Feeder’s 34th career single “Children Of The Sun”, despite the title, possesses approximately zero feelings of youthfulness. Eyebrows should always be raised when an album-ending song is released as a single. If it was any good, it’d be nearer the start of the record, right?
It’s wrong, but it can’t be helped. Hey Rosetta! are an indie folk-rock band from Canada and therefore a comparison with The Weakerthans is inevitable in my mind. But although “Welcome” is a journey that begins with a Weakerthans-esq spontaneous bang, there is an air of banality throughout the whole song.
You Me At Six are one of those bands that just keep getting bigger and bigger as each new CD is released. Coming up on October 3, 2011 is the new album Sinners Never Sleep and to keep the drooling fans at bay, “Loverboy” will be released the week previous.
It may not seem like it, but it’s now over five years since the Red Hot Chili Peppers released their last album, Stadium Arcadium. Indeed, time flies when you’re having fun and it would be hard to suggest that the lack of new material from the Chilis has been sorely missed. Stadium Arcadium was just too much at the time. There were plenty of quality songs, especially the enthralling “Dani California”, but there was over two hours of material to dissect the brilliance from the mediocrity.
As the strings slither in, the guitar gently plucks away and the next to non-existent bass hums in the background, it would be natural to wonder if Clap Your Hands Say Yeah (CYHSY) have created the dullest song in their catalogue. “Same Mistake”, complete with Alec Ounsworth’s whiny vocals, lacks any real character and drive.
Bombay Bicycle Club release their third album A Different Kind Of Fix at the end of this month and have unleashed “Shuffle” as their lead single. At first, the song tiptoes past without causing a stir, despite the best intentions of a pleasantly melodic piano riff. Jack Steadman’s vocals match the catchy tune, but along with the quiet drums and soft bass there is no “wow” factor.
Big Talk should have just scrapped the filler and shortened the album into an EP. “No Whiskey” is a cracking effort, the sort that could be found on a Seasick Steve album (minus the gruffly voice) while the aforementioned “Katzenjammer” and “Living In Pictures”, “A Fine Time To Need Me” and “Big Eye” could have made up the rest, forming a very listenable collection of songs.
Everyone, look! It’s another electro/indie band! The genre is absolutely jam-packed, but no matter how hard we try to push it away, another quality new addition arises. This time, we must welcome Wolf Gang, a band with unreal levels of pop sensibility. “The King And All Of His Men” was the first single released by Wolf Gang off their debut album Suego Faults but presumably, because the band are gaining popularity so quick, the song has been re-released.
Spank Rock are an American hip-hop group with a bit of electro and rock stirred with a straw. The result is a bit of a confused, but at the same time, addictive sound. “Energy”, the leading single from the group’s second album Everything Is Boring And Everyone Is A Fucking Liar is a prime example of the band’s unorthodox sound, but there is something within the song that keeps the listener hooked.
If you can picture in yourself on a beach, surrounded by clear blue skies, accompanied with a cocktail at your side and then seek the perfect soundtrack, look no further than “Take Me Somewhere” by Tennis. Alaina Moore’s calm, melodic voice takes you through a relaxing cruise of surf rock. Do not be surprised if the chirping guitar, tapping ride cymbal and light background organ transports you and your headphones to The Bahamas, and one thing is for sure; you will not want to leave.
Skying is the third album from British band, The Horrors. The slightly obscure post punk fivesome have never endured success like they have with Skying as it rocketed to number five in the UK charts, twenty places higher than previous effort Primary Colours. Is their success justified? Definitely, yes.
“Turbulence” is the second single from Bowling For Soup’s eleventh album, Fishing For Woos, the album which rocketed to number 189 in the US album charts. Pushing sarcasm aside, “Turbulence” is a very poor effort. We know by now that Bowling For Soup are a very obvious, “in your face” type of band, but the overwhelming feeling gathered after listing to the song is one of stale boredom.
The Future Is Medieval is Kaiser Chief’s fourth album and as of yet, the first that has failed to climb into the top two of the UK album chart listings. In fact, it has only peaked at tenth position. Its relative failure is more than justified. The Future Is Medieval is the perfect definition of a ‘damp squib’. The energy that Kaiser Chiefs are hailed for has all but vanished.
With a gap of eight years since Limp Bizkit’s last album, some critics appeared apprehensive about Gold Cobra. Nu-metal may have dominated rock music in the early noughties, but now the era is a fading memory. Somehow though, this new record does not sound old. Whilst there are a few let downs, the majority of songs are absolute gems which make you want to throw your red baseball cap back on, turn it back-to-front and start dancing on car rooftops again.