Sebadoh - The Freed Man (Domino) 25/06/2007

N: I feel quite content that I got to see Lou Barlow with Dinosaur Jr. when I caught them on the "Rollercoaster" tour back in '93 or thereabouts. Sebadon, however, were always one of those anomalies that I didn't catch on to straight away. I think it was "Flame" that became the wake up call. The dirtiness of this work is great, an album albeit reissued, running at 79 minutes and with 52 tracks really is something else. Very absorbed, yet an album here the listener can fel involved.

T: Do you not think it becomes a little too deliberately tuneless at times though, to the point of sounding a bit irritating? I admit that I like several tunes here, but there have been quite a few occasions where it just sounds like Sebadoh have got bored halfway through the track and not bothered to take it anywhere. It's like they weren't sure where to go with it. My summary is that it's ok in small doses, but I think if I had to listen to this all the way through, it wouldn't be long before I hurled it out of the car window.

N: I think that this lo-fi collection of songs fits exactly the incarnation of the bedroom guitarist, a haze of questionable smoke reeling from the absorbed musician's direction. In a sanitised world, this would never make buyers attention until long after their passing. 6/10

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Jetplane Landing - Backlash Cop (Smalltown America) 18/06/2007

T: Following two tremendous albums was never going to be easy, but somehow JPL have achieved a hat trick of beautifuly diverse and exciting long players. This time around the band seems to have metamorphed into some kind of hybrid of Rage Against The Machine and the Climax Blues Band, with the rhythm section getting some kind of an uber-funk workout. Many of the tracks on the band's latest album utilise a cowbell, which is refreshing in itself, and the whole thing is a little confusing, seeming to focus mainly on the themes of jazz, soul and...er...boxing. But what the hell, I like to be confused. What still shines through on this album is the group's ability to write a knockout, killer hook, as witnessed on the ridiculously fantastic "Why Do They Never Play Les Savy Fav On The Radio?", the short but sweet "Jefferson Used The Claw" or the charmingly named "Dizzy Gillespie For President"!

N: I think from listening to the first track you played, "Why Do They Never Play Les Savy Fav On The Radio?", Andrew and his crew have swallowed a phat pill and come over all Beastie Boys. No bad thing though. The bicycle wasn't broken to start with, but in the creativity stakes that shouldn't be a reason not to tamper and what a remarkable discovery they have made.

T: Superb. Again! 10/10

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Viva Voce - Viva Voce Loves You (Full Time Hobby) 18/06/2007

N: I'm going to have to start with the album's final track, 'Faster Than A Dead Horse', does this suggest that the album, band or both are pretty slow? Well never take a title for granted as this album is moving pretty slickly. Only 8 tracks, music is filled with an overwhelming sense of drama. Lyrics can sometimes drag a little, but the music more than compensates, tight and driven well. Just what I would expect from "psychedelic rock", never in danger of meeting Hendrix head-on, but who is?

T: We ought to point out though, that this album is a compilation of highlights from the band's first two albums, and yes, they've chosen some fine tracks, even if one of them sounds like "All The Young Dudes". Decent stuff from a top band. 7/10

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The Films - Don't Dance Rattlesnake (Rough Trade) 18/06/2007

T: This is very much in line with what's "happening" at the moment, at least in terms of top 40 bands. Think The White Stripes, maybe The Strokes and to a lesser extent the Kaiser Chiefs and Arctic Monkeys. Quite catchy and fairly well composed, but nothing particularly different about them.

N: The production of American punk rock. Great compositions, production done in the toilet. However much like Casablancas' band this outfit may sound, they're still entertaining. 7/10

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Clinic - Funf (Domino) 18/06/2007

T: Fuck, some of this is like "Psychocandy" gone mad!

N: To my mind, this is what music is all about - creativity. Not necessarily polished output, too clinical to even make it into the nursery. Dettol has a lot to answer for.

T: I think I'd better just clarify what Nick's talking about here, because that was more than a little cryptic! Now, this is an album full of b-sides, cover versions and out takes some of which are cited by the band themselves as "absolute shit that didn't even make a generic album". To be frank though, if they can poo tunes this good, I'll be sitting listening outside the bathroom next time one of them goes to take a dump.

