New Music: The Best of 2013 so far #5

This is the fifth time I've done one of these and the format is pretty simple:

New blog post consisting of new music.

Go ahead and check it out :)

Alter Bridge- Addicted to Pain: Fresh from their side projects (Singer Myles Kennedy working with Slash recording and touring his solo album and Guitarist Mark Tremonti promoting his own solo work), 2013 sees Alter Bridge return with their 4^th studio album ‘Fortress’. ‘Addicted to Pain’ is the first single and it is awesome.   It typifies the modern hard rock genre. Kennedy, widely regarded as one of the best singers around, has his distinctive vocals set against a bone crunching riff and thumping rhythm section. This may not sound like anything special, but it is an experienced at the top of their game and on first listen is really does make you sit up and take notice. People may question where the next “great” rock band is going to come from, but Alter Bridge are certainly making their claim.

 

Avenged Sevenfold- Hail to the King: Arguably the biggest hard rock act around at the moment, Avenged Sevenfold return with this, the lead single off their new latest album. With ‘Hail to the King’ being their sixth album release, they have now established themselves as one of the titans of the modern rock genre. Even though the band had to contend with the sudden death of drummer James ‘The Rev’ Sullivan, they returned with vengeance with their 2010 album ‘Nightmare’ and have continued in the same vain with the current album. There is very much a 1970s heavy metal feel to the single with the intro showing particular influences in Black Sabbath and Deep Purple. However there is still that 21^st Century sound running throughout showing they are not copying old bands past glories. It’s proved to be popular with the album going straight to number one in the UK and US charts.

 

Babyshambles- Nothing Comes to Nothing: One of the most infamous rock stars of recent years makes his return with a brilliant new song. 2013 sees Pete Doherty return with his other band, Babyshambles for their third album after 2007’s ‘Shotter’s Nation’. I’ve never really been a big fan of Babyshambles or The Libertines, apart from a few songs, but I liked this song straight away. There is a signature Doherty sound running through the song in both the vocals and the music and it just seems to have a class about it that makes it a really good song to listen to. He is evidentially a very talented musician and on this kind of form, he writes fantastic music.

 

Halestorm- Get Lucky: Fresh from their Grammy win for best Hard Rock/Metal song with ‘Love Bites… (So Do I), Halestorm return with their second covers EP named Reanimate2. As with the original Reanimate EP, it includes covers of various rock songs including those from AC/DC and Judas Priest. However the first song they have made available for the public’s enjoyment is a cover of one of the biggest, and most annoying, songs of the year. Yes, it is the ‘Get Lucky’ you’re thinking of. The Daft Punk song that you can’t seem to get away from. What Halestorm have done is taken it away, given it some new clothes and turned it into a rock song. And you know what, it doesn’t sound too bad. It sounds a bit clunky in places, but that’s due to the original’s annoying structure. That’s not to say it’s a bad song. Lzzy Hale’s vocals are typically strong and powerful while it features a nice little guitar solo halfway through. It’s a good cover a song that I had got bored of and it certainly gave it something fresh. Very much looking forward to hearing their ‘Shoot to Thrill’ cover from the EP.

 

Hey! Hello!- Swimwear: Hey! Hello!’s self-titled release I think will certainly go down as one of the most interesting albums of the year. Comprising of ex-Wildhearts frontman Ginger Wildheart and American singer Victoria Liedtke, they joined forces to create an album full of light-hearted pop rock. The result is brilliant quite frankly, as evidenced here by the single ‘Swinwear’.  Short, punchy, but incredibly catchy it showcases Ginger’s talents as a multi-instrumentalist (the video shows him playing drums, bass and guitar and he recorded each part himself when making the album). It also brings Wildheart together with Liedtke again, with the pair having worked together on the former’s 555% project. Fair to say they make a good team. Definitely music that lifts your mood and puts a smile on your face.

 

Jake Bugg- What Doesn’t Kill You: Jake Bugg has had quite a year. A number one debut album, multiple sold out tours, various popular festival appearances and he has still found time to record a new album. Working with veteran producer Rick Rubin, Bugg has finished working on his second album ‘Shangri La’, due for release in the UK in November. ‘What Doesn’t Kill You’ is the lead single of said album and immediately you can tell a difference to his music. Gone is the folky kind of sound from the first album which has been replaced by a much more guitar led indie sound. For this song at least, will have to wait and see what the rest of the album is like. I like it though. Bugg is a very accomplished guitarist, something he shows in the live act, and this has obviously been picked up by Rubin who has encouraged a different approach. It’s worked a treat though and shows a versatility that proves he is more than a one trick pony. Not that he is was anyway.

