06 February 2008

by Rob McCrae

American Music Club, Biffy Clyro, Simple Plan, The Steeples, Reel People feat Tony Momrelle & Imaani, Alice & The Majesty, The Cavalier’s, Nothing Rhymes With Orange, Man From Michael, The Brute Chorus, Scott H Biram

"The laconic, soaring indie is in complete contrast to the band name and something of reverence and potential."

American Music Club – Decibels and The Little Pills
Crazily dull stab at some loose Americana from a band who really should have locked down a modicum of quality control amidst their lengthy time together. The vocal sounds so ponderous and sluggish it might as well be on an advert for bliss-erasing prescription drugs.

Biffy Clyro - Who’s Got A Match
We’ve been waiting so long for Biffy Clyro to clamber up the pit face and join the ranks of the successful that any new release comes with added expectation. This is a staccato fine song that won’t ostracise anyone important but still, it somehow leaves you neither downcast or in rapture.

Simple Plan – When I’m Gone
Take four/five fame-needy American males, one with a palette of tattoos and one who‘s ugly but talented musically. Tell them to play the kind of music that would sound great playing over the credits of a Mandy Moore movie dovetailing their fratboy voices with a sheen of vapid disenchantment. Then release only in America.

The Steeples – Britney’s Tears
On paper, The Steeples should be writing their own cheques and filming singles videos on opulent tour buses travelling to Den Haag. Their jangly indie has elements of Arctic Monkeys permeating its three minutes but weirdly it’s impossible to discern any personality coming through. They might as well be an anaemic Garage Band simulation on your computer.

Reel People feat Tony Momrelle & Imaani – Amazing
Hooking up with the singers from Incognito, Reel People produce a slick soul number that could play in any Denzel Washington movie you care to mention. Sure, the singing is fine but the vocal doesn’t knock you back into the wall like an Angie Stone or Jill Scott.

Alice & The Majesty – I Could Love You
London based singer songwriter Alice McLaughlin composes her songs on a canal boat and if you heard them walking the dog or graffiting the bridge in the vicinity then I imagine her dulcet, yearning voice and delicately strummed guitar would leave you pleasantly surprised.

The Cavaliers – You’re Not The Same Girl
The press release tells you that one member of the band has one testicle and although this is forty million times more interesting then the band deciding to use the “the” prefix in their band name, the music has a stroke of The Libertines about it and ominously could be worth pursuing.

Nothing Rhymes With Orange – Hospital
Nothing rhymes with purple either although such profundity doesn’t initially cleave you to a band that could have chosen something like Rocket Ship! or Young Coke Dealers as a band name. The laconic, soaring indie is in complete contrast to the band name and something of reverence and potential.

Man From Michael – Heart of Glue
This single is also available as a pint glass with a download code attached! Comprised of a Merseyside battalion of family members, fronted by the stentorian Joe McDonnell, this single feels familiar and catchy even if the single cover looks like a hideous clone nightmare.

The Brute Chorus – Chateau
Recorded for a tube fare in a cardboard box with a military drum lending the situation a structure, this is actually a tantalised song that builds effectively towards a crescendo by some showman who is more in control of his obtuse lyrical fare then you’d initially give him credit for.

Scott H Biram – Graveyard Shift
Filtered through a mired blues generator, it’s hard to dislike someone who is clearly trying to transmute his rock and roll with the early garage band sensibility of The White Stripes or The Black Keys. On his own with no discernible foil for his battered words.

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Biffy Clyro, Calexico, Manda Rin, Does It Offend You Yeah? Saint Saviour, The Eye Jab, Eric Prydz, Rex The Dog, Mystery Jets, David Holmes, Roots Manuva, Dead Letter Office, The Daniels, Sway, MGMT

25 August 2008

The Automatic, Tokyo Police Club, Holy Ghost Revival, Teddy Thompson, Cut Off Your Hands, Officer Kicks, Zoon Van Snook, Charli XCX, Thomas Tantrum, The Parlotones, Immune, The Housewives, International Trust, Laguna Meth, Anthony Reynolds

20 August 2008

Vampire Weekend, Chemical Brothers, Moby vs Freemasons, IAMX, Jon Redfern, Ali Campbell, Beck, Mason Jennings, Hello Hallelujah, The All New Adventures Of Us, Red Light Company, Olympus Mons, Grammatics, Mujava

13 August 2008

Bloc Party, 6 Day Riot, The Sketch, Shimon & Nixon, Alan Braxe ft Killa Kella & Fallon, Midnight Juggenauts, Go:Audio, The Sea, The Ryes, Get Well Soon, Mark Morriss, Jeremy Warmsley, AFD Shift, The Music

11 August 2008

Like A Thief, Esser, Delays, Phantom Limb, Pacific, Broken Records, Exit Ten, Santogold, Beth Rowley, The Futureheads

06 August 2008

Black Channels, ZZZ, We Are Scientists, The Stiff Dylans, Scouting For Girls, G. Love And Special Sauce, Projects, Si Phil Feat. HT, Absentee, Tambourines

04 August 2008

The Shortwave Set, Brigade, The Verve, Late Of The Pier, Cut Copy, Panama Kings, New Adventures, Rosabella Gregory, Das Pop, Stalkers, Little Boots, Peggy Sue And The Pictures

01 August 2008

Nick Cave, Converse, McFly, The Satin Peaches, le Sac vs Pip, The Little Ones, Oh Laura, Plump DJs, Carla Bruni, Pendulum, Levellers

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