"VIOLET BONES are a rock 'n' roll band from Cambridge — packing an incredible amount of passion, energy, animation and spirit into their sing-along garage-pop anthems. Their fierce DIY ethic and constant touring across the UK has earned them support slots with punk heroes New York Dolls and Ash". Great band on the verge of a debut album release, it`s nice to receive the odd promotional email concerning an artist that will be gigging somewhere near to home. Sure Los Angeles, New York or Sydney all have masses of iconic appeal but The Grinning Rat [...]
"Four dudes raised by alcoholic wolves. Fast rhythms and sweet melodies. Loud mouths. Leather jackets. Last spotted without t-shirts. Stripped down, New York-styled garage rock and roll that pays tribute to the punk and power-pop movement of the late 19702s. This debut album is for those who like to shake and pogo". Picture a steaming night at the Marquee , Soho, London circa 1978, New Wave/Punk kids bouncing of the walls to an amphetamine induced tantrum, a fabulous image from exciting times for pre-digital guitar based music. Skip swiftly forward to our fast fix internet [...]
" Founded in early 2011, this exciting, up-and-coming quartet from the heart of the Oxfordshire countryside have developed a highly unique Indie/Pop/Alternative sound with an ear for catchy melodies and feel good Songs ". Intensely bright and wonderfully catchy, Dance à la Plage are riding some serious promotional momentum towards a debut E.P release. With over 16,000 views for the `Matilda` video on YouTube and a selection of quality live shows coming up, the Banbury (UK) four-piece have an interesting year ahead. Learn More
Photo Credit : Julia Tobin "Mombi (Mom-bee) is the Denver-based songwriting duo of Kael Smith and Matt Herron. The two grew up together in Colorado and have been playing music together for the last six years. Songs are written around Smith's hypnotic guitar work and soft vocals, and fleshed out with Herron's piano and keys". A superb mix of ambient electrolica and cosy Folk, `The Wounded Beat` portrays a picture of overwhelming calmness, the eight track long player summons wide open spaces and infinite social wilderness. I adore the promotional photo above, [...]
Another list of available collectible vinyl from those crazy guys at Tryptic Records. Garage, 60`s Freakbeat, Mod, Psych, French Beat & a killer collection of U.S Garage Punk, all records are original 45`s (no Reissues) with full gradings and online sound clips are taken from the actual disc for sale. Buying cool vinyl has never been easier. Learn More And Buy
"These are the words that sum up Virginia-based band, The Danvilles. They are a part of Merrifield Records, a label/musical co-op started by the band's singer/Guitarist Mike Hindert who is also the Bassist for the Bravery. The Danvilles, who all grew up together in Northern Virginia, describe their sound as a mix of Sixties Pop, Blues, Surf Rock and Old School Rock and Roll with some Rockabilly, Regga e and even a little tasteful Country thrown in for good measure. Their latest LP titled "Women", is perhaps the Bluesiest and darkest of their recordings to date, [...]
Approaching the release of his eagerly anticipated album The Politics of Envy (due out March 26th via Future Noise Music), Mark Stewart has joined forces with fellow subversive musical compatriot Bobby Gillespie and his band, Primal Scream, to release the video for his first single 'Autonomia.' I forgot to post this Mark Stewart / Bobby Gillespie video last week, so if every corner of the musical Blog-sphere is blasting out this visual freakout, my apologies for adding to the overall splendor. A quick [...]
"For San Cisco, there has been very little waiting around. The four-piece have followed their own path since emerging from Fremantle, Western Australia a few years ago. From humble beginnings of weekend jams to being nominated for a 2011 Unearthed J Award, the band have a natural chemistry, growing organically into their own mold to create their sophomore EP, Awkward". Bands seem to be getting younger these days, I have food in my freezer older than this Australian Indie four-piece. Alt-Pop harmonies and impressive song skills, catchy as hell, you`ll need neurosurgery to get the lead track [...]
Moody, dense and textured, AJA is an exploration of physical and emotional space and the real a nd imaginary divisions within it. The decision to interpret the album in full was made during a period in which the band struggled to comple te its self-titled sophomore record. With no label and mixing stalled, The Darcys were unable to track new material, instead embracing the challenge of reshaping the collective favorite and presenting it to the world as a dark, but bold declaration of self-sufficiency. "We did it because we could," the band's [...]
"Picking up from where volume 1 left off, Ska Madness 2 takes you further into late 70`s and early 80`s Two Tone Ska, Rocksteady and Reggae explosion. It features tracks which influenced the original bands and dominated dancefloors at the time. Time to get ready to do rocksteady, again". Comprehensive collection of foot tapping Ska compiled by Rhoda Dakar (The Bodysnatchers & The Special AKA). Tracks that influenced a massive UK revival in the form of Two-Tone, a style of music to calm racial indifference and reinforce inner city bonds. It`s easy to pick the old [...]
