Living Things - Bom Bom Bom (Red Link) 27/02/2006

Living Things a band who describe themselves as "anxious and ill at ease", preceed the UK release of their debut album "Ahead Of The Lions", with this infectious political stab. Cleverly hiden beneath the Stones influenced track, lies a message of young solders marching out to war, or perhaps in this case 'invasion' is closer to the point.

These guys do what they are doing well, rock most certainly, but a tune that lends itself well to all manner of tinkeringing. Lillian Berlin offers grated vocals, preaching his message to a disaffected youth. This is certainly as close as you are going to get to musical terrorism. 9/10

Nick James

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Jenny Lewis with The Watson Twins - Rise Up With Fists!! (Rough Trade) 27/02/2006

From her "Rabbit Fur Coat" album, "Rise Up..." is the first single to be taken from this debut album. With backing vocals offered by gospel singers The Watson Twins, this may be somewhat of a culture shock, especially if you're looking for another Rilo Kiley.

T: Man, what were you thinking when you reviewed the album? I actually find this really appealing, like a Christmas party thrown by The Magic Numbers, with the Ronettes as background chefs. This is the flaked out stupor you're all in after blowing yourself out with turkey and mince pies - or in my case nut cutlets - and it's that satisfying glow in your stomach that remains there until you're forced into an embarrassing game of charades.

N: Ok, so you're in the 'love' camp, but saying these two words together might give people the wrong idea. I'm out of here.

T: 8/10

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dios (malos) – I Want It All (Full Time Hobby) 27/02/2006

Easily my favourite single of the month from a strong candidate for “Album of the year” too. This is like going on out on a deserted lake in a remarkably smooth speedboat while the sun is beating down on your back like a celestial masseur. Absolutely splendid stuff – a dreamy, mesmerising lullaby that evokes thoughts of all the best days of your life rolled into one. And Ronnie Dio is just jealous because HE could never come up with anything as sublime as this. Beautiful. 9/10

Tone E

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Graham Coxon - Standing On My Own Again (Parlophone) 27/02/2006

Graham is going to be a busy man in the coming months, with this single, followed by a new album "Love Travels At Illegal Speeds" on March the 13th and a national tour which commences its run on March 20th. This new single is a fast riding track with punk pretenses and offer evidence that Graham has been learning vocal technique at the Lydon school of vocal effect. The Stephen Street produced work is both musically and lyrically rich in tone and will surly inspire a new breed of budding bedroom wannabe's.8/10

Nick James

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Orson – No Tomorrow (Mercury) 27/02/2006

This Californian band has been hailed as “the missing link between The Rolling Stones and Scissor Sisters” recently, but I must say it’s more like the common denominator between Rainbow and the previously mentioned disco campsters. It’s a fizzy little single that knows how to pull punches and would, I imagine, become something of a floor-filler in the not too distant future. A pleasing debut. 7/10

Tone E

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Gliss - Rugby Road (Tough Cookie) 27/02/2006

I had a mate who lived on Rugby Road whilst he was studying in Brighton I think it was, but considering this band hail from Los Angeles, I guess they might not be acquainted with this particular 'Rugby Road'. Anyway enough of my gabble, a band who have garnered the attention of such luminaries as Smashing Pumpkins' Billy Corgan, gaining them a support on his European tour and could have been recently caught touring the BRMC and We Are Scientists.

This particular "Rugby Road", is available on CD and download and follows the bands debut single "Blue Sky" which attracted the attention of Radio One's Zane Lowe, becoming his show's 'fresh meat' winner. Would I call this rock? Well in an alt. leaning maybe, but certainly a winner in the indie stakes. This features a succulent guitar driven riff, over which boy/girl vocals ride occasionally broken by searing chords which penetrate the equilibrium. Another new track "Girl" backs-up this single, a less coherent attempt, sounding somewhat like a Babyshambles after thought. 7/10

Nick James

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Buzzcocks – Wish I Never Loved You (Cooking Vinyl) 20/02/2006

There’s no doubt about it – Pete Shelley definitely sounds older these days. Then again, he IS well into his early fifties, so I guess that’s to be expected. What’s also impossible to deny though, is that the Buzzcocks still have an overwhelmingly good ear for great pop songs and that’s great news for everyone involved. After all, I always felt that this band never really got the credit they deserved way back when so it’s nice to se them being acknowledged properly by the present generation.

