We've listed singles/EPs/demos in order of star rating. Best first.
PAOLO NUTINI Coming Up Easy (Atlantic)
Paolo Nutini's star is on the rise and this single 'Coming Up Easy' is the kind
of slice of timeless soul that is surely destined for the Radio 2 play list.
Paolo has the kind of sensual voice that finds its antecedents
in Bill Withers and Marvin Gaye. His unhurried, expressive, rich vocal phrasing
gradually works towards a climactic horn led outro.
The radical shift in tempo comes as something of a surprise
after such a relaxed opening but Paolo has that ability of all great soul
singers to shift effortlessly up the register at the drop of hat.
He bides his time, unveils his narrative and weaves his way
around his lyrics delivering little vocal inflections, occasional elongated
vowels and finds the perfect foil in a cool horn arrangement on what is simply a
great single. *****
Review by Pete Feenstra
ALFONZO Blind As Faith
www.myspace.com/alfonzomusic
Blind As Faith is a cracking
blues rock tune with a modern feel. Sounds like the Stereophonics with a decent
guitarist.
There is also an instrumental ‘What’s Happening’
although this sounds more like the sort of workout bands do to warm up at
soundchecks and not a tune you would be playing a lot. ****½
Review by Jason Ritchie
MADNESS Sugar & Spice (Lucky Seven)
I'm not sure who actually buys pop singles anymore, but it's a sure bet that
those that do will probably snap up this chart bound Madness effort.
Much like Ray Davies’ rose tinted reflections of a London long
gone, Madness mine the same social milieu albeit via a tale of a failed
relationship. But while the lyrics might have a prevailing depressing feeling
there’s enough of a catchy melody line and Suggs’s almost detached narration to
make it their best effort for some time.
Everything is familiar here and that’s probably because after a
spell on the sidelines the band has once gain hit form. That is to say there’s
nothing new, but rather a slightly different (very slight at that) take on the
old Madness formula, right down to the ascending piano line, and hook delivered
by Suggs in his world weary voice.
And in truth the micro cultural references in a simple
relationship story is the perfect stuff for making your morning coffee at
breakfast. Nothing too taxing, but just the right side of commercial to bring
Madness back into the mainstream with not so much a bang as a gentle splash.
****
Review by Pete Feenstra
TWIN ATLANTIC You're Turning Into John Wayne
Hot on the heels of their recent free download single Lightspeed, Glasgow's
finest new export release their mini-album Vivarium's first proper single You're
Turning Into John Wayne.
It's like Biffy Clyro have met up with the Pet Shop Boys for a songwriting
session and get the Proclaimers in to do vocals. The synths get trashed in the
ensuing melee, and Chris Tennant emerges with a bloody nose from a Glasgow kiss,
but the pop sensibilities shine through.
You're Turning Into John Wayne can only enhance Twin Atlantic's growing
reputation as a force to be reckoned with. ****
Review
by Pete Whalley
THE LANCASHIRE HOTPOTS The Beer
Olympics
(Townsend Records)
Just in case you haven’t yet come across
this humorous bunch of Lancastrians yet, The Lancashire Hot Pots are a regional
success, that is north of Watford Gap. And with a line-up that includes band
members with names like Bernard Thresher, Dickie Ticker, Bob Wriggles and Willie
Eckerslike who sing their funny lyrics in broad Lancastrian, they might find it
difficult to maintain their current upward momentum.
With tales
about ‘The Beer Olympics’ and ‘Mek Us A Brew’ (a defense of the English national
brew currently under fire from various exotic sounding coffees), the band’s
lyrics are not short of irony, wit and at times perceptive humorous takes on
popular culture. But as is the case with the final track here ‘Egg’, the joke
can only last so long as the band milk a range of mundane subjects that by
degrees become less compelling.
For like the novelty records
made all those years ago by Rolf Harris and Benny Hill, the market for ‘comedy’
records remains limited, even if some of it is as good as that served up by The
Lancashire Hotpots. ****
Review by Pete Feenstra
THE BLACK BOX REVELATION I Think I Like You (T4Tunes)
Belgian band The Black Box Revelation are about to release new single 'I Think I
Like You'. Three and a half minutes of sleaze-induced pop rock that comes across
like the bastard love child of The Backyard Babies and Oasis, with its bombastic
drums and big guitars- I can guarantee that you will be humming it for days.
