Recent reviews

THE CHARLATANS- FOREVER: THE SINGLES [Universal]

Most of these 'best of' compilations seem to be released in order to make some easy cash or remind people that they are still a good band. However, despite the recent poor singles, it does seem that Brit-pop/indie side-liners The Charlatans put a lot of thought into this release. It includes some of the greats, such as The Only One I Know, with familiar melodies that are guaranteed to get you tapping your feet, and One To Another, which still remains to this day a fantastic song. Even some of their later tracks, such as Up At The Lake, are highly impressive, representing a good maturation in The Charlatans’ sound. However, their later tracks lack the appeal of their earlier songs, which makes the album drag slightly and perhaps explains why they are releasing a ‘best of’ instead of new material. Finally, the remix at the end is appalling, being dated, lazy and unintelligent, making you glad that the album is over. In general, the album is really enjoyable with a number of tracks that unquestionably prove The Charlatans’ talent. However, there are certain lapses into mediocrity which leave you wondering whether The Charlatans should have ended many years before. Joe Friel (06/11/06)

THE LEVELLERS- CHAOS THEORY DVD

This was an extreme ride through the last few years of the Levellers. Each gig had great energy, and the Levellers had an awesome stage presence that captivated the audience throughout. The introduction to the Reading Hexagon gig was both moving and thought-provoking, with enigmatic references, and a great awareness of, the current political situation around the world. Although this technique has been used before, it is nevertheless effective, and I strongly believe that only good things can come of successful people in the public eye using their celebrity status to aid good causes and bring awareness of important subjects to their fans.

The extras of the DVD are both extensive and entertaining, and can give a Levellers fan a great insight into the band. In the extras, the Levellers show their familiarity with one another and portray a great sense of history of the band by highlighting some of their successes over the last few years. This DVD will be eagerly anticipated by their dedicated fans, and will effortlessly convert new people to fall in line with the rest of their legions of followers. Indeed, this lovable band will get them wanting to hear more of this pop…with a twist. David Cox (30/11/06)

THE HEDRONS- I NEED YOU [Measured]

This is fairly classic rock ‘n’ roll: punchy guitar riffs, hoarse female vocals and a constant stream of rumbling bass. ‘I Need You’ is a single very reminiscent of The Donnas and other grrrl groups, the kind that promise to kiss you passionately before kicking you in the balls more passionately. Unfortunately, The Hedrons seem to make rock for rock’s sake and I could hear this sort of thing almost note for note in any one of countless other bands. Rock ‘n’ roll is meant to be exciting, lively and full of attitude and this single is none of those things. (28/09/06)

ZEEB- THE BATTLE FOR ZEEB BETA [Corndog]

My advice to anyone who doesn’t know Zeeb is leave now, before you’re drawn into their insane and delusional world forever. Zeeb are a band consisting of three aliens sent to assimilate earth, but who are fortunately “a bit shite at ‘battle and stuff.” This EP documents their fight to save Zeeb Beta- technically a sort of planetary holiday home- and comes with a free comic book, containing what I think must have been the best bits of their days graffiti-ing school desks.

The EP opens and closes with an instru-mental track, both of which have a very dramatic distorted orchestral feel- reflecting the epic struggle for the band’s own Butlins. The highlights here though are the surf-punk Alternative Tentacles style tracks though such as ‘She-Bot’ and ‘Detachable Ed’. (28/09/06)

JULIET AND THE LICKS- HOT KISS [Hassle]

Yup, you heard about the band a while back, you saw the magazine coverage, but never actually got as far as listening to them- right? Basically, you should do, this is a ballsy slice of stripped down raw rock ‘n’ fuckin’ roll. It preens and struts then spits in your face. The band work well as a unit and there doesn’t seem to be any inflated egos flying around. It’s decent garage rock. It’s just this garage has got a Bentley and some signed pairs of Woody Harrelson kinckers lying around in it. (24/09/06)

SOUND TEAM- BORN TO PLEASE [Parlophone]

