It’s become something of a rock journalist’s cliché, but the choice of frontman really can make or break a band. No matter how funky your bass-playing, or how fancy your guitar-strumming – the future will rest on whether Joe Public warms to your vocalist more… “Luxembourg”
An ex-girlfriend of mine loved Magnolia Electric Co. (and Songs:Ohia, Jason Molina’s previous outfit). I never understood why – where she claimed to hear beauty and heart-rending honesty all I could hear was dullard guitar almost-country with a pisspoor Neil Young impersonator whining over the top more… “Magnolia Electric Co.”
Having tried desperately to think of a suitable alternative, this debut album eventually left me with no choice.` It might sound like lazy journalism, but when it comes to the crunch Sheffield four-piece Milburn sound remarkably like a certain other Mercury-winning Yorkshire band` more… “Milburn”
If ever there was a large-scale prescribed musical cure for that pesky SAD, then it may involve pumping this light-hearted ode to sunshine and giggles over speakers nationwide. This is the Boston band’s second LP more… “Mittens”
I never make reference to the cliché-ridden, grammar resistant ineptitude that comprises most artists’ press releases, but I have to share a quote with you in the interests of irony: ‘Don’t you just hate ‘joke bands’, all that stupid unfunny double entendre and crap playing, total s***.’� more… “Naked Flames”
First impressions shouldn’t affect anything but they really do count for a lot. The sleeve of the fourth album from NSS is truly terrible – a Borat look-alike stands next to a portly man with receding hair, an open shirt (complete with handcuff necklace) and too small sunglasses. It’s a mess and doesn’t bode well for the sounds inside more… “NSS and DJ Gooch”
It’s always hard reviewing ‘�best of’ compilations, especially when the band in question have adamantly insisted that they’ll never produce one. So what changed Noel’s mind? You have to imagine that the money came into it somewhere, as this collection offers nothing new more… “Oasis”
Another curious one ‘ must be something in the water this month ‘ The Pocket Gods are obviously at their most vital when proffering the quirky, angular 90s punk of title track ‘Jombal Party’ and ‘VVBUD’ as opposed to ‘Telstar Gurl’ and ‘Weekend Revulers’ which are substandard at best more… “The Pocket Gods”
These are hardly times for a return to old-fashioned songwriting values, and even if they were we’re already swimming in disciples. So it’s difficult to see the worth of this third solo album by the New York-based artist and sometime producer Spike Priggen, in which his lifelong quest for the perfect power-pop song continues more… “Spike Priggen”
Worthwhile represents the debut work of electronic rock out?t Recoup. Renamed after a recent member reshuf?e (they used to be called Coup – get it?), the record represents their attempt to put their live performances on record. more… “ReCoup”