Bringing you all the Release Reviews that matter since 1999
THE WEIGHT OF KNOWLEDGE
24 April 2006 / Demo / 5 Trk CD
:: Bangkok ::
Impressive debut from Bangkok's large collection of guitars
ALKALINE MAISONETTE EP * demo of the week *
24 April 2006 / Promo / 4 Trk CD
:: The Star Fighter Pilot ::
I was bitten by a dog in ‘ 91 - I got my face on the front of The Sun
KWANGCHOW
24 April 2006 / Poptones / 4 Trk CD :: No Style
:: King Biscuit Time ::
A taste of something bigger ? - An after-Beta-Band Steve Mason aims for space
GEORGE LASSOES THE MOON
24 April 2006 / 2 Trk CD :: Toughlove
:: Dead! Dead! Dead! ::
Widescreen manic rock with edgy vocals helps Southampton outfit shine
TYPES OF WOOD
24 April 2006 / 11 Trk CD :: Brille Records
:: Whirlwind Heat ::
Heavy yet stark stuff, from the frank, but heavy minimalist trio
DIG YOUR OWN GRAVE
24 April 2006 / Domino / 9 Trk CD / 2 Vid + 5 Live Trk DVD
:: Test Icicles ::
If Test Icicles do depart, who else will there be to dish up festering heavy metal electronica with such a feverish obsession?
BANG BANG YOU’RE DEAD
24 April 2006 / Universal / 1 Trk CD
:: Dirty Pretty Things ::
Firmly out of the shadow of his former band mates smack head riddled tabloid exploits, Borat shines brightly
FAR FROM HOME
24 April 2006 / Pias / 1 Trk CD
:: Tiga ::
Ok - so again there's more Beck Vs Scissor Sisters conventions going on, but it's bloomin' good.
WHEN IT COMES TO YOU
24 April 2006 / Warner / 5 Trk Promo :: Korova
5 Trk Promo ::
5 Trk Promo :: Korova
:: Elin Ruth ::
Not so much fjords and crystal lakes, more a case of YeeeHarr! Cowboy..
LIGHTS FROM THE WHEELHOUSE * EP Of The Week *
24 April 2006 / 4 AD / 5 Trk CD
:: The Late Cord ::
Compellling collaboration between Manchester related Earlys founder and Mich P.
DOING FINE
24 April 2006 / 2 Trk CD :: Distiller
:: Undercut ::
The Undercut have always had an ambitious sound, one bound for stadiums
PULL THE STRINGS
24 April 2006 / One Little Indian / 16 Trk CD
:: Sandy Dillon ::
Is Sandy Dillon crackers ? - weird sounds from the deep dark woods..
RECONNECT
24 April 2006 / Warner / 2 Trk CD :: Atlantic
:: Director ::
Director trade in dynamics and coursing, atmospheric rock
MISHMAOUL
24 April 2006 / Mantra / 10 Trk CD
:: Natacha Atlas ::
A commendable attempt to weave in some wider influences
YOU’RE ALL I HAVE
24 April 2006 / Universal / 1 Trk CD :: Fiction / Polydor
:: Snow Patrol ::
Snow Patrol confirm their final guise as chart placing chasers
WHY DO YOU LOVE ME?
24 April 2006 / Mate / 3 Trk CD
:: Boys Of Scandinavia ::
Boys Of Scandinavia, may just have re-invented electronic rock...
SAVE ME SINNER / BULLETPROOF
24 April 2006 / 2 Trk CD :: Positive Impact
:: They Drove Me To It ::
They Drove Me To It certainly believe that rock music is important
INTO THE GUTTER
24 April 2006 / Albert Productions / 1 Trk CD
:: The Answer ::
Blasts out like a Tommy Vance (RIP) play listed musical orgasm
AT WAR WITH THE MYSTICS
17 April 2006 / Warner / 12 Trk CD
:: The Flaming Lips ::
Disjointed, melodic, weird subject matter - yes, Coyne and co are back...