N: I've been buying records by Julian Cope for years, so its strings, swings and musical output come as no surprise. Call it desensitized if you want; I prefer educated, although I still have problems with my hyphenation. Come to think of it, perhaps it explains a lot.

T: And your apostrophes, by all accounts. Certainly. 7/10

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Frank Black - 93-03 (Cooking Vinyl) 18/06/2007

T: Obviously Frank's taken my advice, after my mild disappointment with "Fast Man, Raider Man", and looked to his past, rediscovering his astonishing back catalogue. The majority of the material here is taken purely from his solo albums, as opposed to that which he cut with The Catholics, although one or two tracks by the excellent latter band made the final draft.
The rousing splendour of "Los Angeles" is a fine way to kick off such a compilation, and then "Ten Percenter", a viciously exciting rant, almost leaves me doe-eyed in admiration and feeling a nostalgic tinge for the days when my only responsibility was trying to win my frame in the Thursday night pool team.

Frank's "Best Of", for wont of a better word, flies through his self titled debut, taking in practically all the best aspects from the first ten years of his solo career. He's wisely chosen to include 5 tracks from my personal fave "Teenager Of The Year" and if I'm totally honest, I probably would have chosen pretty much the same tracklisting. Call him a genius, call him a maverick, but whatever you say, he's definitely one of the most legendary characters the music world has ever produced, and this compilation proves precisely why.

N: Hearing these tracks back to back is a reminder of just what a quality weight of material this artist is responsible for, and that's discounting his Pixies work. I hope that novices, when listening to this, will feel the need to explore his other work. But what of the live disc - your pet hate, I know?

T: Don't be silly. It's Frank.

N: So, will you be seeking out the US release for its alternative tracklisting.

T: Hell yes, I'm a completist.

N: I guess Frank's work here is done... 10/10

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Junior Boys - So This Is Goodbye (Domino) 11/06/2007

T: This still sounds like Justin Timberlake to me...

N: The smell of this double wrapped affair evoked memories of an earlier age, rifling through record baskets full of the latest releases. Even when played, this continued with the retro-electronic strains rang of such acts as The Beloved, and even the Pet Shop Boys, as well as "Technique" era New Order.

T: Perhaps even Scritti Politti? It does have nostalgic qualities to it, I have to admit, and thankfully it has stopped sounding like the bloke from Nigel's sink by now. I'm not sure it appeals to me as much as it would have done when I was fifteen, but there's no doubting the talents of Jeremy Greenspan, the man behind Junior Boys...or was that my old gym teacher...?

N: I don't think I remember Scritti Politti being so sombre, but this is retro eighties, and competent with it. Not copying, or even a homage, Junior Boys have managed to retain the feel while writing a new album. 7/10

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Queens Of The Stone Age - Era Vulgaris (Interscope) 11/06/2007

Back, not quite in black, QOTSA, this work clad in a playful cartoon pink, bring us an album derived from the darkest reaches of their psyche. Murky sounds and those suitable for airplay wrestle on an album which is as complicated as it is beautiful. On this, the band's forth studio album, it sees them pretty much doing as they please, sounds that are in places thrown up and spat at the listener in an unashamed manner, whilst at others crafted into patterns that hang in the air.

On first listen I heard an offering that could only be described as self indulgent, but on subsquent hearing I realised that this was in fact quite the opposite, an album where the fruits are bountiful and the offering quite liberal. Music which is the twisted wreckage of an industrial soundscape and vocalist Josh Homme is there to act as the conductor of this symphony. Walking the line that may be considered over-confident, but by the time you reach the finalé, the skull cracking title track, you can't deny these boys have made it work. 9/10

Nick James

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Bonde Do Role - Bonde Do Role With Lasers (Domino) 04/06/2007

T: This album leads you into a false sense of security, and makes you think it's an attempt by some misguided metal group they are frightening you with their intro, when in fact it's about as frightening as the Alton Towers ghost train. The fact that it then turns into a Shampoo like take on a cheesy Europop artist (who would almost certainly have been featured on "Eurotrash" is a million times more disturbing. If The Belle Stars, Bow Wow Wow and Natasha (of "Iko Iko" fame for about 3 and a half minutes) all got together and took a table full of speed between them, they'd sound something like this. Entertaining and very very silly.