The band are currently playing at festivals across Europe and release new album
'Set Your Head On Fire' soon. ****
Review by Nikk
Gunns
LIGHTNING SEEDS Don't Walk On By
Written and produced by Ian Broudie, Don't Walk On By is immediately
recognisable as Lightning Seeds.
3 minutes 33 seconds of perfect pop. Am impossibly catchy melody and Ian's
trademark songwriting and vocals. It's like they've never been away. With clever
and catchy use of staccato strings, it's the sound of summer and hit singles.
Compulsive, and almost certain to feature on a revamped 'Greatest Hits' at some
future date. ***½
Review by Pete Whalley
BIFFY CLYRO That Golden Rule
To coincide with the announcement of a November UK tour, Biffy release the
first single from their forthcoming - as yet untitled - follow up to the
acclaimed Puzzle. Hard to believe it - because the band never seem to have been
away - but Puzzle was released 2 years ago.
That Golden Rule also follows 12 months on the heels of the band's last (stand
alone) single Mountains - their biggest selling chart success to date which
entered the top 5 and sold over 100,000 copies.
The band's new album will be again be produced by Puzzle producer GGGarth
Richardson (Rage Against The Machine, Red Hot Chili Peppers) and the good news
is that That Golden Rule is Biffy doing what Biffy do well. And that's being
Biffy.
There's a single edit and full length version, although the edit only shaves a
mere 25 seconds off a number that bears all the expected Biffy hallmarks of
heavy angular rock graced by string time changes so successfully deployed on
Puzzle. Bring it on. ***½
Review by Pete Whalley
ZENYTH Fall EP
Fall, the lead and title track from this EP sounds incredibly familiar. But no
matter how hard I scratch the itch, I'm buggered if I can put my finger on
exactly who it sounds like. Maybe it will come to me in time. But it's an
excellent pop / rock song from this Cardiff based band.
Formed in 2004 and heralded as one of the top university bands, Zenyth were
nominated as one of the best unsigned acts of 2007. And this 5 track EP
demonstrates just why. Excellent song writing, strong melodies, and great
vocals. And they walk that fine line called 'credibility' that divides pop from
rock with a confident swagger.
Just what they are putting in the water in South Wales remains a mystery. But
whatever it is, keep drinking it guys. A band to watch. ***½
Review by Pete Whalley
MIRRORKICKS Turning Up
Although they've been around for a while - in various bands, and in various
incarnations, it's only relatively recently that London based Mirrorkicks have
started to get it together.
2008 saw them enter the studio, and Turning Up is an excellent piece of pop /
rock - not a million miles away from a The Cars for the new decade. With a My
Best Friend's Girl bass line, but supplemented with a big chorus and some chunky
riffs, it's a neat piece of pop / rock crossover. ***
Review by Pete Whalley
AN OCEAN BETWEEN US Drowning EP
Drowning is the self financed 5 track debut EP from the latest Italian Metal
hopefuls An Ocean Between Us. And they've got a couple of unique selling points.
Firstly, they've added a melodic twist to their fast and heavy metal riffs.
Secondly, they've got two girls in the band - Kla on vocals and, more
surprisingly perhaps, Nene on guitar.
The line-up is completed by Dan on lead guitar, Joseph on bass, and Mureo on
drums.
It's all fairly feisty stuff that should appeal to fans of the genre - plenty of
speedy licks and riffs, edgy vocals from Kla, and angry primeval choruses that
sound like a renegade band of orcs baying for fresh hobbit bones.
Powerful, punchy and raw. ***
Review by Pete Whalley
AARON CAREY The Scene
Aaron - who, during daylight hours masquerades as the technician in the Music
Department at the University of York - isn't enamored with the current music
scene. Not the music, not the lyrics, and certainly not the faux Cockney
accents.