 

Keane- Higher Than the Sun: There appears to be a trend that bands who appeared on the scene while I was at school are now at a stage in their careers where they can release a ‘Best Of’ compilation. The Killers are one such band (more on them below) and Keane are also in on the act. After four studio albums plus an EP, there is plenty of material to choose from. I am a big fan of their first two albums and was very impressed with last year’s release ‘Strangeland’ so I’m always interested to hear what Keane’s new music sounds like.  It doesn’t disappoint. It has Keane written all over it and very much has their signature sound. It perhaps isn’t their best song compared to the rest of their collection, but it can sit perfectly comfortably amongst their other hits in the knowledge that it helps provide a great introduction to the band.

 

Kodaline- All I Want pt2: Released roughly a year ago, Irish indie band Kodaline captured the public’s hearts with a frankly brilliant video to their single ‘All I Want’. It was a fantastic video which told the story of a man ‘with a different kind of face’ (*), standing up to the bullies as well as trying to win the heart of the girl in the office. Thing is, it wasn’t just a good video, the song was brilliant as well. With over 4 million hits on YouTube, the song proved to be immensely popular, and all before the band had even released their first album. So the band have returned to finish the story, with an equally fantastic video set to the same song. This time it’s set around the story of losing his dog Digby. I’m a dog person so I fell in love with the video immediately and I challenge and I challenge anyone not to do the same. It manages to stir emotion in the viewer just as they did with the last video and they’ve done it perfectly. The song works equally well live, I saw them perform at Hard Rock Calling, and I think they are a band that are going to go from strength to strength.

*http://www.promonews.tv/videos/2013/10/08/kodaline-all-i-want-part-2-stevie-Russell

 

Lissie- Sleepwalking: ‘Sleepwalking is the latest single from Illinois songstress Lissie and it’s an absolute stormer. Having had huge success with her debut album ‘Catching a Tiger’, she came to further prominence with her cover of the Fleetwood Mac classic ‘Go Your Own Way’. Having already released ‘Shameless’ and  ‘Further Away’, ‘Sleepwalking’ is the third track to be heard from an album that hasn’t even been released yet. Not that I’m complaining. I warmed to ‘Shameless’ and ‘Further Away’ quite quickly but fell in love with ‘Sleepwalking’ immediately. It caught my attention on the radio immediately. It’s a great song, very catchy and with a brilliant beat and chorus to it. It has a real laid back charm to it that is hard not to like, as well as a good bass guitar solo. If the rest of the album is as good as the tracks we’ve already heard then I think we’re in for a cracking album.

 

NoNoNo- Pumpin’ Blood: This is, hands down, one of my favourite songs of the year. It has everything; a great hook, sing along chorus, perfect tempo and you can’t not dance along to it. I fell in love with it the very first time I heard it. It is going to be a massive hit around the world, there’s no question about that. With already over a million hits on YouTube, a good number of them mine, word is spreading fast. Hailing from Stockholm, Sweden, it is Scandinavian pop at its finest. Icona Pop may have felt they had the title for best song of 2013 from that part of the world, but NoNoNo have put up a very strong challenge. There are differences between the two however. Whereas Icona Pop are purely pop,  NoNoNo have more of an indie sound, similar to New Zealanders The Naked and Famous. In the end though it might be easier not trying to pigeon hole them; they have put out one of the best songs of the year which makes any sub-genre choosing pretty irrelevant.

 

The Dead Dasies feat. Slash- Lock n Load: Not a band that I had heard of before, but after being introduced to them by Classic Rock Magazine I thought they’d be worth a look. Worth the effort as this song includes a guest appearance with Slash on guitar, and any song with him playing is going to be worth listening to. A classic rock song that is well worth checking out. Having recently opened for Aerosmith, The Dead Daises might be a name to look out for in the future.

 

The Civil Wars- Dust to Dust: Not a band I am overly familiar with, but thanks again to Classic Rock Magazine I have ended up listening to a gem of a band. ‘Dust to Dust’ is the third single of the duo’s self-titled second album. It is a wonderfully gentle song (think ‘Streets of Philadelphia’ by Bruce Springsteen and you get the idea) and has the ability to capture you within the opening seconds. The voices of John Paul White and Joy Williams complement each other so well I can see why they won a Grammy as well as other awards for their debut album. Definitely a band that are worth investigating further.