N: Are we metal? Are we disco? Or is it Latino? Bonde Do Role certainly do all the above with lasrs, and a serving of twee on the side. 6/10

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Murder By Death - Like The Exorcist, But More Breakdancing (re-issue) and Who Will Survive, And What Will Be Left Of Them? (re-issue) (Cooking Vinyl) 04/06/2007

N: Murder By Death, currently garnering critcal acclaim with their 'Il Bocca Al Lipo' longplayer, find themselves in the position of promoting their earlier 2 releases as these are re-released through Cooking Vinyl. The band's wickedly titled debut 'Like The Exorcist, But More Breakdancing' sweeps in with majestic cello, on 'Those Who Stayed' and certainly announces a band who are undoutably not your run of the mill indie band. For this debut album, intelligent compositions are the order of the day, with numbers deep enough to fill your pockets and dark enough to fill the night. Unfortunatly this earlier promise seems to have been forgotten by the time we reach the second, an album where the term "difficult second album" certainly has its place, had they forgotten how to write songs or just come up against a mental block?

T: I don't think "WWSAWWBLOT" is a BAD album, just a distinctly average one when placed alongside its thoroughly superior predecessor. "Like The Exorcist..." is so rich with atmosphere - almost to the point of being "prog rock", but without being saturated with pomposity - that it was always going to be difficult to follow it. So, no qualms there - the band's debut is something of a classic. "Who Will Survive..." is not entirely without merit though, sometimes even usurping you with eerie piano led ditties such as "Masters In Reverse Psychology" and a charming little "Intermission". In short then, a decent follow up, but Murder By Death's debut still blows this one's socks off.

Like The Exorcist, But More Breakdancing 9/10
Who Will Survive And What Will Be Left Of Them 6/10

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Polly Paulusma - Fingers & Thumbs (One Little Indian) 04/06/2007

T: Polly's second album kicks off with "Godgrudge". which is rather like The Corrs playing with The Sundays...

N: ...or even The Corrs playing ON a Sunday. That could be uncomfortable...

T: Ooh I don't know...Andrea Corr playing on Harriet Wheeler is not without its appeal...

N: Can we get back to the point? Don't start! I'm not absolutely just how much of a proposition that opening tune is, but followed by "Where I'm Coming From", and the strains of West Coast America in "All The Time", herelads a strong singer songwriter.

T: Definitely, and it's notable that Paulusma doesn't shy away from long, sweeping epics like many artists of her ilk do. There are several tracks here clocking in at over 5 minutes long and they are often the best ones. This is perfect music for a lazy, sunny day.

N: A thousand influences could be quoted here, but what Polly has done is turn these into a successful career, and one where an engrossing place can be found. 7/10

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Dragons - Here Are The Roses (OHM Recordings) 04/06/2007

N: Dark and foreboding, 'Here Are The Roses' introduces this album, with a rolling bassline a'la Peter Hook and vocals that emerge in homage to Ian Curtis, rolling into something a little lighter and altogether more inspired, or was that Inspiral?

T: Yeah those references are spot on, however thinly veiled - when Anthonu Tombling Jnr isn't sounding like Curtis, there's definitely a Tom Hingley resemblance, The whole thing could probably be compared to Interpol more than anyone else. It's interesting to note that the other half of this duo, David Francolini, was formerly part of champion shoegazers Levitation. So that's why it's so good then...

N: A more absorbing album rarely greets us without fanfare and hype. The Dragons are certainly a welcome proposition. 9/10

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Xi - The Glow of Television (48 Crash/Zip Records) 28/05/2007

T: It's pretty obvious that these guys have aspirations to be Muse. The only problem is that, while they are clearly adept with their instruments, they haven't quite pulled off the "dramatic" thing, and as a result it sounds rather like a pastiche - as though Bellamy's boys are being taken off by the Not The Nine O'Clock News team. Don't let me put you off too much though - as I said before, Xi are good at what they do; they just don't appeal to me all that much.

N: What I'm hearing from this album is nothing unique enough to capture my imagination. Just a lot of old ideas thrown together, creating a ramshackle amalgamation of directions. 4/10

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Pigeon Detectives - Wait For Me (Dance To The Radio) 28/05/2007

T: If there's been a more shamelessly catchy album of the past 5 years, I've yet to hear it. Hardly surprising then that their gigs are reportedly some of the wildest of the decade. I can't help but feel this has been seriously lacking from live performances lately - long gone are the days when the entire venue moshed so you had to physically fight your way to the back, and I miss that. This album is absolutely loaded with pop gems and any one of its tracks would be a worthy single release. The only problem is how do they follow it?