And so, on The Scene he vents his spleen, with a carefully constructed satirical
critique of the genre. Three decades ago it would have had us rolling in the
aisles as a Not The Nine O'Clock News sketch, and a decade before that, the
Barron Knights could have easily added it to their set list.
But now, it's a little to close to the truth for comfort. A sadly accurate
sideswipe. ***
Review by Pete Whalley
JADED PLAYBOY Broken Heartland EP
Edinburgh based Jaded Playboy are 3 local lads and a Sassenach in the form of
English vocalist Scott. The boys play 'a dark melodic blend of rock and punk'.
But that perhaps undersells Jaded Playboy, yes they have the energy of punk, but
it's well channelled into a feisty melodic rock vein that has distinct echoes of
REM. Especially on the opening tracks Lost Inside and Hero To Zero.
If anything the EP gets better the further you delve. And of the 4 tracks, it's
perhaps the final, and title track - Broken Heartland - which is the best.
An acoustic gem with haunting vocals that would grace any Michael Stripe set.
***
Review by Pete Whalley
THE BRINK One Night Only EP
Formed in 2007 and with commercial rock influences such as Bon Jovi, Queen,
Fallout Boy, All American Rejects, and Aerosmith, the lead track I Know, on this
second EP by London based 5 piece, The Brink, has a distinct Elton John song
construction with young Steve Tyler style vocals. It also references The Eagles
in the vocal harmonies and Thin Lizzy in the choral guitar sound.
So it's pretty clear what these guy's roots are. Classic commercial rock. The
title track comes on with a heavy blues rock groove, again with Aerosmith
overtones, while I Want It has clear Ram Jam Black Betty reference points. It's
strange to hear a young English band playing clean cut melodic AOR that would be
so well suited to American FM radio.
It all seems strangely out of time, but hey - it's better than all that indie sh**e!
***
Review by Pete Whalley
SWEETHEAD The Great Disruptors
Named after a Bowie B-side, Sweethead is a side project from Queen's Of The
Stone Age guitarist Troy Van Leeuwen. Teaming up with the voluptuous Serina
Simms on vocals, Norm Block on drums and Eddie Nappi on bass, the band serve up
a wonderfully loose slice of LA sleaze.
The opening track has a hypnotic and almost 1970's feel about it, and while
entirely unrelated, Simms vocals on the chorus reminds of Sonja Kristina's
delivery on Curved Air's Back Street Love.
Produced by Troy, The Great Disruptors EP gives a terrific 5 track taster of the
band's forthcoming debut album. The publicity blurb describes it as being all
rock and roll swagger - like a night out on Hollywood Boulevard with a Jack and
Coke in your hand.
And with a sound like a cross between the Stooges and the Garbage, I simply
can't disagree. Addictive and strangely compulsive. ***
Review by Pete Whalley
STEPHEN DALE PETIT As The Years Go Passing By
333 Records
Stephen Dale Petit is something of an enigma. At times he appears to be trying
to hard to break into a blues scene that requires the opposite of the hard sell.
In short you can’t become a legend until you’ve done your time or you turn out
to be a song writer of the calibre of Robert Cray.
At the very least a blues cover originally popularised by definitive versions by
both Albert King and Fenton Robinson demands a vocal performance full of warmth,
feel real and emotion.
For as Stephen Dale Petit demonstrates although it is possible to rearrange a
song to fit your conception of contemporary you can’t escape the need to express
the meaning of the lyrics.
Unfortunately the production side wins out here. So while Stephen just about
finds room for a forceful solo, no amount of powerful bv’s or lush string
arrangements will give you that elusive USP, unless you really do have the old
school ability to express your feelings in the blues genre.
Unfortunately on this grandly produced, curiously arranged single, he does
neither; On the one hand the cod 70’s ELO style strings sound far too busy while
SDP’s bruising vocal style overlooks feeling for bluster and as a consequence
the result is more suited to a hard rock audience than blues. And that being the
case it’s not hard enough for the rock crowd and not bluesy enough for the
die-hards. ***
Review by Pete Feenstra
TRIAL Prism
www.myspace.com/trialmusic
Trial are described as classic rock meets alternative although I’d personally go
for catchy indie rock, not much 70’s or 80’s rock more like Biffy Clyro although
not quite as good as them. Worth a spin and enough on this song to want you to
investigate their upcoming debut album further. ***
Review by Jason Ritchie
CHEMICAL WIRE Bees
Portuguese rock. Really. You heard it first here at GRTR!
