In a word: Colourful
Tuesday, 27 October 2009
Sunday, 18 October 2009
SINGLE: 'Virgins' by The Chapman Family
Release Date: 19/10/09
Can be heard at: www.myspace.com/thechapmanfamily
Another in the recently fruitful line of pretty good bands from the North-East, Stockton-on-Tees’ The Chapman Family succeed where recent efforts from Maximo Park and The Futureheads have failed: this track oozes balls. Building on the visceral explosion of previous single ‘Kids’, on ‘Virgins’ the band marry the familiar bludgeoning drums and wailing wall-of-sound guitars to dangerous hints of melody and more dynamic vocals. This is a song which sounds good enough on the stereo, but will surely sound fantastic live – you can well imagine an army of teenagers and twenty-somethings with their fists in the air, replicating the perfectly placed chorus kiss-off “I don’t think I like what you’ve become” word for word.
By contrast, second track ‘Good Times’ is a fairly sombre affair, sounding like a lazy cast-off from the recent Twilight Sad record, and should remain firmly in the ‘forgotten b-sides’ category. Nonetheless, on the strength of ‘Virgins’, The Chapman Family should expect to please existing fans and turn the heads of a growing number of listeners.
Can be heard at: www.myspace.com/thechapmanfamily
Another in the recently fruitful line of pretty good bands from the North-East, Stockton-on-Tees’ The Chapman Family succeed where recent efforts from Maximo Park and The Futureheads have failed: this track oozes balls. Building on the visceral explosion of previous single ‘Kids’, on ‘Virgins’ the band marry the familiar bludgeoning drums and wailing wall-of-sound guitars to dangerous hints of melody and more dynamic vocals. This is a song which sounds good enough on the stereo, but will surely sound fantastic live – you can well imagine an army of teenagers and twenty-somethings with their fists in the air, replicating the perfectly placed chorus kiss-off “I don’t think I like what you’ve become” word for word.
By contrast, second track ‘Good Times’ is a fairly sombre affair, sounding like a lazy cast-off from the recent Twilight Sad record, and should remain firmly in the ‘forgotten b-sides’ category. Nonetheless, on the strength of ‘Virgins’, The Chapman Family should expect to please existing fans and turn the heads of a growing number of listeners.
Rating: 3.5/5
Saturday, 10 October 2009
SINGLE - 'Bang/Last Dance' by The Raveonettes
Release Date: 12/10/09Can be heard at: www.myspace.com/theraveonettes
The Raveonettes are one of those bands who have often featured on highly tipped lists, lauded by various elements of the music press, but have largely failed to progress beyond the second division of indiedom.
Based on the evidence of this double A-side single, it pretty easy to see why. Both songs deliver the same simple, fuzzy pop in the vein of the more woebegone end of the Jesus and Mary Chain back catalogue that Raveonettes fans will be accustomed to, but neither ‘Last Dance’ or ‘Bang!’ (decorated with a laughably underserved exclamation mark) ever move out of a lethargic, uninspiring second gear.
Based on the evidence of this double A-side single, it pretty easy to see why. Both songs deliver the same simple, fuzzy pop in the vein of the more woebegone end of the Jesus and Mary Chain back catalogue that Raveonettes fans will be accustomed to, but neither ‘Last Dance’ or ‘Bang!’ (decorated with a laughably underserved exclamation mark) ever move out of a lethargic, uninspiring second gear.
Whereas earlier efforts from the Raveonettes often had darker undertones, nothing of the like is present here. Both tracks are syrupy to the point of irritation, with jaded lyrics – such as “if this is the last dance then save it for me baby” – delivered in the standard Scandinavian-tinged English. The melodies may be sweet but are completely predictable and, despite gratuitous repetition, ultimately (or mercifully) forgettable. In short, this effort is probably best summed up by guitarist/vocalist Sune Rose Wagner – according to him this single finds the Raveonettes “not giving a shit”. Be warned: it shows.
Rating: 1.5/5
Tuesday, 6 October 2009
LIVE: The Maccabees @ 02 Academy, Brixton
In a word: Friendly
The Maccabees LIVE @ 02 Academy, Brixton - Review at God is in the TV
Thursday, 1 October 2009
Wednesday, 30 September 2009
Thursday, 24 September 2009
E.P.: "The Most Powerful E.P. in the Universe" by Dinosaur Pile-Up
Can be heard at... www.myspace.com/dinosaurpileup
Likely to appeal to...
Those who long for the halcyon days when ‘cool’ meant clothes could be baggy and hair unkempt
Those who long for the halcyon days when ‘cool’ meant clothes could be baggy and hair unkempt
Review...
Long hair? Check. Plaid shirts? Check. Crunching guitars? Check. Odd looking drummer? Check. Thanks to these attributes, Dinosaur Pile-Up are likely to make (and indeed already have had) poorly informed music critics mention them in the same breath as a certain Nirvana. This is perhaps an understandable reaction given the recent resurgence, or at least re-emergence, of the Pixies, Alice in Chains and Pearl Jam. Coupled with the refusal of Chris Cornell to go away this leaves only a Nirvana-shaped hole where grunge used to exist.