“Wish I Never Loved You” is a peculiar beast – all trademark high tempo guitars and infectious hookline but one which never sounds entirely like the Buzzcocks. Still, I’m all for new directions and if there’s one dinosaur species that I hope never becomes extinct, then it’s the Shelleydigglesaurus. 8/10

Tone E

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The Modern – Industry (Mercury) 20/02/2006

Sounds a lot less like Blur this time around and embraces the pumped of kind of electro-rock that was once so favoured by Republica. It has to be said though, despite their recent success and the more than likely emulation of that with this single, that it’s probably going to go the same way as the previously mentioned band. Two or three hit singles – one of them being a whopper – and then BAM! Gone.
I hope I’m wrong, if the truth be known, as this is undoubtedly a hugely contagious tune and I’d personally welcome them into the mainstream with open arms. Still can’t help that nagging feeling though. 7/10

Tone E

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Simple Plan – Crazy (Lava/Atlantic) 20/02/2006

This band gets off lightly every time they release a single, because it always seems to be me that reviews them and not Nick, who absolutely loathes them. I myself don’t have a big problem with them, but must confess that I can’t ever envisage ever rushing out to see them live or buy their t-shirts.
This is a kind of medium paced rock ballad that we in the UK are accustomed to hearing from the likes of McFly or Busted. It’s bearable, and certainly preferable to the kind of bilge that Westlife churn out, but don’t expect fireworks. 5/10

Tone E

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Funeral for a Friend – Roses for the Dead (Atlantic) 20/02/2006

I don’t think I’m being unreasonable in asking for some NEW output from this band now. I mean, the press release would have us believe that this is only the second single from their successful “Hours” album, but hang on a minute – I seem to recall “Streetcar”, “Monsters” AND “History” all making the charts over the past few months. Now, I admit that I failed maths dismally at school, but even I can work out that this is actually the FOURTH one…and thankfully for me, it’s one of my least favourite tracks on the album, so I won’t feel guilty about marking it down. Hmmm…actually it IS my least favourite. It’s like a repulsive wart on the nose of an otherwise beautiful woman. It just sounds like a wall of noise that lacks direction, punch and emotion. You should still buy the album though, ‘cause that’s great! 4/10

Tone E

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Maximo Park – I Want You To Stay (Warp) 20/02/2006

You know how there are always loads of bands that turn up at roughly the same time who all sound great initially, and then after a while start to become tiresome? Well I’ve found that Maximo Park have gone the OTHER way. I liked the album but never thought it was anything particularly special but to this day it remains one that I could happily listen to every day if I had to. “I Want You To Stay”, as I referred to in my album review last year, is a “heartfelt lament that somehow still manages to sound summery”. Funnily enough, it seems to have grown an enormous pair of bollocks since then as well. I don’t know why this is, but it seems to have twice the impact hearing it now. Maybe it’s because I had to endure James Blunt on the radio a few moments ago and this has made up for it! 8/10

Tone E

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Alkaline Trio – Burn (Vagrant) 13/06/2006

Actually this band seems to have grown on me a bit since I first heard them. They sounded rather like a Green Day pastiche to me back then, and now I’ve realised I was way off the mark. It’s still a “present day punk” type of thing but mixed with flashes of emo (horrible word, but sadly, sometimes you have to use it).

Tim Armstrong – he of Rancid fame – has provided the listeners with a kind of “dub reggae” mix of the main track and this is so far removed from the original version that I never even realised it was the same song until the second time around! It’s also the best thing by a street mile on this single – maybe the band should move in this direction for the remainder of their career, because if they do, they’ll win over at least ONE new fan… 7/10

Tone E

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Envelopes – Free Jazz (Brille Records) 13/02/2006

Lying somewhere between the much missed but largely forgotten Deaf School, novelty band Flying Lizards and a “Best of Sesame Street” songbook, this mainly Swedish band makes music that makes you wear padded elbow muffs and question your shirt buttons.

Taking the lead on the first two tracks here, token female Audrey’s gender bending vocals sound as much like a twelve year old cartoon boy as anything else. When the band’s “other” vocalist takes over on “Pink Christmas” it all starts sounding more like The Polyphonic Spree sharing a narcotic season of yule with Flaming Lips.