Chemical Wire are a quirky rock / indie / punk three piece - Pedro Pires (drums
and vocals), Pedro Melo (bass and vocals) and Davide Lobao (guitars and vocals).
Bees opens with a really nice melody, then about a minute in, the pace quickens
and anarchy breaks out with angular rhythms, power chords and general chaos. The
b/side Lovely Modern Sadness equally demonstrates the band's accomplished
playing and fusion of styles. Think Biffy Clyro on an Easyjet Algarve holiday.
It just goes to show that rock truly knows no boundaries these days. But it's
hard to imagine Ronaldo listening to Chemical Wire while he's showboating around
Vale De Lobo in his Ferrari. The band will be touring the UK early in 2010.
***
Review by Pete Whalley
MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK Departure EP
On this short 3 track ep - a teaser for their forthcoming debut album The
Shapes We Fear Are Of Our Own - Motion Picture Soundtrack deliver their own take
on 80s shoegaze.
Produced by Hugh Jones (Echo and The Bunnymen) and Dan Austin (Doves), Departure
is an impressive debut. Almost a cross between Duran Duran / Ultravox and The
Editors - an expansive soundscape, soaring melodies and haunting vocals.
The band's Myspace page describes their sound as 'at times gentle, at others
fiercely driven, the result is uplifting, yet realistic, euphoric and
beautiful'. It's rare that hype = reality. But on this occasion I can only
concur. ***
Review by Pete Whalley
PAUL KLEFF Machined EP
www.paulkleffmusic.com
Paul Kleff has evidently been hiding his light under a bushel for some years.
The press release says it all really, he has over 20 years experience as a
musician based in Michigan, USA and "has helped hundreds of students reach their
musical goals".
Kleff is a competent guitarist but this EP is - frankly - average, only lifted
by the two tracks with vocalist Jerry Keyzer which may suggest Kleff is better
in a band context. But there's something lacking in the production, too.
The standout track 'Dead Line' should really rock out on the chorus - and Kleff
should milk the solo for all its worth - but it delivers the musical equivalent
of brewer's droop. 'As If...' is the best of the instrumentals with a compulsive
piano motif, but nothing really earth-shattering.
It's a competitive world out there with many new kids on blocks, and I'm afraid
Kleff's guitar doesn't really set the world on fire. Like many of his
generation, technically competent but lacking the touch of originality or spark
present in his early influences, Van Halen, Malmsteen and Lynch who were - at
that time - half his age. Back to those guitar classes, then. ***
Review by David Randall
CUDDLY SHARK The Sheriff Of Aspen Bay
Trust me, there's nothing cuddly about Glasgow's finest art-school punks
Cuddly Shark.
More musically accomplished than their genre forefathers, the three piece Colin
Reid (guitar and vocals), Ruth Forsyth (bass and vocals) and Jason Sinclair
(drums and vocals), nevertheless have all the vibrancy and immediacy of a bag of
angry wasps.
Think The Sex Pistols meet Biffy Clyro and throw a few Zeppelin riffs into the
chaos and you won't be far wide of the mark. The two exclusive b-sides - the
folksy Cuddly Jim, and Neil Diamond's Cherry Cherry demonstrate the band's
dexterity.
But overall it's hard not to be impressed by the band's boundless gusto. ***
Review by Pete Whalley
DAWN LANDES Romeo
Much of her previous output has been 'quirky' Americana, but if the signals
sent by this single are correct, Dawn Landes is about to cross over to the
mainstream.
Romeo, the lead single form her forthcoming album Sweet Hear Rodeo is a pleasant
little ditty at the more commercial end of Dawn's writing. And if anything, her
vocals are more captivating that on same of her previous releases.
