Road - Whisky Midnight

T: Remarkably tinny sounding stuff that sounds really weedy and doesn't even seem to keep time properly. Even if I'd had three whiskeys at midnight, I doubt if I'd consider signing them. They should get Phil Spectre in to sort out their production. Oh, hang on a minute...

N: I think it's more down to the production techniques used; this unquestionably gets in the way of the songs and I think we both agree these are not bad compositions. They've just been made a dog's dinner of when it came to laying them down. Sixties retro that appears to be trying a little too hard. 6/10

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Unexploded Shells- High Times

A band who come out of Leeds and record in cheap basements.

N: A band that posses an awkward charm in the lo-fi fashion. Remember Cud? Well these are the bastard children of Carl Puttnam and Neds Atomic Dustbin. An unlikely event? Stranger things have happened.

T: There is also a Kinksy kind of vibe going on there, don't you think? And I don't think it's necessarily obvious that they record in cheap basements. All good stuff.

N: It says on the scrap of paper that was passed off as a press release here, that we should expect a debut single in late summer, I suppose that's about now then. So altogether things are looking up for this band. 8/10

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Coffeekillers - Coffeekillers

N: I'm liking how this band are shaping up. An irreverant sound that seems to pitch itself somewhere between American college rock and bands like Spacemen 3. I'm not understanding the blurb that came along with this release, they're neither Muse, Floyd or Joy Division, but they still hold that 'cool' that I suppose was where the few words that accompanied this were getting at. Yeah, I think this group could create quite an underground buzz.

T: I couldn't quite understand the references either, although the guitar work is definitely reminiscent of The Cure, one of their other citations. At different intervals, I could hear The Cramps, The Real People and The La's amongst others in what is a fine release indeed. 9/10

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A.Rex - Moving Backwards

N: Ok, so the Eels take a holiday and crop up as Andrews Espinola and Jones on this well produced ten track affair. The album just slips down so easily it's hard to believe they're not signed; really there's little to be done here before releasing this on the streets, undoubtedly with a huge advance.

T: I agree, this is an excellent release with quality songwriting shining through and a lovely summer day feel which makes it infinitely playable. Push "Repeat", kick off your shoes and lie back and relax. 9/10

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Joy Surrender - Boxer Broadcast

T: I'm afraid my joy was short lived here. Dull, derivative drivel from Derby which doesn't delight.

N: Kids out of school, the electric guitar bought for Christmas already onto its third neck, waking up the neighbours with more overdrive than cereal. But at this point, their first recording is more imitation than innovation.

T: Yep. They're clearly trying to be their idols, Hell Is For Heroes or Funeral For a Friend, but ultimately they look like the kid at the front of the latest fashionable emo band, dressed exactly the same as whichever band member has gained the most column inches in this month's Kerrang! 3/10

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