Tag: album review

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Review: Joyce Manor – Never Hungover Again

Joyce Manor have delivered an unpretentious belter of a record. Storming past at a breakneck nineteen minutes long, the Californian bandÔÇÖs third full-length almost ends too soon. More arty than pop-punk and more hectic than plain olÔÇÖ indie, ÔÇÿNever Hungover AgainÔÇÖ forms somewhat ironically the perfect soundtrack to days spent drinking with your buddies. Themes of regret seem to permeate the record and as frantic … Continue reading Review: Joyce Manor – Never Hungover Again

charliemock
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Review: Futurology – Manic Street Preachers

Written concurrently with last yearÔÇÖs ÔÇÿRewind the FilmÔÇÖ, itÔÇÖs more accurate to describe ÔÇÿFuturologyÔÇÖ as a counterpart than a follow-up to SeptemberÔÇÖs acoustic reflection on middle age. Indeed, a lot of the songs here give a comforting feel in contrast to the heartbreaking moments of ÔÇÿRewind the FilmÔÇÖ. The opening title track bubbles through its verses until a soothing Nicky Wire vocal ÔÇ£one day we … Continue reading Review: Futurology – Manic Street Preachers

charliemock
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Review: Jack White – Lazaretto

To some extent, you know what youÔÇÖre going to get with a Jack White record. ‘Lazaretto’, White’s second studio album, is no exception with most of the old trademarks present.┬áRaucous riffing and squealing solos? Check. Weird, jarring lyrics? Check. And, rising above it all, you get WhiteÔÇÖs signature hair raising yelp. Although, thereÔÇÖs also a marked emphasis on the mellower side of his sound, with … Continue reading Review: Jack White – Lazaretto

charliemock
Music

Review: Lana Del Rey – Ultraviolence

Inevitable pressure and expectation: the second albumÔÇÖs labelled ÔÇ£difficultÔÇØ for a reason. Despite extra EPs and deluxe editions, Lana Del Rey has greater expectation than most for her second studio album after breakthrough ÔÇÿBorn to DieÔÇÖ made her a teenage icon.┬á ÔÇÿUltraviolenceÔÇÖ has been received exceptionally well though, as the consensus seem to believe it eclipses ÔÇÿBorn to DieÔÇÖ with its newfound sleepy psychedelica. Del … Continue reading Review: Lana Del Rey – Ultraviolence

charliemock
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Album Review: Chet Faker – ‘Built On Glass’

Despite the relative rapidity of Chet FakerÔÇÖs growth in stature since dropping that ÔÇÿNo DiggityÔÇÖ cover back in 2011, the Melbournian has continued to develop on his own terms. Following recent collaborations with Flume, this debut is just the second release of FakerÔÇÖs solo career following 2012ÔÇÖs ÔÇÿThinking in TexturesÔÇÖ EP. FakerÔÇÖs love for jazz is clear from the offset, and the infectious bass line … Continue reading Album Review: Chet Faker – ‘Built On Glass’

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Album Review: Superfood – ‘MAM’

B-town four piece Superfood have released ‘Mam’ to the masses, and fans of fellow Brummie bands like Peace will fall head over heels in love with their short and sweet EP. Having supported Drenge and the aforementioned Peace on tour last year, 2014 sees the quartet hit the road with Wolf Alice in late Spring. In tow, will be their newly recorded tracks. ÔÇÿTVÔÇÖ is … Continue reading Album Review: Superfood – ‘MAM’

Tom Connick480 Comments
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Album Review: Manchester Orchestra – ‘Cope’

Most wonÔÇÖt have ever given much thought to the simple word ÔÇÿcopeÔÇÖ. Manchester Orchestra have. ÔÇÿCopeÔÇÖ explores every avenue of meaning it possesses, the simple power of one word best epitomised by the succinct branding of this album. Always lyrically strong, AtlantaÔÇÖs finest have stepped up their game with this album finalising a journey of struggles with life, death and everything in-between spanning four studio … Continue reading Album Review: Manchester Orchestra – ‘Cope’

Tom Connick1,470 Comments
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Album Review: Paolo Nutini – ‘Caustic Love’

At the end of February, Paolo Nutini released a live version of ÔÇÿIron SkyÔÇÖ on YouTube, a song from his upcoming album. It followed the pre-release of single ÔÇÿScream (Funk My Life Up)ÔÇÖ. The video, filmed in Abbey Road, showed a new maturity in NutiniÔÇÖs sound. ┬áIt was melancholic and soulful, a critique on the constraints of society. The single was critically acclaimed; even Adele … Continue reading Album Review: Paolo Nutini – ‘Caustic Love’

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Album Review: playlounge – ‘pilot’

ÔÇÿpilotÔÇÖ is the debut album from the London based duo playlounge [they like lowercase, IÔÇÖm not just being lazy ÔÇô ed]. The opening track, ÔÇÿi am a lionÔÇÖ shows you instantly what this band are about. Noise. Lots and lots of noise. Its starts the album with such enthusiasm screaming a very loud ÔÇÿHELLO WEÔÇÖRE HEREÔÇÖ but yet is so rhythmically sound it keeps you … Continue reading Album Review: playlounge – ‘pilot’

Tom Connick7 Comments
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Album Review: Johnny Foreigner – ‘You Can Do Better’

If youÔÇÖve spent the last seven years blissfully unaware of the melodic noise-pop sounds common to Johnny Foreigner records, then describing ÔÇÿYou Can Do BetterÔÇÖ as exactly what you would expect is nothing more than an empty remark. If, on the other hand, youÔÇÖve followed the band from the beginning, then you shall not be disappointed. Having admitted taking inspiration from the favourites of their … Continue reading Album Review: Johnny Foreigner – ‘You Can Do Better’