First off- Sound Team is an absolutely shocking name. That is all promptly forgiven though when the first melancholy chords of ‘Born To Please’ kick in and this indie-synth sextet really gets under way. There’s an obvious Killers comparison to make here, but they manage to do it without the glitz and varnish and a nice lo-fi production job helps them stay truer to their Joy Division/New Order influences. It’s good stuff, but not exciting enough to keep my attention for long. (24/09/06)

THE VOOM BLOOMS- ANNA [23^rd Recordings]

The last single I heard by these guys (‘Politics and Cigarettes’) was a decent effort but lacked the individuality to really stand out from the plethora of indie-urchin bands out there at the moment. Fortunately, The Voom Blooms have really progressed in the seven months since. There’s a lovely freaky Specials-esque ska edge- most clearly evident in the B-side ‘The Models of Soho’. This is probably the better of the two, but ‘Anna’ is also a solid song- coming across like a more melodic and tuneful Cribs track. I’m definitely looking forward to hearing more of these guys as they gain more confidence in their own sound. (24/09/06)

ENTER SHIKARI- MOTHERSHIP [Ambush Reality- own label]

I fucking love this band. How many other metal/hardcore bands do you know that have the amazing knack of building a song to a crescendo before dropping in a some mad house synths and turn the whole thing into a rave? Not many I'm willing to bet. Enter Shikari are one of those bands that make an insane combination of musical forms into something you not only enjoy, but that makes everyone else in the room turn round and with a classic WTF expression plastered on their faces. 'Mothership' is their latest download only single released before their forthcoming tour in October and cuts a fine line between Rise Against and 2Unlimited, thankfully erring just to the side of greatness. Classy. (01/09/06)

DASHBOARD CONFESSIONAL- DON'T WAIT [Vagrant]

The amount of Dashboard featured on this site is reaching dangerous levels- counting this single and the album I reviewed a short while back the total is somewhere around the 'two' mark. 'Don't Wait' is the lead single off the 'Dusk and Summer' album and is fairly representative of its rubbishness, there's an acoustic version of 'Stolen' here which is bog standard Dashboard as well as a video that looks a lot like a T-Mobile advert. However, I was surprised to find myself enjoying the the other B-side- the live acoustic version of 'Ghost Of A Good Thing', it almost reminded me of the Beatles and is a bit of a diamond in the rough. (01/09/06)

STONELEAF- EACH LAST ACT [StillRiver Records- own label]

These guys remind me of the Smashing Pumpkins, but sadly lacking in the power and energy that that band seemed to contain. Stoneleaf are the kind of band that would be considered good if they came from my hometown, but otherwise are rehashing the same angsty mid-pace grunge stuff you've been hearing at local gigs for years. I'm conscience this is still a small band and therefore not worthy of the venom I sit here and snidely spit at bigger and badder bands so I simply suggest that Stoneleaf get some hardcore touring under their belt before recording again. (01/09/06)

ALEXISONFIRE- CRISIS [Hassle]

I'd heard good things about these guys before I listened to them, unfortunately this is not the album to secure this reputation. This is mainly because it's a distinctly average, disposable collection of songs. It does nothing to grab your attention. It's the classic hardcore formula- crunching riffs over-layed with some guy shouting and some guy singing and oh isn't all emotional. They've done little to develop the music or to throw anything into the mix that you're not expecting. In fact, the only surprise I got listening to this was the frightening cheese of 'You Burn First'- a track that sounds like it would be more at home on a Metallica album- one where they show their sensitive side. The fact they're not exactly avant-garde (we can't all be eclectic) wouldn't matter if 'Crisis' was a good example of a how good old fashioned hardcore punk album should sound. It's not though, there are occasional hints of interest 'We Are The Sound' has a storming start, for example. However, this album has fought and lost the battle against the mundane. (14/08/06)

MONEEN- IF TRAGEDY IS APPEALING, THEN DISASTER'S AN ADDICTION [Vagrant]

Moneen seem to famed more for their lengthy titles and ability to play 6 venues a night, than their actual musical prowess. This is probably because musically there is nothing particularly special about Moneen. On the evidence of this single alone they seem to be perfectly happy in their role as a Get Up Kids clone. Sure, there's some bouncing drum beats and plenty of reverb fuckery, but it's not saving rock 'n' roll. (14/08/06)