...YOUR LORD HAS FAILED
17 April 2006 / Demo / 3 Trk CD
:: Collusion ::
Don’t play it your Gran and don't look at the mugshots, but damn does this rock.
LOVE AND OTHER PLANETS
17 April 2006 / Domino / 12 Trk CD
:: Adem ::
Fridge magnate conjours up intergalactic imagery in a splendid long player
WATCH YOU DON’T TAKE OFF
17 April 2006 / Rubyworks / 11 Trk CD
:: Leya ::
Belfast four piece prove plaudits are not needed for a debut that stands up for itself
SAY AFTER ME
17 April 2006 / SonyBMG / 1 Trk CD
:: Bic Runga ::
Bic Runga may dazzle Wogan and Ross but there's a lot more to this than meets the ear
DANCE, DANCE
17 April 2006 / Universal / 1 Trk CD
:: Fall Out Boy ::
As I prepare my noose for the review of the next Feeder single...
THIS ISN’T IT
17 April 2006 / Universal / 1 Trk CD :: Giant Drag
:: Giant Drag ::
Welcome to the world of lazy, shoegazing heavy rock.
DEMO
17 April 2006 / Demo / 9 Trk CD
:: Der Bomber ::
Is the shadow of Sheffield getting too big ? - the debate begins
TIME TO FIGHT
17 April 2006 /
6 Trk CD
:: Dead Next Door ::
London effects pedal fans stir up some odd indie/goth hydird shennanigans..
SORRY * recommended *
17 April 2006 / 3 Trk CD
:: Rebus ::
Impressive outing full of internal conflict and ambivalent melodies
FIRES
17 April 2006 / 10 Trk CD :: 14th Floor
:: Nerina Pallot ::
Radio 2 rotation doesn't necessarily mean rock sterility - Pallots voice though is immediately convincing.
YES, VIRGINIA
17 April 2006 / 13 Trk CD :: The Dresden Dolls
:: The Dresden Dolls ::
Heavily made up pianist-and-drumming duo's second album fuses panto to piano punk
Hexstatic : PICK ‘N’ MIX
17 April 2006 / Sanctuary / 20 Trk CD
:: Various Artists ::
No 3D glasses this time, but plenty of tunes..
PROPER TUNNEL VISION
17 April 2006 / Demo / 10 Trk CD
:: Liner ::
Liner have already graduated from the school of Hard-Fi
ESCALADE EP
17 April 2006 / Promo / 4 Trk CDR
:: Diastole ::
From out of nowhere – Bury St. Edmunds to be precise
TROUBLE SLEEPING
17 April 2006 / Promo / 1 Trk CD
:: The Perishers ::
Weepy tales of love, let-downs and life’s unfairness, as the organ trembles to a knee quivering climax
BREAKFAST IN NYC / TRUTH OR DARE
17 April 2006 / 2 Trk 7” Vinyl :: Smalltown America
:: Oppenheimer ::
A small scale release that promises something much, much bigger
CREATED BY DESIGN
17 April 2006 / Demo / 3 Trk CD :: Urban / 3rd Precinct
:: Charlie Rose ::
Peter Kay would say... "Chiltern FM - Coming In Your Ears.."