Tom Connick6 Comments
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Album Review: Sky Ferreira – ‘Night Time, My Time’

The long awaited album by Sky Ferreira has finally arrived. After four unreleased albums, it has been an arduous journey for the 21 year old in creating Night Time, My Time and the result is a raw and rocky affair. The cover artwork features a topless Ferreira standing in a shower, a deviation from the squeaky clean pop star her label wanted and this sets … Continue reading Album Review: Sky Ferreira – ‘Night Time, My Time’

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Album Review: Rodrigo Y Gabriela – ‘9 Dead Alive’

Rodrigo y Gabriela are now on their fifth album. Rodrigo Sanchez and Gabriela QuinteroÔÇÖs instrumental Mexican guitar duo have built up a promising following ever since the release of debut re-Foc in 2002, gaining a cult following after playing on the streets of Dublin, resulting in second album Rodrigo y Gabriela reaching number 1 in IrelandÔÇÖs album chart while it only reached 53 here in … Continue reading Album Review: Rodrigo Y Gabriela – ‘9 Dead Alive’

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Album Review: Band Of Skulls – ‘Himalayan’

The title of Southampton rockers Band Of Skulls’ third album is a decent starting point to describing the sound on show here. ‘Himalayan’: the riffs are towering and the rhythm section is colossal. Kicking off with ‘Asleep at the Wheel’, the lead single, guitarist and vocalist Russell Marsden howls, “Where we are going is anyone’s guess!”, before laying down a monstrous Led-Zep style guitar riff. … Continue reading Album Review: Band Of Skulls – ‘Himalayan’

Tom Connick6 Comments
Music

Album Review: Kylie Minogue – ‘Kiss Me Once’

‘Locomotion’. ‘I Should Be So Lucky’. ‘Better the Devil You Know’. ‘Spinning Around’. ‘CanÔÇÖt Get You Out of My Head’. From the beginnings of her fame as Charlene Robinson in┬áNeighbours┬áto joining┬áThe VoiceÔÇÖs judging panel earlier this year, there arenÔÇÖt many figures in pop with quite the same CV of hits as Kylie Minogue. Even after a breast cancer scare in 2005, creating enough awareness publicly … Continue reading Album Review: Kylie Minogue – ‘Kiss Me Once’

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Album Review: Wild Beasts – ‘Present Tense’

Kendal-based indie rock band and Mercury Prize nominees Wild BeastsÔÇÖ fourth album ÔÇÿPresent TenseÔÇÖ sees the light of day following a full year of studio work, after experiences of ÔÇÿburn outÔÇÖ from the two year touring cycle for previous album ÔÇÿSmotherÔÇÖ. The album title is in many ways a reflection of the style; their aim for this body of work is reflecting their identity in … Continue reading Album Review: Wild Beasts – ‘Present Tense’

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Album Review: Spring Offensive – ‘Young Animal Hearts’

ThereÔÇÖs a good chance youÔÇÖre looking at this thinking, who the bloody hell are this Spring Offensive then? DonÔÇÖt worry, youÔÇÖre not alone, but you should be. Remember when Foals were just some band from Oxford who nobody had ever heard of? Well there must be something in the water over there because theyÔÇÖve done it again. Spring OffensiveÔÇÖs ÔÇÿYoung Animal HeartsÔÇÖ is one of … Continue reading Album Review: Spring Offensive – ‘Young Animal Hearts’

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Album Review: Farao – ‘Farao’

The self-titled EP of Norweigan singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Kari Jahnsen – or Farao – is four tracks of compositions by the singer, who also plays all instruments except for drums, played by Magnus Eliassen. Claiming to take influence from Sigur Ros and Radiohead, their moods come across on this effort. ÔÇÿTell a LieÔÇÖ begins the EP, with simple acoustic guitar sequences and drum patterns┬á giving … Continue reading Album Review: Farao – ‘Farao’

Tom Connick2 Comments
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Album Review: Skaters – ‘Manhattan’

ÔÇÿManhattanÔÇÖ by New York City rock band Skaters lands into early 2014, exposing more than a sly glance to similarly Big Apple obsessed bands of recent years. ÔÇÿTo Be Young In NYCÔÇÖ is a song right on this line of thought, coming across as somewhat arrogant and indulgent, perhaps a feeling exclusive to listeners who have never had the privilege of visiting the city. In … Continue reading Album Review: Skaters – ‘Manhattan’

Tom Connick17 Comments
Music

Album Review: Little Comets – ‘The Gentle EP’

The ÔÇÿindie kitchen sinkÔÇÖ (whatever that means) Geordie trio Little Comets have certainly come a long way since their unprecedented gigs in Marks and Spencer when they burst onto the scene in 2009. While the well-known catchy tracks such as ÔÇÿDancing SongÔÇÖ and ÔÇÿOne Night In OctoberÔÇÖ continue to attract sell-out crowds to their shows, their newest release ÔÇÿThe Gentle EPÔÇÖ greatly reflects the bandÔÇÖs … Continue reading Album Review: Little Comets – ‘The Gentle EP’

Tom Connick3 Comments
Music

Album Review: Whales In Cubicles – ‘Death in the Evening’

Taking their name from Andrew Bird song ÔÇÿPlasticitiesÔÇÖ, London-based indie rock four-piece Whales in Cubicles formed in 2010. ‘Death in the Evening’, recorded at Monnow Valley Studio in Wales with producer Nick Mailing, is their full-length debut album after two years of releasing singles. Stylistically, Whales in Cubicles donÔÇÖt seem to be bringing many new things to music on this heavily 90ÔÇÖs-influenced album. Short and … Continue reading Album Review: Whales In Cubicles – ‘Death in the Evening’

Tom Connick321 Comments