But it's the b-side, Wire, that is the more immediate and could well see Dawn
take over the country cut-over ground once occupied so successfully by the likes
of Shawn Colvin. ***
Review by Pete Whalley
TWIN ATLANTIC Lightspeed
You don't need to hear more than vocal lines to know that Glasgow's Twin
Atlantic are from north of Hadrian's Wall. Glasgow, to be specific.
With support slots to Biffy Clyro and Smashing Pumpkins already under their
belt, the band are being touted as 'one to watch' in 2009. And on the evidence
here - Proclaimers meet Biffy in dark alley - and in particular, the acoustic
version - Twin Atlantic could well be the next band to emerge from north of the
border
Available as a free download at www.TwinAtlantic.com for a limited period in
advance of the release of the band's forthcoming mini-album Vivarium. ***
Review by Pete Whalley
exlovers You Forget So
Easily
The latest 5 track EP from exlovers - an indie / pop / alternative band who
serve up a dreamy pop laced with boy-girl vocals that has a laid back 1960's San
Francisco retro flower power feel.
The set was recorded with Stephen Street (Smiths, Blur, Pete Doherty) who
approached the band after seeing them support Doherty at an NME Awards show.
The band continues to deliver their trademark boy-girl harmonies laced gentle
acoustic based indie-pop. It makes a pleasant change from the 'shouty' post punk
indie genre. With their dreamy musings, there's yet again a distinct Lennon /
Beatles connection - in particular on New Years Day and The Moon Has Spoken.
***
Review by Pete Whalley
AVIV
GEFFEN It Was Meant To Be A Love Song
Aviv is, as the saying goes, 'big in Israel'. With over 2.5 million sales
under his belt, bigger, in fact, than global stars such as U2 and Madonna.
It Was Meant To Be A Love Song paves the way for his eponymous, first English
language album. A hit? Difficult to tell. It's full of 1980 synths - a Kraftwerk
like rhythm overlaid with nice vocal melodies and a big hook - a la Depeche
Mode.
If it was released in the Eighties, it would have been Top 10 material. No
question. Now, who knows? It's good, but it could be a case of wrong place,
wrong time. Unless, that is, it surfs the current wave of nostalgia. ***
Review by Pete Whalley
NOT ADVISED Fight For This
More shouty, post punk speed pop - rock from Hampshire 5-piece based
pop-rockers Not Advised.
A Red Light Situation - the opening track from this 6 track EP sets the standard
for all that follows - shouty NME vocals, big guitars, big choruses, big hooks.
My difficulty with the genre - and with apologies to those who live and love it
- is that all the bands sound much the same.
That said Not Advised do a damn good job of it and they're up there with the
best of the bunch. Foot tapping in the extreme. Pick of the bunch - The A.R.K.
***
Review by Pete Whalley
RAZORBLADEKISSES Ballerina / The Butterfly
Neat name for goth/rock RazorBladeKisses, formed in 2000 by Persian
vocalists Layla and Azadeh.
With an intoxicating mix of rock, goth, opera and eastern promise, the girls are
a darker, more mysterious version of Shakespears Sister. With strong harmonies
and sweet, yet seductive and edgy vocals, it's easy to see why the band is
developing quite a following on the goth circle.
Ballerina has a chilling operatic storyline accompanied by chilling strings and
a chorus of 'I want to make you scream', while the use of a spoken passage
from the poem 'This Bird Is Going To Die' adds a subtle air of sexuality to The
Butterfly. ***
Review by Pete Whalley
MERETTO Devotion
Taken from the band's forthcoming Street Talking album, and produced by Dan
Swift (Snow Patrol, Biffy Clyro and Aqualung), Devotion is the latest single
from London based Maretto formed in 2003 in Reading by key members Stu Bell
(guitar / vocals) and Matt Burgess (bass / vocals).
The 3 track single, including Caesium Baby and A Kiss is well structured post
Clash pop rock, band delivered in a jaunty and captivating manner. A cut above
the average, and veering towards classic rock (the band's debut album was
produced by John Mitchell of It Bites), Meretto could easily hit a nerve with
the record buying public. ***
Review by Pete Whalley
FULL SCREAM AHEAD We Write Our Own Anthems
Formed as recently as 2008, this 6 track EP is a great little taster for
Full Scream Ahead - a four piece, southwest based, pop rock band.