Anyway, it’s a fascinating listen and one that, after a while, you’ll end up keeping under your pillow… 8/10

Tone E

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Dilated Peoples - Back Again (Capitol) 13/02/2006

This is the first release off the new and much awaited Dilated Peoples album '20/20' out on the 20th February. And a jolly good release it is too. Great beats and production as you would expect DJ Babu and Co, funky and fresh! The video sounds like it should be worth a watch too so look out for that and check out the website for more! 8/10

Nic Caesar

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Humanzi - Long Time Coming (Fiction) 13/02/2006

Following a limited release that was devoured, the strangly named Humanzi are gearing up for their first full scale release and "Long Time Coming" is that release. One of 5 tracks presented to me here on this album sampler, I'd be forthright in saying that this is by no means the best of those available, but would certainly suggest at a storming debut long player. 6/10

Nick James

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The Magic Numbers - I See You, I See Me (Heavenly Recordings) 13/02/2006

The fourth single from the bands debut album, this number features the heavenly duet between Romeo and Angela, although just comes across as rather subdued and the passion that is suggested never really happens. Although if you've already got the album this might still be worth investigating as it features a number of B-sides including the re-recorded "Forever Lost" which includes a choral performance, as well as live and session versions of "Crazy In Love" and "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out". 5/10

Nick James

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Four Day Hombre - The First Word Is The Hardest (Alamo) 13/02/2006

"...good music makes its own introductions...", well this was certainly the case for this bands debut single, but as for this, in Paddy MacAloon fashion the vocalist breathes through an affair that finds it difficult to get started. I'm not writing them off though, I'm holding out for good things from their debut long-player, "Experiments In Living" due some time later this year I would hope. 4/10

Nick James

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YSN - More (Wrath Records) 13/02/2006

With a lyric that tells of modern day excess, this delightful number from Wrath Records YSN take influences from New Romatics past and present and cry MORE! Vocalist Pete Wurlitzer (he's either heir to a fortune or just very vein) would appear the ideal frontman for this 4-piece, who without a flatcap in sight, extole the vertues of their hometown Leeds. I'll be honest, I've a banging idea that this band would make a great Monty Phython sketch. 8/10

Nick James

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Boy Kill Boy - Back Again (Vertigo) 13/02/2006

This London quartet, caught recently playing alongside Hard Fi strike a pose with this number that takes in influences from The Longpigs and Gene. With hard emotion projected in both vocal and music, these boys recently championed by the likes of Zane Lowe and Steve Lamacq, certainly show a promise and sound of mid-90's indie pop. As they look toward their currently in-progress debut album, this first to be completed track shows signs of the promise earlier hinted at. 7/10

Nick James

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The Fall Out Trust - Washout (At Large) 13/02/2006

A band in a hurry, cry's the music as this sextet bring us their wash day blues(?) "Wasout" is the single that will preceed this bands eagerly awaited debut long player "In Case Of The Flood". Formed following vocalists Joe Winter and Guy Connelly's visit to Berlin's Hansa studios, where the 2 friends, inspired by the ethos and sounds of the famed studios (where Bowie recorded "Low" and Iggy Pop "Lust For Life"), gave birth to the Fall Out Trust. Now comprising 3 members of the Winter's family, the six were soon writing and recording in a semi-subterranean Warehouse in East London, converted themselves in the image of Hansa. 7/10

Nick James

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Fall Out Boy - Sugar We're Goin Dow (Mercury) 06/02/2006

Fresh from series of UK dates played throughout January this four peice from Chicago offer their brand of punk-pop driven emo as the first single to be taken from their "From Under The Cork Tree" album. This number features the infectious hook "Sugar we're goin' down swinging..." sang alongside guitars with the impact of a sledge hammer - this boy sure can sing. If this band were bird-flu, we'd stand no chance. 7/10

Nick James

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Cornershop [feat. Rowetta] - Wop The Groove (Rough Trade) 06/02/2006

With these guys back treading the boards, this one could go either way. Rather than a track wothy of a single release though, unfortunatly "Wop The Groove" turns out to be a rather ramshakle studio jam, low on lyrics and high on effects, with little thought of their placing within the music. Rowetta is brought in to add her vocal power to the tune, but I was rather hoping for a little more than "Wop the groove, Rum and Coke the groove, y'all". The B-side is a similarly experimental jam, that hears the inner sleeve notes from a Dixons C-90 cassette turned into a vocal, where are these guys coming from? 2/10

Nick James

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