CAN'T WALK AWAY
17 April 2006 / 3 Trk CD :: Fat Fox
:: Hey Negrita ::
Sings like he's climbing out of a deep well whilst performing band duties
RINGLEADER OF THE TORMENTORS
17 April 2006 / Sanctuary / 12 Trk CD
:: Morrissey ::
Mozzers downtrodden music peaks with an occaisionally uplifting vocal kick, scattering bleakness around, as though it were confetti
GIVE ME
17 April 2006 / 1 Trk CD : Big Deal
:: The Human Value ::
HV evoke a nostalgic feel, in the process throwing matters into a reflective vortex
DON'T LISTEN TO THE RADIO
17 April 2006 / Heavenly / 1 Trk CD
:: The Vines ::
The Vines have no telephone, but this calling card provides a positive message
FALSE DREAM
17 April 2006 / Demo / 2 Trk CD
:: No Tokyo ::
Indie dance psychedelia pop hybrids didn’t half get a bad name somewhere around the arse end of 1990 but this lot have rave rendered Kasabian’s entire career irrelevant
KERFUFFLE
17 April 2006 / 13 Trk CD :: Transgressive
:: Ladyfuzz ::
A tempting platter for those who like to give their life a damn good shake up
TREASON
17 April 2006 / Universal / 4 Trk CD :: Loog
:: The Favourite Sons ::
The highway is forgiveness when you're on your way to hell
REFORMER * joint album of the week *
10 April 2006 / Promo / 9 Trk CD/Album
:: Gabrielle's Wish ::
It'll happily start a punch-up with the rest of your record collection
QUICKBITES – OTHER RELEASES WEEKLY ROUNDUP 10.0406
10 April 2006 / Various Formats
:: Various Artists :: Bromheads Jacket Vs The Streets :: Ashley Beedle :: Gilles Peterson and Jazzanova :: Stereophonics :: Fischer Spooner ::
Weekly roundup of other releases for week beginning the 10th April 2006
NEON
10 April 2006 / Domino / 1 Trk CD
:: Clearlake ::
From Clearklake’s excellent third album “Amber”
THE ZICO CHAIN
10 April 2006 / 6 Trk CD :: Hassle
:: The Zico Chain ::
“Everyone wanted to be Baggy” and he wanted to be Lemmy
THE BLUES ARE STILL THE BLUES
10 April 2006 / Rough Trade / 1 Trk CD
:: Belle And Sebastian ::
Jaunt back in time and you’ll most probably find yourself in 1973
TRICYCLE
10 April 2006 / Domino / 2 Trk CD
:: Psapp ::
Smooth acoustics and home made mechanical sounds
BE YOUR ON PET * joint album of the week *
10 April 2006 / XL / 15 Trk CD
:: Be Your Own Pet ::
Eponymously titled album is full of angst and big, cut throat guitars
DERDANG DERDANG * recommended *
10 April 2006 / Domino / 11 Trk CD
:: Archie Bronson Outfit ::
ecorded in Nashville, Archie Bronson Outfit keep their skittery flamboyant sound, yet create a superb if not superior follow up to 'Fur'
YOU BRING ME TO MY KNEES
10 April 2006 / 2 Trk CD :: Mother Tongue
:: The Bleeding Hearts ::
Who do they think they are !!? Boyzone?
CROSSES
10 April 2006 / 2 Trk CD :: Imperial / Peacefrog
:: José González ::
Pretty, sad, with pace, his songs are lifted with a knowing sense of melody
COLLIDE
17 April 2006 / 1 Trk CD :: Sound Foundation Recordings
:: Rivals ::
Informed rock out with a sharp modern style
COLD DECEMBER
10 April 2006 / 1 Trk CD :: Brushfire
:: Matt Costa ::
J Johnson accolite with sturdy electric guitars and a stadium ethic
STICKY SITUATION
10 April 2006 / 1 Trk CD :: Bad tase
:: Danko Jones ::
Goes to war with both Rock and Roll and your ears
YOU’RE NOT SUPPOSED TO
10 April 2006 / Memphis Industries / 2 Trk Enhanced CD
:: Field Music ::
Weaves a witty, melodic work out around it’s utterly memorable chorus line
I FEEL IT
10 April 2006 / EMI / 1 Trk CD
:: Lorraine ::
Lorraine's Manchester debut was at Courtneys Wine Bar in 2003...
