Blog: 2STEPSFORWARD4STEPSBACK

Last week's album of the week, and one of my favourite things I've heard all year. Here's Justin Vernon of Bon Iver (Pronounced Bon Ee-vair) on Jools Holland's show performing 'Skinny Love'. Album review on the way. For Hope xx

So it's Sunday morning, and I'm on my break from work. I ran round the corner to get a drink and thought I may as well give an update. I've completed most of my examinations now, just 2 more to get through! One tomorrow, and the final one on Wednesday. After that I can catch up here! Expect to see reviews of albums by The Futureheads, Bon Iver, Johnny Foreigner, Tokyo Police Club, Semifinalists, Death Cab For Cutie, and hopefully more! Whilst I haven't been able to write anything here due to intense revision (!) - I have been constantly [...]

Some bands added to the Reading Line-up!! Full Lock Up Stage, Dance Arena and more bands added to the NME/Radio 1 Stage. Let me start by saying I'd like to go to see Gallows as I missed them last year but they're bound to clash with someone I like a lot more. CSS headlining the Dance Arena!? Maybe their new direction will be more electronic. Digitalism! SMD! Crystal Castles! Holy Fuck! The Whip! Some greats artists playing there on the Sunday night, I'll definitely catch as many of them as possible. Blood Red Shoes for the NME Stage [...]

Dan Le Sac and Scroobius Pip have never fit into any given pigeon-hole. After last year's modern classic 'Thouy Shalt Always Kill' some branded them a gimmick. You'd be forgiven for thinking the same - 6 months ago. But the last 3 singles should have changed your mind by now, as they have mine, dramatically. A truly original and innovative act; 1 part everyman producer with a talent crafting relentlessly catchy beats, 1 part urban poet, coming over like a rabi in a skinny tie, spitting social commentary like no-one else. Together they make up the genius behind debut 'Angles' [...]

So I'm off out to a party tonight, and what my friends and I like to do before heading off to a house party is create a killer CD to take with us. If you don't you'll be stuck with 'WIKIDHIPHOPCHUNES' all night. Call it Guerilla DJ-ing if you like, but there's nothing quite like squabbling over what would go down best in someone's living room as beer bottles are knocked over in the movement of feet on the carpet. Anyway, here's a taste of what I'm planning for tonight. RATM - Killing In The Name [...]

• Rage Against the Machine - Killing in The Name of SebastiAn

I may have come across my album of the year so far. OK hold on for a second; "where has this come from?" you may ask. I am not a Duels fan. I bought their debut 'The Bright Lights & What I Should Have Learned' back in 2006, and was pretty unimpressed. Aside from one or two tracks that hinted at something far grander, the album on the whole was very run of the mill. You know: generic 2006 British indie, very uninspiring. So what would Duels do next? The weren't big enough to be forgiven for doing [...]

Late of the Pier frontman Samuel Dust/Sam Eastgate/LA Priest/Lord Of Fortune once said that he wanted to make a music equivalent to drugs. To replace hallucinogenics and amphetamines with a sonic feeling of ecstasy without the chemicals. What an ambition. And what a single. Double A-side 'SATW' / 'Focker' hits harder and faster than anything else electronic you'll hear this year. 'Space And The Woods' is the song that first brought the band recognition and here it is again, re-recorded into euphoric technicolour magic. When that synth-line kicks it, I would go so far as to say [...]

" I'm so, I'm so distracted... " Ok. Exams are coming up fast and as much as I'd like to drop out of college to write full-time for a blog which nobody reads, I think I'm going to have to stick it out. Which means I may have to start some revision and the like. So what I'm saying is that it may be a bit quiet around here over the next few weeks. But don't fret, there's a new single review feature appearing on MFM as of this week, where the writers - including myself - have a discussion [...]

" 'Why you shouldn't sign to a major label' available in hardback! " Elle Milano are major sufferers of the corrupt and inane music industry. Releasing their flawless first EP 'Swearing's For Art Students' in early 2006, they have since received next to no recognition from critics further than excitable bloggers and awe-struck gig goers. Which may explain why 'Acres Of Dead Space Cadets' has taken so long to surface. At least now a few more people are sitting up to take notice. Only it's still not enough. It's my opinion that Elle Milano are the greatest and most talented [...]

Brighton boy-girl duo Blood Red Shoes have revealed that their name comes from a Fred Astaire Musical, in which the leading lady turns a pair of white dancing shoes red with her blood from practising so much. This is a fitting name then, as Steven Ansell and Laura-Mary Carter released their first single together in 2005. Between then and the release of their debut this week, they've thrown out a massive eight singles. And despite the setbacks that have delayed this release, the twosome have remained focused and proud - almost constantly on tour. Having caught them a [...]

It's been pretty quiet from ¡Forward, Russia! since the release of their debut 'Give Me A Wall' back in 2006. Bursting onto the music scene via guitarist Whiskas' own indie label Dance To The Radio, GMAW was a fierce statement, and a difficult album to top. Whiskas has since stepped down from running DTTR and this, their second album 'Life Processes' is released on Cooking Vinyl. Some may be uttering the dreaded "sell-out" comments, but I think it was a good move, marking a change for the band. This album is big - really big. It needs to be heard [...]

In the run up to their eagerly awaited debut, Elle Milano release a brand new song available to download for free on their myspace . 'Juliette's Dead' is striking and surreal - on an entirely different level to anything the band have produced before. All clatters and beeps, the song's haunting soundscape perfectly suits the tragically sad lyrics. It's classic Elle Milano, while sounding completely new. Don't get my wrong; I'm just about as excited as physically possible about 'Acres Of Dead Space Cadets' finally being released, but [...]

The Long Blondes are back. We think. You'll read a lot about this band making 'a departure' in some form or another. Whether they're talking about musically or geographically; TLB's have definitely moved on. The fans might think they've sold out, abandoned their roots and blablabla but I say change is good - especially in the form of ' "Couples" '. The Long Blondes were never really the same as other bands hailing from Sheffield (Milburn? Little Man Tate!??!) and even though their debut was essentially guitar-driven indie, the songs were always far smarter than that of their peers. Maybe [...]