N: Does any more need to be said than introducing a debut album whose anticipation is handsomely rewarded with 35 minutes of rip-roaring songs?

T: And I don't even want to mention any of the tracks' names, as they are ALL as strong as each other. Superb. 9/10

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Shameless - Smokers Die Younger - (All City Music) 28/05/2007

T: Whilst this album is undoubtedly, and shamelessly a hip-hop one, it's more than apparent on the title track here that Shameless is not lying when he says he is a fan of The Clash as well. He may only own "Sandinista!", but the tributes to dub era Strummer are clear for all to see. It's an interesting listen, rather like Dizzee Rascal mixing it up with the former punk legends, as produced by Fun Lovin' Criminals. And if you don't like it, you can at least pick out lines and loops from each track like a pop quiz.

N: Hip Hop's fresh take from East London's Shameless takes in the influences as previously remarked, ripped them up and thrown them down in compositions that come with no sell by date. Undoubtedly destined to become one of the genre's albums of the year. 7/10

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Chris Cornell - Carry On (Polydor) 28/05/2007

Described as "...one of America's most iconic and influential artists..." Chris Cornell fresh from his triumphs having produced the latest theme to the current Bond epic, the refreshed 'Casino Royale', presents this mamouth 16 track long player. Not just a man who has produced the soundtrack to Seattle with his 'Soundgarden', but as is made blatently clear on his latest work, a singer with a pair of lungs powerful enough to change the course of ships.

Musically this album is highly polished, with production coming from Steve Lillywhite, who has managed to retain the integrity of this artist, with the same trademark guitars cut only by Chris's powerful growl. An album that not only has managed to live up to the expectation I had of it, but surprise, with a range of arrangements that is enough to keep listeners enthralled, as vocals soar, bird like into the stratosphere. 8/10

Nick James

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Maroon 5 - It Won't Be Soon Before Long (A&M/Octone Records) 21/05/2007

T: I stand by my original introduction. Maroon 5 are shit.

N: No preconceived ideas then!

T: Well, I'm sure they don't give a shit what I think; after all their album's already hit the UK number one spot, but the fact still remains that the band sounds like a weaker version of Go West, which is hardly a compliment in the first place. Summer music for people who don't get out much.

N: Is calling this band retro wrong? Like stepping unintentionally into a disco, noticing the girls dancing around their handbags to Jermaine Stewart and stepping out into 1985.

T: "Stepping Out" was Joe Jackson, and that was 1983.

N: Literally. Not trainspotting.

T: They're still shit though.

N: To be honest, I was expecting to enjoy this album more, so fair point. 3/10

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The Sinister Cleaners - Shine (Aaz Recordings) 21/05/2007

T: I hadn't heard the name Sinister Cleaners for YEARS before this turned up, and the reason is that they probably haven't been played in that long. John Peel was a fan, and Janice Long played them on the odd occasion, but they never got round to releasing their debut album initially, refusing to play the corporate game and remaining fiercely independent. As a result, after contacting each other over the past 12 months or so, the band have decided to complete the album 20 years later; hence this is the debut album from The Sinister Cleaners, some two decades on from whence it was started!

N: Songs complete with refreshingly honest lyrics that draw the listener into the web frontman John Parkes weaves; undoubtedly an album of its day. The shades of a McCulloch led outfit seem to tower above them; but like a trip down memory lanes, these songs have the ability to evoke memories long forgotten in those of us old enough to know better, and still young enough to care.

T: Refreshingly honest? In "Bastards", he sings (about hippies) "Give me a bomb that I can drop on the heads of all those bastards". Are you implying that Parkes is a would be serial killer?

N: As I say, refreshingly honest. Have you never gone to bed wishing someone harm, and yet waking up in the morning to continue your life without a stain?

T: No, actually I normally just go to bed with a lob on, and generally other men are the last thing on my mind...Anyway, regardless of this, it is an absolutely wonderful album full of references of the best bands of yesteryear, and puts any number of the new boys to shame. 9/10

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