HALFWAY ACROSS
10 April 2006 / Eat Sleep / 1 Trk CD
:: Clayhill ::
Clayhill shuffle back with yet another impressive acoustic/electric hybrids
BLAH BLAH
10 April 2006 / Universal / 2 Trk CD
:: Lady Sovereign ::
Lady Sov silences her critics ?
SIGNAL NOISE
10 April 2006 / Dance To The Radio / 2 Trk 7” Vinyl
:: Shut Your Eyes And You'll Burst Into Flames ::
A firm statement that this kind of music won’t be restrained to the underground for long.
BUBBLEWRAPPED *recommended*
10 April 2006 / 10 Trk CD ::Ninthwave
:: Electroluvs ::
Perhaps one the best electronic outfits currently processing tunes
TWO STRIP TRAINERS / TAKING YOUR BEST MATES GIRL TO THE PICTURES
10 April 2006 / 2 Trk CD
:: The Randoms ::
Wigan quintet The Randoms have been threatening to produce something beyond their demo days
IN THE RED
10 April 2006 / 10 Trk CD :: Finest Gramaphone
:: Tina Dico ::
An album in touch with the real world with an impressive sense of how to capture her true sense of song
GUN
10 April 2006 / Demo / Demo CDR
:: Emit ::
Art rock is cordially introduced to post rock by this passionate London quartet
SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE
10 April 2006 / Demo / Demo CDR
:: The Trend ::
The kind of dramatic chord crescendos that hit a climactic minor just as the camera swoops off the edge of Vesuvius...or?
THE SOUND INSIDE
10 April 2006 / EMI / Promo:: Parlophone
:: Breaks Co-op ::
The Breaks Co-op have planted a seed of discovery
THE YEAH YEAH YEAH SONG
10 April 2006 / Warner / 1 Trk CD
:: The Flaming Lips ::
A man with burgers tied to his body is chased by very hungry overweight men
WORLD WIDE SUICIDE
10 April 2006 / SonyBMG /
1 Trk CD
:: Pearl Jam ::
Back with as much energy as those halcyon Seattle basement days
MELODIC TODAY * recommended *
10 April 2006 / Melodic / 13 Trk CD
:: Various Artists ::
A daring, effective but blindingly and progressively tasteful collection
THE HUSTLER
10 April 2006 / One Little Indian / 12 Trk CD
:: Jeff Klein ::
Brooding, moody collection that begs for a natural habitat of darkened, smokey rooms
BOTH SIDES OF THE GUN
10 April 2006 / Virgin (EMI) / 18 Trk, 2 x CD
:: Ben Harper ::
Ben Harpers sixth album splits itself in half in an interesting concept
CAPTAIN MY CAPTAIN / FRAGILE *recommended*
10 April 2006 / 2 Trk CD :: Yellow Noise
:: Quartershade ::
Clear, muscle bound statements ripe for success
STEVEN F***ING SPIELBERG
10 April 2006 / Fantastic Plastic / 3 Trk CD
:: Bearsuit ::
Bearsuit trade in sunny melodies and off the beaten track indie
APPRENTICE OF THE UNIVERSE
10 April 2006 / SonyBMG / 1 Trk CD
:: Pure Reason Revolution ::
Those bleep effects and sci-rumbling are only apparently missing the Richard Burton voice over.
THE DARK ART OF HAPPINESS
10 April 2006 / Double Dragon / 12 Trk CD
:: Ludes ::
A fun, but still pretty dangerous debut from the London five piece.
CAPITAL
10 April 2006 / 2 Trk CD ::
2 Trk CD :: Tape Recordings
:: Ghostly Man ::
Ghostly Man it seems is not here to simply fade away
REAGAN
10 April 2006 / 4 Trk CD :: Brille
:: Whirlwind Heat ::
Michigan trio know how to whip up a storm
YARD SALE
10 April 2006 / 11 Trk CD :: Believe Music
:: The Beauty Shop ::
As interesting as it is impressive, on authenticity alone.
