunes off their new full length record Gangs out 11.08.11. Known for their unrelenting tours that have seen them play over 300 shows since the start of 2009, Belfast, Ireland's And So I Watch You From Afar (ASIWYFA to their fans) don't know how to take a break. From appearances at SXSW, Eurosonic, Electric Picnic, Novarock, Canadian Music Fest, Popkomm, Pukkelpop, Sonisphere, to tour dates in Europe, [...]
Today's selection of free and legal - because: official - downloads... Lana Del Rey - Video Games ( Jamie Woon Remix) The Drums - How It Ended (Jeremy Summer Camp Remix) Saint Saviour - Here in Me (Raffertie RMX) Ellie Lawson - Lost Without You Gatsby - Do Whatever You Want..., Live on-air 2001-2005 The Whendays - Untru Love II Lovely Hearts Club Presents: For all the Girls - Phylicia System Divide - The Apex Doctrine Queen Of Hearts - Black Star (Lois Plugged & Fruckie Remix) The [...]
I think it's safe to say that the One Fine Day EP is quite a departure from Tony Wright's work with former band And So I Watch You From Afar. I hadn't heard anything by Versechorusverse until Tony tweeted over the weekend that the EP was available. It's all acoustic [Read more]
Gangs by And So I Watch you from Afar The album above is the latest release from the Irish instrumental rock group And So I Watch You From Afar. Their album is getting a North American release this November via Sargent House , which made me reconsider overlooking the band. While I'm still not a huge fan of this release, the grooves on this thing are pretty nasty. These guys are about as invigorating to listen to as, let's say, Maserati or something along those lines, sure. If strong riffs, melodies, [...]

The brainchild of Huw Stephens and John Rostron, Cardiff's SWN Festival is back for its fifth year. Sprawling from Clwb Ifor Bach to the Cardiff Arts Institute and most places in between, this year's line up boasts over 150 artists both local and from further afield. A growing favourite amongst festival-goers, especially those who prefer a soft bed to a wafer thin roll matt, SWN was designed to be Wales' answer to SXSW, albeit on a much smaller scale. Set to kick off a day earlier this year, we're here to guide you through the winding streets of [...]

From their soon to be released second album, Gangs, which will be available in North America on LP, CD and Download via Sargent House/Richter Collective on November 8th, 2011. This instrumental band are from Belfast in Northern Ireland. Download BEAUTIFULUNIVERSEMASTERCHAMPIO N Free Music, Every Day. Subscribe to the Daily Dose. And So I [...]

ARTIST: The SWAG Report 76 with freebie mp3 downloads for songs by Sir Michael Rocks, Yuck, Jonquil, David Lynch, Daisy McCrackin, Cobra Skulls, Big Tree, Tyler The Creator and more! So much more! DATE: 10-06-11 WRITER: Don Loder Awrightcha mooks, So here we go, everybody's back an' we're movin' now. I guess fi' dollar Billy hadda good time gettin' hitched, but I almos' didn' make it back - las' time I got a SWAG Report done, I was onna move cuz, I [...]
There has been a major upheaval in the And So I Watch You From Afar camp with the announcement that Tony Wright has left the band. A statement from the Northerners reads: "It been an honor and a privilege to share the road, studio, stage and world with Tony for the last five years. He's been part of the ASIWYFA family from the start, and he always will be. We're excited, proud and in full support of Tony as he embarks on his new adventure. In the words of Richard Bach, "don't [...]
Photography: Katrina Leno It grabbed by attention due to the amazing Jape remix, but actually the original indie-rock version is thoroughly enjoyable as well. Sadly, I can't put up these for download, but their greatness should easily counterweight this inconvenience, not to mention that you can purchase ASIWYFA 's single for no more than the price of a cup of coffee, here ! And So I Watch You From Afar - 7 Billion People All Alive at Once [...]