Having got positive reviews from the likes of NME and Kerrang, it would be easy
for a 'classic' rock site to be skeptical of the arrival of yet another band
that plays manic pop with big hooks and big choruses. And let's face it, there's
plenty to choose from.
But Full Scream Ahead are going to be chasing down the leaders of the pack -
with great songs, and great vocals (Justin Percival has distinct Fergal Sharkey
overtones) and just a little bit more 'rock' and variety than some of their
rivals I'd be amazed if they didn't rapidly rise up the pecking order.
And If you can't wait, all 6 tracks, plus a cover of Lady Gaga's Pokerface can
be found now on the band's Myspace page. ***
Review by
Pete Whalley
MEGAN HENWOOD What Elliot Said/Shape &
Colour
Redemption Records
www.myspace.com/meganhenwood
For this, a BBC Radio 2 Young
Folk Award Winner 2009, I don my acoustic guitar, table and strings to write for
Get Ready To Not Rock.
Lovely voice, melodic picking backed up by strings, oboe. A little dreary, but
decent enough. But this has as much place on GRTR! as the spots on my bottom.
**½
Review by Joe Geesin
CHICKENHAWK A.Or Not EP
Chickenhawk - Paul Michael Astick (vocals / guitar), Robert James Stepehns
(guitar), Ryan Thomas Clark (bass) and Mathew John Reid (drums) - are part of
Leeds growing experimental rock scene.
And that's an angry scene - hard, angular, violent rock, shared with bands like
That Fucking Tank, Pulled Apart By Horses and These Monsters. The band's sound
is like punk prog. And they make uncomfortable bed fellows. More time changes
than the British Medical Council's recommended number of safe body piercings,
and with the anger of a punk who's just been called a 'poof'. This is musical
carnage.
The lead track is called 'I Hate This Do You Like It?' Sorry guys, the answer's
simple - 'no'. **
Review by Pete Whalley
KILK KAN Don't Panic/Who Broke Susan Boyle (Blang)
Fuzzy guitar pop cum punky rock'n'roll stripped down. Too fuzzy / distorted. And
tuneless. “Don't panic I'm only Islamic” ha ha ha ha.
The second track is a poor one man and a guitar trying to be clever.
If this is the future, everybody panic. **
Review by
Joe Geesin
WE THE FACELESS Isle Of Dogs / Hollow
www.myspace.com/wethefaceless
Mix of doomy gothic guitars, screams, hardcore grunge, and a cement mixer. About
as noisy, and pleasurable, as living on the M1 central reservation and within
the Heathrow flight path at the same time, with the finesse of a ballet dancing
elephant. The second track is amateurish acoustic grunge. *½
Review by Joe Geesin
PAUL HAWKINS & THEE AWKWARD
SILENCES I’ve Had My Fun
A pretty tuneless track with a
strong rhythm. Bit of an indie pop racket actually.
Yes I’ve had my fun and it’s not this, so I’m off to write for Get Ready To
Maverick Pop, where bands clearly have no clue as to the media they’re sending
this shite to. And seven minutes is far too long for a single even if it isn’t
as bollocks as this. It stopped me getting to the second track. *
Review by Joe Geesin
THE MISSION DISTRICT So Over You (Relentless)
Pure Pop. Uptempo keyboard led, drum machines at the ready. A mix of early 80s
new wave pop (Depeche Mode et al), Pet Shop Boys, New Order and 00’s electronic
disco (BWO). And as a bonus, there’s an instrumental version.
I’m sure this has a market, but not here. A gay nightclub maybe? Whoever thought
anyone at GRTR! would give this a score or a second listen seriously needs to
wake up. Painful and nauseating. *
Review by Joe Geesin
STOP EJECT The Retirement Of
Intelsat 3R / I Am A Social Network
www.myspace.com/stopejectmusic
Guitar indie that’s a mix of
post punk, new wave and gothic.
This sounds like a demo of the first rehearsal of the first song a bunch of
teenagers have cobbled together.
P/5
P = Particularly pants and poor.
Review by Joe Geesin
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