The Automatic - This Is A Fix (B-Unique) 25/08/2008

T: What's that coming over the hill? Is it The Automatic? Well yes, as a matter of fact it is, and they sound very different indeed to how they did on debut "Not Accepted Anywhere". Whether this is a good thing remains to be seen, but they're obviously trying to prove to the world that they're not just a one gimmick joke band with a more serious direction.

N: Admittedly with the opening track, 'Responsible Citizen' it certainly does leave a question hanging in the air, however I was just annoyed with the following track 'Steve McQueen' when I reveiewed this as a single...

T: But why would you be annoyed with it? Surely it makes sense to put a more commercial track out as a single! It has chantalong values and while I'm far from a fan of the track, I don't think it's a bad tune really.

N: Admittedly. I was just being lazy.

T: You still haven't washed my pants yet either.

N: I haven't found rubber gloves thick enough yet to cope.

T: I thought I'd left less of a skidmark this time...

N: Perhaps it's just that I'm going on past experiences.

T: You're getting me mixed up with some of your former girlfriends. And you used to enjoy it, from what I've heard.

N: Anyway, back to the music...

T: Ha ha.

N: ...the band have obviously matured...

T: Unlike us...

N: Ha. Take that as read.

T: Oh sod the music, it pretty much all sounds the same anyway. 5/10

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Black Lungs - Send Flowers (Hassle Records) 25/08/2008

N: I like the expectation that the band created with the opening track "A Blessing And A Curse", and further widening the confuison with "Fire And Brimstone". Where exactly are they coming from?

T: Well, given that I'd rather have had my eyes gauged out with a penknife than listen to Alexisonfire again...

N: Tone, your white cane is over here - This is Black Lungs.

T: Let me finish you muppet...from whence two of the members of this band came, I have to hold my hands up and say these are pretty well written, unexpectedly enjoyable tunes that are like gentle grunge (is that a new genre?) but thankfully not the saccharine watered down version that hurls at our radios and tv screens in the form of Nickelback nowadays.

N: It IS very gentle grunge, or rather, with guitars played through an amp with the gain setting turned moderately up. But yes, certainly not as annoying although still retaining a commercial value to the music. 7/10

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Heaven 17 - Live At Last (Cooking Vinyl) 18/08/2008

T: I wonder whether I can get past my phobia of live albums...

N: Changed somewhat from their recorded output, although scarily, not so much when it comes to the encore for "Being Boiled", I certainly think Tone might...

T: Thing is though, I know and love these songs in their original form, and whilst I like hearing bands alter their songs slightly when I actually go to see them live, I don't think it works as well in a recording, though I will happily admit that they are clearly very, very good live, and this does actually come across well here. Of course, "Come Live With Me" has one of the perviest lines ever written as its opening gambit: "I was 37, you were 17", to which I've always thought "You jammy bastard". And I ought to point out to all our US readers that we live in the UK and that's legal over here...

N: Possibly the onlyreal downside to this is that with modern recording techniques, the chasm between studio and live output leaves "...something missing".

T: Very clever. You geek. 8/10

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Jackie Leven - Lovers At The Gun Club (Cooking Vinyl) 18/08/2008

T: Although Leven's newie begins as though it's going to be best suited to a whale watching aquarium, it soon transposes itself into something that would not sound out of place in a Sergio Leone Western. Then "The Innocent Railway" breaks in and sounds like a sun soaked version of JJ Cale's classic "Magnolia". Lyrically these are songs to be marvelled at and musically they're just really accessible country/folk tunes. All good clean fun and guaranteed to put a smile on your face if you listen carefully enough.

N: It seems ridiculos that an artist should apologise for recording an album without first letting his label know that this was his intention, but this is what Jackie very politely did when sending in his finished copy of this record. I don't think he will have been called to the Headmaster's office or given lines though, as this album is so highly entertaining. Fifty minutes of music, which, as Tone has already said, possesses cinematic qualities and a magnificent musical soundscape. 9/10

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Various Artists - Not Doing It For The Quids (Full Time Hobby) 18/08/2008

T: It wasn't until I looked at the illustrious tracklisting of sparkling talent showcased here that I'd realised quite what a goldmine Full Time Hobby had unearthed over the past few years. Brilliant artists such as Tunng, Sufjan Stevens, Micah P Hinson, Malcolm Middleton, White Denim and The Hold Steady have all plied their trade for the label at some time or another and the result, as you would expect, is a sparkling compilation of pure magic. Even the lesser known artists like Fujiya & Miyaki have contributed excellent compositions, and that's actually all you'll find on this album. Absolute class.

N: Forget your "Now That's What I Call Music" collections, forget your "20 Greatest Hits", e'll have more like this please. Home of bands like White Denim, Tunng and previously The Hold Steady, Full Time Hobby are, as my cohort has mentioned already, a dream of a label. Home of some of the most original music today. Do your ears a favour and dabble in this pool of audio excellence.

T: We don't normally give tens for compilations, but we'll bend the rules on this occasion. 10/10

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Late Of The Pier - Fantasy Black Channel (Zarcorp/Parlophone) 11/08/2008

N: Early eighties pretences at the birth of New Romantic. Classix Nouveaux, Fashion, early Glenn Gregory/Martyn Ware, Bow Wow Wow, and other McLaren influenced acts from that era.

T: I'm not sure I can add anything there, it's spot on. There are hints of the Art Of Noise in places though. Definitely a retro eighties album, which is not such a bad thing.

N: Perhaps this is Zarcorp's bid to re-establish lopsided fringes, baggy nylon and kung fu slippers onto a scene far too santised by health and safety.

