Brakes - Cease and Desist (Rough Trade) 26/02/2007

T: I'm biased, because Brakes are my favourite current band, so I'm going to let Nick go first, in an effort to stop myself shrieking like a girl about how great it is.

N: Lulling us into the false sense we are visting another Monkees from their brief introduction, then trusting this down our throats as the band proceed to hammer out this noise filled number with gusto and mustard. Refreshingly unashamed, especially from the uncensored version.

T: Well, I'm glad you liked it too. I'm also going to let you mark it, because like I said, I'm biased and would give it full marks.

N: Nine. 9/10

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Pigeon Detectives - Romantic Type (Dance To The Radio) 26/02/2007

T: If Leeds United wanted to turn around their miserable season, all they need to do is embrace the passion and enthusiasm of all the bands coming out of a thriving music scene in their fair city and transfer it to their players. Oh, and sack Dennis Wise...
Pigeon Detectives are at the top of the tree when it comes down to punchy, terrifically infectious three minute pop songs and this is no exception. A touch of the Arctics, the arrogant swagger of early Oasis and a hook that would make Ricky Wilson blush with envy. I can see these boys making massive strides in the next couple of years.

N: This band remind me of Secret Squirrel. Remembr the kids' cartoon featuring the rodent detective? This brings us nicely to the Pigeon Detectives. I wonder if the band have considered licensing the idea? In years to come, we may be enjoying endless re-runs, serving to heighten their profile and assis record sales in the process, not to mention their pension fund. But the single, pretty much a rabble rousing number and very much as Tone has already said. 9/10

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Alexisonfire - Boiled Frogs (Hassle) 26/02/2007

N: Boiled frogs? It's just the French serve them with garlic butter, and only cook the legs (begs the question "What do they do with all those bodies?") but for God's sake, turn the bloody music down!

T: Well, ok, but let me just say that this sounds very much like a very angry Wile E Coyote. Hey, if you buy the album, you'll hear him getting REALLY pissed. 2/10

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Senses Fail - Can't Be Saved (Vagrant) 26/02/2007

T: My senses fail to understand the appeal here. It starts off majestically, I'll grant you that, but once the vocals kick in, it's yet another over the top chunk of emotional teen angst. More like Fences Wail than Senses Fail. "I'm stuck in a coma" laments the band's vocalist. Funny that - that's just how I felt during this song.

N: Sorry, we're at different sides of the pitch here. Let's get this right from the start - Senses Fail are doing what +44 are trying so hard to reproduce, only this band's balls have dropped and they're shaving already. A little harsh on the former band maybe...

T: ...especially as they're probably in their thirties by now!

N: ...but this sounds a lot more exciting. Someone stirred anthrax into their tea. I'm not saying these guys are the new messiahs, it's just that I tend to feel that they wouldn't be reaching for their zimmerframes in a fight. 6/10

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The Horrors - Gloves (Loog) 26/02/2007

T: Intense is the word I would use to describe this almighty slab of post-punk rock. Very much like The Fall in their heyday and an exciting prospect indeed. Top tune.

N: Having first tuned into this on the radio, The Horrors pretty much serve to impress. Psychedelic goth, Andrew Eldritch on LSD delving into a Captain Beefheart discography, but hold on a moment, this is suddenly post-Teardrop Julian Cope eking out an existence on his own label. At this rate, their forthcoming album "Strangehouse" should pretty much blow us away. 9/10

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+44 - When Your Heart Stops Beating (Interscope) 12/02/2007

T: If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Thing is, Blink 182 had plummeted somewhat from the nation's collective heart in recent years, so it is perhaps a little pointless to split up and then form a new band that sounds exactly the same. Relatively catchy, inoffensive power pop/rock tunes. And if I was delivered the blow of now having to SUPPORT Fall Out Boy I think I'd have to end it all. The band that is, not my life.

N: Soulless, I'm afraid, is my initial impression of "When Your Heart Stops Beating", and although I did try hard to find a glimmer that I might cling to, nothing. Track two, however, the more soulful "Baby Come On" does serve to rescue the band from the pit they've put themselves in, almost. Essentially, not much to write home about here. 3/10

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The Pierces - Sticks and Stones (Lizard King) 26/02/2007

T: Reminds me of Moloko in places and then goes off in a whole different direction, even at one pint being reminiscent of the Be Good Tanyas. Very pleasant stuff.

N: I have to admit that from the opening, soaring crash, these two sisters had me thinking of All Saints. Thankfully, this cheesy poppy influence was short lived, as a more reflective and authentic sound met my ears. Tone, your references were far better.

T: Of course they were. 7/10

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Charlotte Hatherley - I Want You To Know (Little Sister) 26/01/2007

N: Was a solo career always her endgame?

T: I don't know about that, but it's clear that Charlotte came from a very different background when you listen to her music compared with Ash. Upon interviewing Charlotte very recently, I told her that her stuff reminded me of the Ronettes if they'd signed to 4AD, and I think she was quite pleased with that. You have to put aside any expectations before you listen to a Hatherley album. Let's be honest, her music is straightforward pop, although of a darker bent on her recent output. Personally I love the beautifully written arrangements that have become her trademark lately and this is no exception.

N: I find it odd that even the artist's "love" of Kate Bush and Mercury Rev are clearly audible here. Although the mentioned influence of David Bowie may take a while to realise, I have no doubt it's there. With the second album in sight (5th March), this artist has certainly grown. 8/10

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Maccabees - About Your Dress (Fiction) 26/02/2007

T: Does signing to Fiction make you sing like Robert Smith? It's feasible, and although it's unlikely this band will ever reach the heady heights of the Cure frontman, they at least always put out relatively interesting pop tunes. That's what this is.

N: Yeah. Clean, clear and poppy. 6/10

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Kaiser Chiefs - Ruby (B-Unique) 19/02/2007

T: Sounding exactly like Sir Moz himself in the verses, the Kaisers raise the bar in an effort to score their first number one single, and on this evidence, they have every chance of doing so. It's an infectious, indie-rock song that ought to appeal to the masses. Perhaps a little too much so for my liking, but you can't knock them really for putting out something that is just a very good pop single.

N: Certainly Ricky Wilson has swallowed a Morrissey capsule, in that he even had Tone fooled into believing I'd handed him the wrong press release. Short and sweet with a rabble rousing chorus that drives this number. 8/10

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iForward Russia! - Don't Be A Doctor (Dance To The Radio) 12/02/2007

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Clinc - If You Could Read Your Mind 05/02/2007

N: Continuing in the vein of their album 'Visitations' from which this is taken, a sound with a far darker air greets our ears. A band who are certainly instantly recognisable and one whose rock out sound will set feet tapping and heads whirling with its intoxicity.

T: "Have we not just listened with Sarah", Clinic would undoutable come across as the off kilter thoroughly original band that they normally do. Somehow though, Sarah's made them sound like sensible boys with nice haircuts. Even so, the mask wearing scousers prove they can still knock out a good tune a decade on from whence they began. Another winner from one of the most reliable bands of the moment. 8/10

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Listen With Sarah - The World of Listen With Sarah EP (Cherryade) 05/02/2007

T: Seeing as we reviewed a single by LWS very recently, I think we should do this one very quickly and just say it's just as mad as the music we heard from the one woman institution only moments ago. Some tracks work a lot better than others but it's still largely entertaining, if not a tad headache inducing.

N: Six more utterly original moments of digital mayhem where the CD repeat button must surely have been the influence behind this whole project. Well, it certainly wasn't Lennon and McCartney. 7/10

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