The Maccabees
Colour It In
Polydor
There’s nothing like a short, sharp album of spiky, guitar-driven pop songs to get you going, first thing in the morning. more… “The Maccabees”
Album reviews
The Nightingales
Out Of True
Iron Man
With an insane racket of avalanching drums, twisting twin guitar lines and colloquial, droll social commentary, the casual music fan could be forgiven for reacting to opening track ‘Born Again In Birmingham’ by asking “Who? Mark E Smith?” more… “The Nightingales”
Rocket Uppercut
The Beautiful Tragedy
...
Wading in like a two-headed slacker pop beast, Rocket Uppercut’s new album ‘The Beautiful Tragedy’ doffs its cap to the traditions of what being a young punk band entails, then headbutts you and spraypaints your backpack. more… “Rocket Uppercut”
Battles
Mirrored
Warp
Think The Mars Volta are a ‘bit poppy’ for you now? Well, If you do, in all your deranged earlobe glory, get your hands on this, the new album from barmy prog perverts Battles. more… “Battles”
Kings Of Leon
Because Of The Times
Columbia
Remember the New Rock Revolution? The boozy haze of flailing cowbells and nu-wave smack mullets which spat forth most of the best bands of the last decade? more… “Kings Of Leon”
Shiny Toy Guns
We Are Pilots
Mercury
Don’t let the fact that they’ve supported My Chemical Romance and Fall Out Boy put you off – Shiny Toy Guns are NOT an emo band. In fact, emotional engagement seems low on their priorities as far as the music is concerned. more… “Shiny Toy Guns”
Maximo Park
Our Earthly Pleasures
Warp
Their first album was so stylised that it was always going to be a nightmare to follow up, but at least Maximo Park had The Futureheads’ mistakes to learn from. more… “Maximo Park”
A Singer Must Die
Today, It’s A Wonderful Day
Grand Harmonium
They may have the ideal name for a misery-laden Emo band, but at least the title of this debut album points us away from Fall Out Boy territory. more… “A Singer Must Die”
California Snow Story
Close To The Ocean
Letterbox
With a line-up comprising two Scots (David and Alan Skirving), a Spanish vocalist (Sandra Belda Martinez) and a Japanese keyboardist (Madoka Fukushima), California Snow Story look like a peculiarly international gathering. more… “California Snow Story”
Steven Lindsay
Kite
Echo
With a number of recent alumni releasing full-length albums, it looks as if it’s only a matter of time before the Glasgow School Of Art rebrands itself as the Glasgow School Of Rock. more… “Steven Lindsay”