 

Terry Malts- I Was Not There: Sometimes a random find can turn out to be an absolute gem, and that is exactly the case here. The Hard Rock Facebook page posted the video for this song and I decided to take a look as it appeared on my timeline. Well I’m glad I did because it’s a cracking song. Not only that, I’ve given a listen to the whole album and it follows pretty much in the same vein. There is a Britpop crossed with Alternative Rock sound to the song, with the riff sounding like it has been influenced by Placebo. In fact it was the riff that made me stop and give the song a proper listen. It is very catchy and soon has you breaking out the air guitar. It will also have you singing along to the chorus within a couple of listens. A great little find and a song that any fan of indie music will love.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXBL5eTe7VY

The Family Rain- Pushing It: 2013 seems to be a good year for young British rock bands and Bath trio The Family Rain are the latest to put their name forward. To be honest I’ve included them here as I recently saw them open for Miles Kane in Portsmouth and I was really impressed with them. Well impressed enough to warrant telling people about them and suggest giving them a listen. ‘Pushing It’ has bluesy rock sound to it, not unlike The Black Keys, with a riff reminiscent of ‘Joker and the Thief’.  That’s not to say they are ripping anyone off. They have a tight but individual sound with a range of songs that made them worth checking out after I had seen them. They might not be a name you recognise but they might just be a name you will become familiar with the future.

 

The Killers- Shot At the Night: 2013 has been a mammoth year for The Killers. Not only have the Las Vegas rockers concluded their mammoth ‘Battle Born’ tour, including a sell -out show at Wembley Stadium in London, they have now announced their ‘Greatest Hits’ album, a collection spanning their career thus far. It’s hard to imagine they’ve been around ten years, but after 4 albums, B-Sides and rarities as well as one off and Christmas singles, you can now get a Killers starter kit, with all the essential tracks to get you hooked. Plus two new tracks, including this one. Produced by Anthony Gonzalez from M83, the song sees the band return to a 1980s influenced sound. They have always had a different sound with each album they have done, and this song has a slightly different sound once again. It’s not the same as the New Wave influences found on Hot Fuss and doesn’t fit with the style on Day and Age. As with all The Killers music, it’s a real grower. After a few listens you find yourself becoming rather fond of it. With another new song ‘Just Another Girl’ on the album, as well news of a new Brandon Flowers solo album due in the not so distant future, there is plenty of music for fans of The Killers to look forward to.

 

The Strypes- What a Shame: Irish youngsters The Strypes release the third single off their debut album ‘Snapshot’ and they continue to make a big name for themselves. For a band so young, they already appear to have a well-established sound. They know the kind of music they want to play and they go ahead and smash it. While it doesn’t have the same intensity of ‘Blue Collar Jane’, it still has a similar catchiness that keeps you listening. They might be taking their look and sound from the 1960s, but since when was that a bad thing. For now it makes them stand out as something a bit different which can only be a good thing.

 

 

There you have it, another brief round up of some of the best new music around at the moment. Feel free to check out some of my other posts and keep a look out for some gig reviews that will be coming up in the near future. Will have two that will be up in the next 10 days or so.

Thanks for reading.

Until next time :)

 

 

Gig Review: Spector @ The Haunt, Brighton

Spector @ The Haunt, Brighton 3/10

This year I have been lucky enough to see some big bands in some huge venues. However sometimes you can’t beat being in a small venue, and The Haunt in Brighton provided just a setting. Having seen Spector play live on YouTube I was looking forward to seeing them in the flesh. They didn’t disappoint.

Before Spector took to the stage, there were a couple of support acts. The first band, who I only saw half the set of, were ‘Two Jackals’. They played 80s style indie music with synths but they didn’t really capture my imagination. Their last couple of songs were Ok but not anything I’d rush to listen to again. The second support act was a band called ‘Pale’. They had a similar style to the previous band, but seemed to have a fuller, more accomplished sound. Even though they only played a short set, they managed to get the crowd onside early on. Out of the two, they were definitely the band I preferred.

On to Spector then and they gave it everything they had right from the start. You’d expect that though given it was the first night of the tour, although their first proper gig in Brighton apparently. They played a mixture of songs from their first album ‘Enjoy It While It Lasts’, all of which had the place bouncing (quite literally, you could feel the floor flexing under your feet), as well as debuting some new material.

They started off with older material including ‘Friday Night, Don’t Ever Let It End’ and ‘Upset Boulevard’. These went down a storm with the crowd who sang and clapped along to most of the set. The new material was well received; I particularly liked ‘Decade of Decay’, a new song that has been on YouTube recently, as well as some other songs that were new, even to the band themselves.

They finished their 13 song set with their three most popular singles. ‘Celestine’ went down well before they thundered into ‘Chevy Thunder’ which had the whole place rocking again. They ended on the brilliant ‘Never Fade Away’ which included a mass sing and clap along from the crowd.

Overall they put on a very good performance even though Tom, the bass player, was playing with a broken collarbone. Singer Frank McPherson is a brilliant frontman. He has a confidence supported by a quirky sense of humour which enables him to effortlessly interact with the crowd, which he did on numerous occasions. Importantly though, he sounds exactly the same live as he does on record, maybe even better as he can put more passion into the vocals.

They said they had never played Brighton properly before, but I think they might well be back at some point. I had a really good night. The venue was good, the crowd were superb and the band responded with a fantastic performance. I think it’s fair to say the band enjoyed themselves. Certainly not a bad way to kick off the tour.

