Yes Boss - Get Dropped Quick/Indie Kids (Dance To The Radio) 27/03/2006

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Good Shoes – We Are Not the Same EP (Brille Records) 20/03/2006

I absolutely LOVE this 4 track e.p. Kind of reminds me of The Nightingales meets a Specials albums track and it rolls along marvellously. If John Peel were alive today, I like to think he’d be championing this band in a big way. They sound to me as though they’re going to be a band that never has any hit records at all, but will be remembered as a fantastic underground act that encourages hundreds of future stars to pick up their guitars for the first time.

Sometimes I really do waffle on about nothing, and telling you this enables me to fill up a little bit more space in my review when I can’t think of anything else to say about it. You see? I’ve just wasted no end of otherwise blank paper by talking utter gibberish. I mean, what else do you need to know? I’ve already told you the bands I see as a good reference point, and really all you DO need to know it that this is utterly superb. 9/10

Tone E

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The Strokes – Heart in a Cage (Rough Trade) 20/03/2006

They might not be over fond of changing their direction too much, these New York City kids, but a quick scan of the week’s top 40 tells you that this is a billion times better than anything else in it, and hey, it’s a blinding riff that goes with it. And who the hell would want them to go off on, say, a death metal tangent in the name of “art”. Hell no, I hope they stick to what they’re good at. Julian Casablancas has almost adopted a “croon” for the band’s latest output – or is it a Vic Reeves style “club singer”? Either way, it works and I for one, hope they stick around a while. 8/10

Tone E

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Killing Joke – Hosannas from the Basements of Hell (Cooking Vinyl) 20/03/2006

It’s amazing how a band like Killing Joke can fall off the critical radar for so long and then come back with an absolute nail bomb of a single that sounds like nothing else on earth.
I mean, most of us are aware that Jaz Coleman has written his fair share of classics in the early days, but to be confronted with such a wall of noise that is as dark, broody and beautiful as all three of these tracks, well…it almost brings a tear to your eye, I can tell you.
This is Killing Joke at their fearsome best – a fiery monster that sounds exactly how it is described in the title. It’s utterly stupendous. 10/10

Tone E

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The Like - June Gloom (Geffen) 03/06/2006

L.A. pop-punk band The Like herald the coming of their debut album - "Are You Thinking What I'm Thinking?" - with the single "June Gloom". This is power-pop, whose birth may leave furrowed brows and warrant a scratching of the head. The album was produced by former Revolution member (ie Prince and...), Wendy Melovin (aka Wendy & Lisa), John Goodmanson on co-production duties (Blonde, Bikini Kill, Death Cab For Cutie) and Alan Moulder, handling the final mixing.

As you might expect from such a heavyweight team, the band have recorded a tune with ethereal qualities, that'll leave you punch drunk and begging for more. What else can I say this is as close to genius as you are likely to get in 5-inches (ahem...)! 10/10

Nick James

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Yellowcard – Lights and Sounds (Parlophone) 06/03/2006

Wow, one of the guys in this band, once he’s had a few more dinners inside him, could easily pass himself off as Mr. Marshall Mathers, judging by the photo on the cover. Maybe he should do that – he’d probably actually get laid then…

As for the music, to be honest I’m getting a little tired of stuff like this. Not there’s anything really wrong with it; I guess it’s just because I’ve heard so many crunching guitars in uptempo emo type bands that they’re all beginning to merge into one big blur for me. Oh well, it’s listenable. 6/10

Tone E

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Nightmare of You – The Days Go By Oh So Slow (Full Time Hobby) 06/03/2006

Nope. I still can’t shake that vision of Billie Joe Armstrong spiritually possessing the mid and body of one Stephen Patrick Morrissey and adopting the same vocal structuring. Brandon Reilly is a dead ringer for the Green Day frontman, and although the accompanying press release accuses anyone who compares this band to The Smiths as “lazy”, it is quite clearly there for all to see – or hear rather – in full blazing technicolour glory: an insanely catchy jangly pop song with self mocking undertones and tongue in cheek lyrics that old Bigmouth would be proud of. 8/10

Tone E

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The Rifles - Repeated Offender (Red Ink Music) 06/03/2006

These first fruits from sessions with heavyweight producer Ian Broudie, appear bountiful and are filled with optimism and a cheerful refrain. Smile you won't be able to help it. "Repeated Offender" screams - "Rude Boy" to my ears and more than just plastic, these boys mean it. 1979 has not sounded so fresh in almost 30 years! It's just a shame they didn't feel confident enough to put the black and white check on the sleeve. 9/10

Nick James

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The Marshals - Make Her Cry (Vertigo) 06/03/2006

Rabble rousers The Marshals, present this single possessing a certain mod chic and screams of its making - production credits coming by way of John Cornfield (Oasis and Razorlight). It is said this band are to continue the reinvention of Irish rock, but truth be told this is just seating itself into the status quo. A jolly enough 3 minutes, which unfortunately may fail to make any real impact. 6/10

Nick James

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Engerica – The Smell (Sanctuary) 06/03/2006

Shame this, because the other two singles Engerica released either side of this one the first time around were both great. “The Smell”, however, sounds unfortunately like The Bloodhound Gang pulling each other’s pants down in the school playground and rubbing a cheese grater on their collective arses. Much like a musical version of “Jackass”.
The other track here, “A Cure for Living”, is about six billion times better than it’s a-side, with a classier feel and an intense atmosphere, like a shock twist in a horror film.

Come on Engerica – you’re much better than this track! 5/10

Tone E

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Freemasons feat Amanda Wilson - Watchin (Loaded) 27/02/2006

This is a first class commercial dance track that has been hammered to death on all radio stations and mainstream clubs.

Great production on the original version and some pretty good remixes too. The best of these is the Walken remix and the Motivo Hi-Electro mixs. Both add a little somethin' somethin' to the original. The Walken remix is probably the most commercial and the Motivo the most dramatic. Good allround single and there is an enhanced CD video version available too. 9/10

Nic Caesar

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