The guilty pleasure of exploring secondhand charity shops will always tempt me away from the more important things I really should be doing. Unnaturally dark, smelling of moth balls and always manned by efficient volunteers giving their valuable time to a chosen worthy cause. Records, CD's or retro clobber are my choice of purchase but I have been seen walking out of these back street establishments with a lava lamp under one arm and a string-less banjo under the other. Every so often I'm going to dedicate a few paragraphs to celebrate an album picked up for the measly cost [...]
The Girobabies are under no illusions when it comes to platinum selling records and rockstar status, their regional bluntness and utter satisfaction in digging lyrical mischief towards a cracked social system would never allow such a monstrous thought - although with a wry smile and a Glaswegian wink, they`d probably die trying. The album `Bus Stop Apocalypse` is a mad-eyed collective finding themselves through a cross section of musical influences and sheer bloody mindlessness encapsulated by a raised middle finger - A mix mash of suburban genres and glorious subcultures, the lyrical content is as calming as a Government health warning [...]
Photo Credit Taj Robinson "Situation, the debut EP from San Francisco's own Future Twin is out January 31st. The band's first studio album, this will be a coveted release of just 200 cassettes with artwork by Yukako Ezoe. Tapes will be digitally and nationally distributed throughout independent music stores". The lead track `Situation` has an intro with a gorgeous atmospheric surf twang, these dizzy heights are only topped by a vocal packed full of female fire and physical desire. An E.P. that is oddly affecting and effortlessly propulsive. "Future [...]
The romance of chilled Alt-Folk, the ultimate escape and mind recuperation for the horizontally impaired, I love this track - it`s a pure delight to hit play over and over again. Jake Davidson from Two Suns is staggering the download release of each track from the album `Dream Familiar`. All are available on a pay what you like basis through Bandcamp, the final track download is penciled in for March 7th. Full album review posted soon. "But memory's failed before, we thought for sure. This memory's fading fast, closing doors. [...]
"Holy State joined the ever expanding Brew Records roster earlier this month. The gritty post-punk merchants formed in 2008 and offer a constant array of loud & warm dynamics. Their debut full length LP and UK tour is planned for April 2012. After previous tours with Rolo Tomassi, Blood Red Shoes & being hand selected by Biffy Clyro to join them on their UK arena dates, Holy State have cemented their place in the dynamic UK music scene". With the resurgence of London`s [...]
Photo Credit Aaron Miller "Art rock band from Toronto, The Darcys have played with the likes of Deerhoof, Hollerado, Tennis and more throughout 2011 leading up to the release of their debut self-titled album October 25, 2011 on Arts & Crafts. Catch them live once again on a national US tour with Bombay Bicycle Club . What a fantastic quality freebie from The Darcys, The debut long player is packed full of soaring guitars and rolling percussion - think of a disenfranchised Coldplay or The Editors without [...]
"Available everywhere January 6, 2012 - it's Ancient River's third full-length album Let It Live! Ten new songs, 38 minutes, fast, fun, & rocking!" A quick succession of releases doesn't seem to have diluted the Florida based trio`s big bag of quality tunes.`Let It Live` is a Wah-Wah infected Garage-Rock monster, a ten track audio wonder to satisfy any musical preferences - Stoner-Rock meets the heavy clasp of Shoegaze, head spinning one moment, peacefully horizontal in another. I`m picking two tracks to post, we`ll start with the fantastic `Let`s Breed` purely because it`s head healing properties [...]
Undoubtedly you finished off 2011 with some kind of seasonal knees-up. Already missing live music? - Well start 2012 in a way you mean to go on, (no, no not looking for miracle detox remedies or impossible resolutions), Barbequtie `s back @ The Boogaloo 1st Friday of every month. Live music from 9pm and exquisitely cool DJ sets to take you through to the early hours. Bootleg Blondie has got to be worth a nostalgic New Wave high on a cold January weekend - To date, the only Blondie tribute band to play the infamous [...]
Wishing everyone a very Happy Christmas, Welcome to Part two of our delicate feel around Santa`s most prized possession - His sack. More seasonal melodies and holiday one-offs to listen/download while roasting your nuts in front of a two-bar electric fire, armed with one of those strange tasting mulled wines. First off, Dublin based Indiecater Records never fail to deliver when winter downloads are concerned. We`ve taken one track from the huge 17 track Christmas compilation from way back in 2008 and one from ` A Special Indiecater Christmas Gift ` EP released this month. The Very Most [...]
Three dates smack in the middle of the Christmas festivities, an intimate venue and arguably one of the most popular mainstream Rock`N`Roll bands the UK has ever produced. Tickets sold out in minutes, it was a gloriously sweaty affair with the 2000 capacity crowd enjoying a massive two hour greatest hits set-list. The pure ease was evident at which Kelly Jones & Co adapted to there surroundings, i`ve seen this band command the most iconic venues this country has to offer. The Royal Albert Hall gig two years ago was like standing next to a Jumbo jet taking off while [...]
MOJOPHENIA
First Aid Kit – Emmylou
Childish Gambino - "Heartbeat" (Official Music Video)
James Blake – Live Album
Mux Mool