*I apologise for the lack of pictures with this post, as there usually are with my gig reviews as there were too many people in the way and my camera wasn’t working.

 

 

Gig Review: Miles Kane @ Pyramids Centre, Portsmouth

Miles Kane @ Pyramids Centre, Portsmouth 26/9

Well what can I say? This certainly dusted away the post gig blues I’ve had since Hard Rock Calling back in June. Funnily enough, I saw Miles Kane live that day, and enjoyed myself so much, I got myself a ticket for his Pompey show the following morning. He was brilliant at the Olympic Park as support for Kasabian, and he kicked off his UK tour in the same fashion.

The Family Rain

First up though was support act The Family Rain, three brothers from Bath. You tend to take pot luck whether support acts are going to be any good or not, but these guys had my attention pretty much from the start. Considering I had never heard of them before I was really impressed. Any band that makes me look them up when I get home deserves a thumbs up. The song that stuck with me most was ‘Pushing It’, although that may be because it reminds of ‘Joker and the Thief’ by Wolfmother. Either way I will definitely be purchasing a copy of their EP.

 Next up was the man the sold out Pyramids Centre had all come to see. There was a real mixture of people in the crowd, with a fair amount of Mods sporting smart polo shirts and impressive haircuts. Cutting short the Oasis track that was playing, Kane burst into ‘Taking Over’, the first song on his latest album. The crowd loved it and by the fourth song, ‘Rearrange’, they were taking over bits of the chorus, led by Miles himself.  Latest single ‘Better Than That’ went down a storm as did ‘What Condition Am I In’ while ‘Darkness In Our Hearts’ had the whole venue singing along.

He rattled through a mixture of other songs from his two studio albums, before diving into ‘Give Up’. Personally, it’s one of my favourite songs of his and it sounds even better live. It’s a proper sing along guitar anthem (although to be fair that’s the description of pretty much all his songs). What made this version even better though was the surprise that was waiting for us halfway through. He managed to seamlessly slip in a very good cover of The Rolling Stones’ ‘Sympathy for the Devil’ before reverting back to his own song.

‘Inhaler’, an old favourite, was very well received before he closed the set with ‘Don’t Forget Who You Are’. Not only is the song ferociously catchy, but it was also the cue for further mass crowd participation with “La La La, La La La La La La” still being sung for a while after he had departed the stage. This was replaced with a chant of “Miles, Miles, Miles…”. As he returned to the stage with just himself and an acoustic guitar the crowd chanted “Miles, Miles give us a wave”. He duly did which received a huge cheer.

He then played ‘Colour of the Trap’ before his band mates returned to the stage themselves for the final song of the night, ‘Come Closer’. It’s a real crowd favourite and he had the whole place singing along. He is a great showman and knows exactly how to get the most out of the crowd. In fact “Ahhh, Woahhh” could still be heard as people were filing out the doors.  

“I couldn’t have wished for a better start to the tour,” Miles commented during the gig. Pretty much says it all.

Thanks for reading J

New Music: Best of 2013 so far #4

It’s me again. Well it’s been a while since one of these and there has been plenty of music released now that Festival season is coming to an end. Thought then it would be a good time to have a round-up of some of the best new releases. Plenty to choose so I had to whittle it down, but I hope you enjoy J

Bastille- Things We lost In the Fire: 2013 has been quite a year for London based band Bastille. After a steady rise in popularity with the release of various singles from their debut album, the band started to build a fan base. I first became aware of them upon the release of single number three, ‘Flaws’, which received quite a bit of airplay on the music channels. Then in February, the song everybody has heard, ‘Pompeii’ was released and immediately went to number 2 in the charts followed quickly by their debut album debuting at number one and a support slot with Muse on their UK tour (although not the day I saw them). ‘Things We Lost In The Fire’ is the latest single from the album and a song I’ve really warmed to. I didn’t think a great deal of it at first; not that I didn’t like it, I just didn’t take much notice. It has grown on me massively however and is one of my most listened to songs currently. They look like a band who are going to go on and achieve big things.

 

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros- Home: Ok so this isn’t a new song as such, given that it was originally released in 2010. However it has re-entered the charts recently due to its inclusion in a TV commercial for Peugeot and is so good that people need to know about it. I’m certainly glad it’s getting some extra airplay as I completely missed it first time round, but have now totally fallen in love with it. It sits very much in the Indie Folk/Rock category that is popular at the moment. My first reaction was to liken it to Icelandic contemporaries Of Monsters and Men but with more of an American Country feel given their Californian roots. One listen and you will be hooked; you’ll find it hard to shift it out of your head. I can see why it was picked for an advert. It has a great hook, a simple catchy chorus and you’ll soon find yourself singing and whistling along to it in no time. Definitely one of my favourite songs of the year.

