So much for 2013 being the year for new bands – so far the biggest albums of the year have come from the old school. Bowie and Suede have led the way, and now it’s the legendary Depeche Mode’s turn to stake their claim for 2013 domination with their thirteenth studio album ‘Delta Machine’. The…
All eyes, and ears I guess, are on The Strokes new album ‘Comedown Machine’. With the band always seeming on the point of implosion, and with the spectre of the (largely unfair) critical panning of last album ‘Angles’, is this new album the moment The Strokes become irrelevant, or can they remind us all why…
Hotly tipped new Birmingham band Peace have been building up anticipation for their debut album nicely over the past few months – and are well placed to take on the mantle of ‘next big thing’. All they need now is a good debut album! If their much vaunted ‘Delicious’ EP and early singles ‘Wraith’ and…
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – ‘Specter At The Feast’ {rating} Buy: Specter At The Feast Before we begin, let me make it clear that I’m a big fan of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – and even have the lovingly curated Spotify playlist to prove it (suggestions welcome!) But it has to be said that with…
The Vaccines – What Did You Expect From The Vaccines? Back in the day, the age-old music press cycle of ‘build ’em up, knock ’em down’ gave young and naïve bands the chance to at least get to their second album before they were ruthlessly chucked on the scrap heap. Nowadays, this process is all…
Suede – Bloodsports {rating} Buy: Bloodsports Coming more than a decade after their career destroying fifth album A New Morning, and having to compete for attention with a certain other ‘comeback’ album – the question on cynical lips when Bloodsports was announced was ‘do we really need another Suede album?’ While it’s an easy judgement…
The Mars Volta – Noctourniquet [rating:4.5/5] Buy Noctourniquet To many At The Drive-In fans (me included) The Mars Volta have always been the sideshow to the main event. Past albums have seen Cedric and Omar unleash their proggy and indulgent sides away from the restraints and pressures of the massively popular post-hardcore of At The…
Although many of their early fans may have moved on, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club can still be depended upon for a bit of stomping blues-rock action. The fact that they’ve been hit by bad luck and tragedy throughout their career just makes them even easier to root for. Specter At The Feast is Black Rebel’s…
Everyone’s favourite glam Britpoppers Suede are back with their new album Bloodsports – and before it is released next week they are streaming it in full online. The album boasts all the elements that made Suede great back in their heyday – glam guitars, melodic synths, massive choruses and Brett Anderson’s distinctive vocals. Listen to Bloodsports in…
Hurts – Exile {rating} Buy: Exile When they burst onto the scene a few years ago, all fully formed with sharp synth-pop tunes and even sharper tailoring, Manchester duo Hurts seemed set to dominate the pop landscape. For some reason, though, that didn’t happen. Despite songs like ‘Better Than Love’, ‘Wonderful Life’ and ‘Stay’ being…