T: Whatever it is, it's tremendous fun. 9/10

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Scars On Broadway - Scars On Broadway (Interscope) 04/08/2008

T: Daron and John from System Of a Down's new project, and there's none of the hard hitting vitality of that band here, but then, there isn't meant to be. In fact, they've clearly been raiding the songbooks of bands like The Hollies or America.

N: Interesting to hear how the formerly wayward kids have grown up, but then again also prove to show that their earlier wayward character is never too far from the surface.

T: Good point, as we get further into the album and it's clear that they only tore one page out of the Hollies songbook after all. "Insane" sounds like a Queens Of The Stone Age composition. It's quite a varied album to be fair, and far better than I had previously imagined. 6/10

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The Splendour - Best Way To Make Money (Tinyclan Records) 04/08/2008

T: The opening track here, "Put Me Into Bed", reminds me of Dodgy, perhaps performing with Ocean Colour Scene...

N: Unnervingly for me, this bears a resemblance to Beck's laid back, slothful vocal...

T: Why unnervingly?

N: Because at this stage it's turned into something completely different, and not Beck-esque in any way whatsoever.

T: Hmmm...let me try something out (Tone waves a copy of "Odelay" in front of Nick's face)

N: Aagh!

T: As I suspected. Moving on, "Wrong" sounds alarmingly like The Ordinary Boys, though it must be pointed out that I'm talking about the days before Preston entered the Big Bollocks house and had a hissyfit on "Never Mind The Buzzcocks". This is pure indie fodder. Not bad but not exciting. 6/10

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Unkle - End Titles...Stories For Film (Surrender All) 04/08/2008

N: Strikingly reminiscnt of The Cranes at the beginning...

T: Blimey, that's going back a bit.

N: In my world, it's not that long ago.

T: Yes but your world is a very sordid one, and best avoided. How much are tickets, by the way?

N: (mischievous laughter ensues)

T: THis track, "Cut Me Loose", definitely evokes thoughts of Clayhill.

N: I just think it's a very strong album.

T: But we've only heard two tracks...

N: I mean to say it sounds like it's shaping up to be one.

T: Well that's true. It has a kind of ambient cool about it, like you can get music with air conditioning.

N: I can sum this album up by saying it's great ambient lift music in places.

T: Oh I'm sure James will be DELIGHTED with that description. What I think you're trying to say is that it's an effective flow of variations on a desert landscape that...oh bollocks to that. What he said. 8/10

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Paul Kelly - Stolen Apples (Gawdaggie) 21/07/2008

T: Starting off with something that sounds like it should have been used in a Mel Gibson film about the Maoris or something, the talented Aussie creates an atmospheric, heartfelt number on "Feelings Of Grief". He goes all Hendrix on us for the beginning of "Stolen Apples Taste The Sweetest" and has released what appears to be a quality album that's fantastically easy to listen to.

N: Paul has created an album of sometimes quirky, but always totally immersing numbers, that as an album, speak of a hugely talented singer songwriter from the other side of the world. To call this a rock album would be misleading. Influences here might be that of Van Morrison, early Waits...

T: ...and maybe the Ozark Mountain Daredevils?

N: Whatever you say. Anyway, to sum up, this collection of songs, taken from this "very special edition" album is like the original Easy like Sunday Morning...

T: I ought to point out that Nick knows that song is just called "Easy", in case any of you sharp witted readers write in to complian, and he means the term, not the song anyway.

N: I've got a tongue you know.

T: Ooh I know.

N: You said you'd never mention that again.

T: Mention what? I just noticed it while you were licking the soup spoon at the cafe. 8/10

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She & Him - Volume One (Double Six) 14/07/2008

T: THis, of course, is the actress Zooey Deschanel, going all Jenny Lewis on us, and furthering the tradition of recent actress displaying the fact that some of them can actually sing.

N: Listening to the album now, I can certainly hear why "This Is Not a Test" was chosen to be the first single lifted from the album - insanely catchy, no matter how annoying it may come across. No, it really WAS annoying, but how many singles do we know that have gone all the way to number one which are really, really annoying?

T: What's your point?

N: Possibly that on first hearing this track, the record company thought that they were onto a winner.

T: So I take it you're not struck on the album then?

N: At best, I might describe the contents as being a "grower" and if not, it's likely to end up in the bargain bin at Woolworths.

T: Good, I'll have it then, 'cause I quite like it. 6/10

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Various Artists - Big Blue Ball (Real World) 28/07/2008

T: This is a project that was initially conceived some eighteen years ago by founding Real World members Peter Gabriel and Karl Wallinger. Of course, the former World Party man went on to much bigger things, and Gabriel remains an icon. The question now is whether anybody still cares. It doesn't surprise me that the idea was dreamt up a long time ago, especially when you hear the opener, "Whole Thing", which would have slotted nicely into the eccentric Brit's 1996 album "So" with little ado. It is the less recognisable names which make the album work, however, and tracks like "Habib" will surely have the likes of Mel Gibson hurriedly plundering the bargain bins at Woolworth for use in the soundtrack of their next epic movie. You do wonder whether Sting was off on his fag break though...

N: Undoubtedly the fact that this bears the Real World label will spark interest in certain circles, but agreed, it is the artists gathered here who should really ignite intrigue. Admitted, from my own personal interest, it is singer songwriter Joseph Arthur who was my starting point.

T: And?

N: Well I think you've already said what needs to be said about the music, and at the risk of repeating ourselves, I think you've already said what needs to be said about the music. 7/10

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