 

Ellie Goulding- Burn: It has been three years since Ellie Goulding exploded onto the scene with her debut album ‘Lights’ which proved to be immensely popular, debuting at number one. The singles proved to be a success with ‘Lights’ giving her a number one in America and the cover of Elton John’s ‘Your Song’ reaching number 2 in the UK. However it’s taken her till August 2013 to achieve her first UK number one, but she finally achieved that feat with ‘Burn’, which is the lead single off the reissue of her second album ‘Halcyon Days’. It managed to stay there for 3 weeks, before being knocked off top spot by Katy Perry.  It’s a very catchy song and very much has that distinctive Ellie Goulding DNA running through it. It may have taken a surprisingly long time to get there, because of her popularity, but she fully deserves to get a UK number one.

 

Frank Turner- Four Simple Words: If you’re scratching your head thinking, “this isn’t a single off the album”, you’re right it isn’t. It was released as a free download at the backend of last year, but that was it. This might not be a single, but it is a song off Frank Turner’s latest album ‘Tape Deck Heart’, and it is a song I am very fond of, so I thought I’d throw it in here. It is also a song I have had stuck in my head permanently for the last fortnight or so which has meant I’ve had to listen to it with the volume right up a lot recently. It’s a very well structured song with the quiet beginning before it really kicks in with a punkish attitude. The “I wanna dance…” chorus is catchy, but it is a bit in the middle that really grabs me:

“Somebody told me that music with guitars,

 Was going out of fashion and I had to laugh,

        This shit wasn’t fashionable when I fell in love,

If the hipsters move on why should I give a fuck?”

This is a person who is speaking my language right there and I can’t bloody wait to see him live on his UK tour next year. Something tells me it’s going to be a good one.

 

Franz Ferdinand- Right Action: It is hard to believe, but it is almost ten years since Franz Ferdinand burst into the public consciousness with their own brand of guitar led indie catchiness.  With songs such as ‘Take Me Out’, ‘Dark of the Matinee’ and ‘This Fire’ they gained a legion of fans, me included, and help lead the charge of a new era of indie bands. Well with their latest effort, their fourth studio album and first since 2009, the Glasgow quartet are back stronger than ever. With this, the first single off the album, the band appear to have returned to a sound that is similar to that of their debut. It has that definite Franz Ferdinand sound which makes it immediately identifiable. It’s also incredibly catchy, as with all their songs, and is one you’ll find yourself listening to on repeat. Tickets for their 2014 UK tour go on sale soon, and I think I will bag myself a ticket.

 

Haim- The Wire: Latest single from the LA sisters and from the sound of it, they are onto another winner. Having topped the BBC’s Sound of 2013 poll, big things were expected from the sisters Haim, and they aren’t disappointing. I think it says something about how popular they are that they entertained a slot on Live… Later with Jools Holland and have appeared at Glastonbury and Reading/Leeds Festivals this summer amongst others to critical acclaim, all before their debut album has been released.  In fact they only finished the album (‘Days Are Gone’) in June with it due for release at the end of this month. ‘The Wire’ is their latest single and is typical of the sound that we’ve come accustomed to from the band. There’s a great groove, harmony and beat to it which makes it instantly likable. My favourite song of theirs so far has been ‘Don’t Save Me’ from one of their EPs, but I that might have just changed. A band that are well on the way to big things.

 

Icona Pop- I Love It: By rights I shouldn’t like this song. It sits in a genre of music I usually ignore, not that I can get away from it due to its, let’s say generous, radio airplay. I first heard it actually not on the radio, but after reading a news article about it saying how it was due to dominate the UK charts, a year after its original release in native Sweden. It’s been a hit round the world so I decided to check it out of curiosity to see what the fuss was about. One listen and I was immediately taken by it. Its brilliance lies in its simplicity. That thumping beat hits you like a train right from the off and coupled with the angry, angsty lyrics almost shouted at you it’s a song you cannot ignore once you’ve heard it. It has received very high reviews pretty much everywhere it’s been played, and I can totally see why. It is pop music at its best.

 

Imagine Dragons- It’s Time: Another song that has been knocking around for a year but was finally released a single in the UK this summer. Better known for their mammoth single ‘Radioactive’, Las Vegas indie rockers Imagine Dragons, in my opinion, really hit gold with this song. It is fantastic. It is a real festival anthem, one that is meant to be belted out at the top of your voice with your hands in the air. Failing that, just turn it up loud whilst in the car. Either way, it’s a great song and one of my favourites of the year so far.