GHOST FLIGHT
10 April 2006 / One Little Indian / 11 Trk CD
:: Robert Love ::
Like a driving a 5 litre 4x4 right through the middle of “White Ladder”
IN OUR HANDS
03 April 2006 / Rubyworks / 3 Trk CD
:: Leya ::
Leya are the latest in a long line of indie bands that mix emotional pop with guitar slung operatics
BLACKENED BLUE EYES
03 April 2006 / Sanctuary / 1 Trk CD
:: The Charlatans ::
Revisits some of the bands earlier verve and determined rock compositions
SPEECHLESS
03 April 2006 / Ministry Of Sound / 3 Trk CD
:: Mish Mash ::
Dance flavour that may be well off the beaten indie track and worth seeking out.
WHY DON’T YOU GIVE ME YOUR LOVE ?
03 April 2006 / Deltasonic / 1 Trk CD
:: The Zutons ::
Burgeoning fan support, impressive sales and expectations are high for the bands next album
GO EITHER WAY
03 April 2006 / Universal / 1 Trk CD
:: C/O/R/D ::
An impressive three minutes of alt.pop....from Norwich
BLOOD MERIDIAN
03 April 2006 / SonyBMG / 4 Trk CD
:: Hope Of The States ::
Hope Of The States return in spectacular, reinvigorated style.
THE TREATMENT
03 April 2006 / High Voltage / 2 Trk CD
:: Dead Disco ::
From Yorkshire ! More trans-Pennine sounds
AMATEUR MAN / BAN THE GIN
03 April 2006 / Fantastic Plastic / 2 Trk CD
:: The Victorian English Gentlemans Club ::
Chant, Whoop, Skitter, Crash
THE FEAR
03 April 2006 / 1 Trk CD :: Fallout
:: Exist ::
Big Scando rock sounds and a swaggering baggy stance
BLUEPRINT
03 April 2006 / 13 Trk CD Blow Up
:: The Bongolian ::
Nasser Bouzida (from Big Boss Man) chills out with a live dance vibe
LIGHT MY WAY
03 April 2006 / 3 Trk CD
:: NFD ::
Infectious, fantastic, goth rock revivalism
MISS KITTEN – A BUGGED OUT MIX – PERFCT NIGHT / DAY
03 April 2006 / 42 Trk, 2xCD
:: Various Artists ::
A discerning mix especially if you like hard, pulsating industrially tinged electronica
GRAB THAT GUN
03 April 2006 / Too Pure (Beggars) / 10 Trk CD
:: The Organ ::
Canadian indie popsters The Organ unleash a funeralistic charm offensive
ELAN VITAL *recommended*
03 April 2006 / Matador Records / 12 Trk CD
:: Pretty Girls Make Graves ::
Pretty Girls' third album is impressively different
MAKE OUR DEVILS FLOW
03 April 2006 / Fantastic Plastic / 4 Trk CD
:: The Immediate ::
The Immediate do go on to prove that they’re good at this Quiet/Loud thing
TRY THIS ON YOUR PIANO * single of the week *
03 April 2006 / 2 Trk CD
:: Foals ::
Oxford underground supergroup provide compelling and smartly delivered inspiration
EXIT MUSIC – SONGS FOR RADIO HEADS
03 April 2006 / 10 Trk CD :: BBE / Rapster
:: Various Artists ::
Aaaaaarrrgggh!
THE PEOPLE Vs VANLUSTBADER
03 April 2006 / 10 Trk CD :: Nomadic
:: Vanlustbader ::
Enjoable disgust and dirty clichéd rock that rudely blows current convention out of the window
GET GONE
03 April 2006 / 4 Trk CD :: Amazon Records
:: Czar Creek ::
Don’t forget the money, ‘cos I got no change...eh?
BETWEEN THE LINES
03 April 2006 / 2 Trk CD :: Disturbia Records
:: Lovemat ::
Psychotic but subtle original stuff
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