 

Kings of Leon- Supersoaker: ‘Supersoaker’, the lead single of Kings of Leon’s sixth album, sees the Nashville boys return in fine form. The band has received criticism from some quarters after their last two albums, something I didn’t buy into. However there does seem to be something different about this latest effort. It’s a song that just oozes class and is one that you will like from the start. It’s not the huge arena/festival sing along anthem of say a ‘Sex on Fire’ or ‘Use Somebody’, it’s much more understated than that. And that’s where the song’s charm lies. It’s just a great song from start to finish. It has a catchy riff, Caleb Followill’s distinctive vocals and an uplifting chorus. It’s the sound of a band enjoying themselves and further cements Kings of Leon’s place as one of the biggest bands around at the moment.

 

Lissie- Further Away: I’ve been looking forward to some new material from American Singer/Songwriter Lissie for a while, ever since she tempted us with her cover of Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Go Your Own Way’. I was a big fan of her debut ‘Catching a Tiger’ and, if anything, she sounds even better on this record. That rawness is still there, which I’m glad about as it made her sound genuine and real whilst managing to enhance her overall sound. It would be fair to say ‘Further Away’ has a bigger sound to her debut album and crosses over into Rock rather than just Blues. It’s a song that should get the radios attention, as she is a talent deserves to be recognised by a wider audience.

 

Spector- Decade of Decay: ‘Decade of Decay’ see London four piece Spector return after a successful debut that spawned singles such as ‘Never Fade Away’ and ‘Chevy Thunder’. Very much an indie band, Spector wear their influences on their sleeve, and their 80s New Wave sound is evident in this new song. I for one am not complaining, even if the song is a little short, coming in at just over two minutes.  It may be short and sweet, but I’m looking forward to hearing it at their Brighton show next month. Keep a look out for the gig review in the coming weeks.

 

Tears for Fears- Ready to Start: 80s New Wave legends cover Canadian indie rockers Arcade Fire, and I have to say its bloody brilliant. Having caught it on the radio at work, I noted it down and had a proper listen to it when I got home. I was pleasantly surprised just how good it sounded. It’s different from the original, as you’d expect. It’s much softer and has more of a 80s feel. In fact if you didn’t know it was an Arcade Fire song, you wouldn’t guess it was a cover at all. It might not be a song that will break records in the charts, but it is certainly worth checking out. It also seems to have introduced a new set of fans to Arcade Fire, which isn’t a bad thing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgCt6maER7s

 

The Answer- Spectaular: Northern Irish rockers The Answer return with the lead single off their fourth album, ‘New Horizon’. If you aren’t familiar with their music, imagine Led Zeppelin, but with a modern twist. Cormac Neeson is a great front man, brilliant voice and full of charisma while Paul Mahon is a vastly underrated axeman. I have enjoyed their last three albums, and am very much looking forward to their latest album, which if this is anything to go by, is going to be a riot. I am also looking forward to seeing them live again in Brighton at the end of October, so keep a look out for a gig review in the upcoming weeks.

 

The Fratellis- Seven Days Seven Nights: After two brilliant albums, a hiatus, solo projects and the Codeine Velvet Club side project, The Fratellis are back and grace us with the first single off their new album. The good news is the time away seems to have done the band good as they as good as ever. They always had that fun element to them, and ‘Seven Days Seven Nights’ is no different. Something tells me this will be an absolute riot live as it’s a song that really gets your foot tapping and its hard to stay still when you’re listening to it. It’s a song that puts a smile on your face and shows the world that The Fratellis aren’t just another indie band from the mid 00s.

 

The Naked and Famous- Hearts Like Ours: There is always a pressure on an artist after a success and popular debut when it comes to following it up with their second album. The Naked and Famous however needn’t have worried. Their 2010 debut ‘Passive Me, Aggressive You’ received wide ranging popular acclaim with songs such as ‘Young Blood’, ‘Punching in a Dream’ and ‘Girls Like You’ proving to be particular crowd favourites. They were even a very assured live act, something I enjoyed myself at their Portsmouth show in 2011. Well if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it and they haven’t strayed too far from the sound of their debut. I don’t mind that for one second. They have their own distinctive sound and this allows them to develop that rather than taking a radical change in direction. If you liked their debut, you are definitely going to be a fan of this.

 

Youngblood Hawke- We Come Running: Fans of the latest FIFA Football game (well Fifa 13) will immediately be familiar with this song due to its inclusion on the games soundtrack. Back then it was part of Youngblood Hawke’s latest EP. Now it’s the first single off their debut album “Wake Up” and it’s a good excuse to dig it out and listen to it again. Not a bad idea really given that it’s a perfect song for the summer. It was a song that I immediately fell in love with when I heard it on the game and a bit despondent with its lack of attention, so I was pleasantly surprised when I saw the video on MTV Rocks. It’s a very catchy song, but that’s not surprising given that two of the members were in the band Iglu & Hartly (remember ‘In This City’?). Anyway Youngblood Hawke offer a dose of catchy indie rock that was a perfect anthem for the summer months.

 

 

Well there you have it, thanks for reading. Hope you enjoyed.

Been filling up my calander with various gigs between now and the end of the year so keep a look out for gig reviews for Miles Kane, The Answer, KT Tunstall and Spector amongst others in the next few months.

 

Thanks again.

 

Until next time J

 

Best of British- Singer Songwriters

If there is one thing that Britain is good at, it is producing excellent musicians and none more so than Singer Songwriters. Throughout the years there have been a number of great singer songwriters originating from these shores. And at this current moment in time there is a strong pool of talent from this particular genre.

As I couldn’t possibly write about each and every single one of them, I decided to just concentrate on some of my favourites, but to give you some idea of the breadth of talent, here is a list of people I haven’t included:  

Adele, Amy Winehouse, Badly Drawn Boy, David Gray, Dido, Eliza Doolittle, Ellie Goulding, Emeli Sande, Florence and the Machine, Jamie Cullum, James Blunt, James Morrison, Joss Stone, Norah Jones, Paloma Faith and more recently Tom Odell.

All very talented artists, but this post would go on forever if I wrote about all of them so here is a handful of my personal favourites. Enjoy J

Amy MacDonald: If you are a regular reader of my blog, you may have already realised I am a big fan of Amy MacDonald, especially if you read my concert review of her Brighton gig (link below) back in April. I really believe that she is one of the best things to come of out the British music scene in recent years. Three top 5 albums, including a number one spot for her 2007 debut, is a strong hit rate and all three are fantastic. Her albums aren't her only asset though; as I may have mentioned in my gig review, her live shows are brilliant. Fantastic music mixed with a charming down to earth attitude and personality makes for a reeally enjoyable live experience. It's just a shame she is so underrated over here in the UK. 

http://alexwhite1990.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/amy-macdonald-brighton-dome.html

Ben Howard: Been Howard's stock and popularity seems to have rocketed since the release of his debut album. After a number of EPs, Howard released 'Every Kingdom' in 2011 and hasn't looked back since. A strong legion of fans has developed meaning sold out tours and successful festival appearances. I myself am a big fan. Even though acoustic singer/songwriters are nothing new, Ben Howard brings catchy and classy songs to the table which people seem to connect with. Even if you don't think you know any of his songs, he is one of those artists where you will recognise more than you think. If you haven't already purchased his album , you won't be disappointed. 

 

Ed Sheeran: When I said above that there is no shortage acoustic singer/songwriters, Ed Sheeran is a prime example. However it would be wrong to directly compare Ben Howard and the aforementioned Mr Sheeran. There are similarities granted; both have had immensely successful debut albums and both are very popular live acts. However there are differences between the two, and it's this that has helped make Sheeran so successful. By combining elements of folk and hip hop, Sheeran managed to give himself a popular sound, proven by the fact that his album + hit the number spot in the album charts. With songs like 'The A Team', 'Lego House' and 'You Need Me, I Don't Need You', Sheeran has shown a real talent as both a singer and a songwriter and deserves the plaudits he receives. It is only one album however, so it will be interesting to see where he progresses from here.

 

Frank Turner: It’s funny how things work out. With five albums out already, you would expect Turner to be a household name. However, even though he’s got a strong and loyal following, it took one event that made people, including me, to sit up and take notice. It was when Turner played ‘I Still Believe’ at the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games that made me think, “Why haven’t I listened to this guy before?” Me and a lot of other people as his tours sell out very quickly. It’s good though, as Turner is a fantastic musician and songwriter. If you’re looking for a happy sounding, upbeat acoustic song then you’re in the right place. It’s one that will get your foot tapping that’s for sure. It’s the sort of music made for belting out in sun at a summer festival.

Jake Bugg: This guy just keeps going from strength to strength. Whether you’re listening to ‘Lightning Bolt’, ‘Two Fingers’ or ‘Taste It’, it’s another example of Bugg’s Dylan-esque style with an upbeat folk rock sound commentating on the state of working class life. He is a great young talent, and the more you listen to his music, the more you realise it. The Bob Dylan comparison may be obvious, but there is also a hint of Johnny Cash in there as well, as evidenced by the dark lyrics in ‘Seen It All’. However it is not all upbeat folk songs, he has shown he can slow the pace right down and showcase his strong singing ability. A perfect example of this is on the song ‘Broken’, recently re-recorded with veteran producer Rick Rubin with Red Hot Chili Peppers’ drummer Chad Smith appearing as a guest. Bugg writes music that is mature beyond his teenage years, which makes it an exciting prospect to see what comes next. Having already sold out 3 separate UK tours in just over a year, Bugg is on the way to becoming a huge star in years to come.

 

 

KT Tunstall: It may not seem like it, but KT Tunstall has been around for almost ten years. It was back in 2004 that she won public affection after her performance of ‘Black Horse and the Cherry Tree’ on ‘Later…with Jools Holland’. Her first album, ‘Eye to the Telescope’, proved to be a huge success, hitting the number three spot in the UK charts, and with songs like ‘Other Side of the World’, ‘Under the Weather’ and ‘Suddenly I See’, it was chock full of radio friendly singles. Her follow up albums ‘Drastic Fantastic’ and ‘Tiger Suit’ didn’t quite hit the same heights after slight changes in direction, although songs such as ‘Hold On’ and ‘(Still a) Weirdo’ proved popular. 2013 though saw Tunstall return to a style closer to that of her debut. I’m a big fan of the lead single ‘Feel It All’, I think it’s one of the strongest and most underrated songs of the year so far, and personally think this style suits her more. Tunstall remains a popular act on the festival circuit, and I am looking forward to seeing her myself on her UK tour in November… so keep a look out for a gig review coming your way around that time.  

 

Marina and the Diamonds: Marina Lambrini Diamindis, AKA Marina and the Diamonds, has enjoyed huge success since she was named as the runner up on the BBC Sound of 2010 poll listing behind a certain Ellie Goulding. The thing that I really like about her music is that it is slightly different to the mainstream pop that is in the charts. This is something that she acknowledges herself, calling herself a “DIY Musician” explaining “I probably have a bit of a different sound because I don’t really know what I’m doing.” She has also cited influences as wide reaching as Madonna and Nirvana with Blondie, Kylie and Dolly Parton in between, which shows this is someone who is not afraid to try something different. This was shown after the success of her first album ‘The Family Jewells’, with slight change in musical direction for her follow up ‘Electra Heart’. This worked wonders as it went to number one in the UK. All in all, she is a fun and quirky artist who provides something different.   
 

 

Nerina Pallot: Singer/Songwriter Nerina Pallot has been around for a few years now, and with four albums to her name it is a real surprise that she hasn’t had more commercial success. There is no reason why any of her singles haven’t been big radio successes. Listening through her albums, she is obviously very talented and has a fantastic voice, but she somehow manages to stay just out of the mainstream media spotlight. It’s a shame because people are missing out on some brilliant music. From reading and watching various interviews with her, she seems quite quirky and comes across in her music. There’s a real personality and identity in her songs that give them character. There’s also a versatility to her music that I really like. From big Alanis Morisette-esque anthems such as ‘Learning to Breathe’ and ‘Everybody’s Going To War’ to beautiful ballads like ‘Dear Frustrated Superstar’, to straight forward, light hearted pop songs such as ‘Real Late Starter’. She has a real talent for penning a catchy song, and with her wonderful, distinctive voice she has a sound that is both modern and classy. There are a lot of singer songwriters around at the moment, but Nerina Pallot is still one of my favourites. Give her a listen and she’ll be yours too.

 

Newton Faulkner: Perhaps the most popular ginger haired guitar playing, singer/songwriter before Ed Sheeran came along, Newton Falkner is a fantastically talented musician. With his debut album ‘Hand Built By Robots’ reaching number one and going double platinum in the UK in 2007, its fair to say that Faulkner’s brand of folk rock is immensely popular. Following that up with a number three album, 2009’s ‘Rebuilt by Human’s, his third album ‘Write It on Your Own Skin’ hit the number spot in the UK in the summer of 2012. With a fourth album due out at the end of August, the odds on another number one album are looking good. The new album, titled ‘Studio Zoo’ should be interesting given that its recording was streamed live 24/7 for 5 weeks in the summer of 2013 from Faulkner’s home studio. I for one am definitely looking forward to it.  

 

Paolo Nutini: Paolo Nutini may not have released an album since his 2009 effort ‘Sunny Side Up’, and may even have been a bit forgotten about given the rise of the likes of Ben Howard and Ed Sheeran in recent years. However it is still worth remembering what a talented singer/songwriter Nutini is. His fun, upbeat brand of folk-pop is really uplifting, and with his distinctive gravelly tones, it is a voice that you don’t really tire of listening to. So far Nutini has enjoyed relative success in the charts with his 2006 debut ‘These Streets’ sitting pretty at number 3 in the UK and went 4x platinum, while his follow up did even better, debuting at number one and achieving the same platinum status. With songs such as ‘Jenny Don’t Be Hasty’, ‘New Shoes’, ‘10/10’ and ‘Pencil Full of Lead’, it’s not hard to see why he has enjoyed such success. He still remains a popular figure on the festival circuit, just needs a new album now so I can see him live myself.

 

 

There you have it, a quick round up of some of the best British singer songwriters of recent years.

Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed it.

Until next time J