MY AWESOME COMPILATION- AWAKE [Sorepoint]

Firstly, I've been long awaiting the day that something by these guys comes through the post so I could congratulate them on their awesome name- awesome name guys. Secondly, kudos for keeping it real and sticking with the regional accents. Thirdly, 'Awake' is a perfect summer song. It's catchy as hell, has a bouncing rhythm section and sun-shiney keyboards on top. This is UK indie-pop to be proud of. (29/07/06)

DASHBOARD CONFESSIONAL- DUSK AND SUMMER [Vagrant]

Another summer, another cheesy American rock group tries to extend its operation to the UK. I'm quite surprised Dashboard haven't been imported before now, but maybe with the recent successes of bands like My Chemical Romance in the UK charts Vagrant feels the timing is right to import even more watered down emo defects. The blame shouldn't be laid at the feet of Dashboard Confessional I guess, they/he were doing it first after all; and on a song by song basis 'Dusk and Summer' is a very palatable album. Lead single 'Don't Wait' has its redeeming features- all soaring choruses, teenage heartbreak and crying at sunset- perfect for the scene in whatever factory line teen rom-com comes out this year. You know where the guy that started it all as a joke, but then develops real feelings for the girl, gets found out and everyone does their sobbing-at-the-windows/walking-lonely-beaches bit. 'Rooftops and Invitations' is a little bit more ballsy and by that, I mean they plug in, also 'So Long, So Long' deserves a mention for having Adam Duritz (Counting Crows) guest on it. Despite this, it's not a bad song, if you're in a pile in the corner, rocking slowly back and forth in deep contemplation.

The problem is that Chis Carrabba is a songwriter that badly needs to experiment and yet is rigidly stuck within an ideal of teen romance (in what must be his late 20s) and a musical style that was stale years back. Brand New took this genre and did something interesting with it way back in 2003- Dashboard are suffering from musical inertia. (21/07/06)

ONE:DAY:LIFE- FRIENDS IN NAME ONLY [Corndog]

It's always nice to hear some home-grown pop-punk, it's nice to hear some home-grown music full stop actually. I have a not-so-secret pop-punk passion and these guys do a good job at what they do. It's all pretty straight down the line subject matter- nights out, the scene, girls and of course friends. Musically One:Day:Life remind me very much of certain more DIY bands I used to love so dearly- think Joe 90 or Eighty Six. They write some catchy little hooks and these are best delivered on tracks like 'A Life Half Lived'. However, in my personal opinion the singer's voice is slightly weak and tends to undermine their decent song writing. In fact, it's the backing vocalist that seems to come across stronger. All this can be built on though and these guys have a solid base to start on, with a decent production job and if they just go for it on the vocals, we'll have a danceable little pop-punk band to call our ownses. (10/07/06)

UNDEROATH- DEFINE THE GREAT LINE [Tooth and Nail]

I can see the headlines now, "Christian hardcore band in good album shocker!" I wanted to hate this album and to passionately tear apart their belief system. That's been done though; we're all in this for the music (man) and the music is pretty decent. Lyrically, Underoath are not exactly inspired, they don't go overboard on the religious stuff, in fact there's little evidence of it at all and rightly so (just because you believe in a god doesn't mean you have to sing about it). Passages such as "You're busy making vows/ You're busy coming unglued/ Time is shorter than you know" are all in all pretty meaningless as far as I'm concerned. However, it's not the lyrics or the beliefs or the politics or whatever that make this album, it's the progression musically that this band are making. Underoath have begun to experiment with the typical hardcore formula. Tracks like 'There Could Be Nothing After This' demonstrate this. The rhythmic base of the track is pretty unusual for a start, the opening angular drum beat bringing to mind a sort of modern indie momentum. The track succeeds though because it seamlessly blends these unusual rhythmes with dramatic, crunching guitar sounds and a sort of chaotic electronica with out detracting from the flow of the music. They do this so well that the whole album has a real sense of coherence to it, as if it could play through as like a hardcore opera. The album's weakness is that the first four tracks have such a sense of urgency that the following numbers seem dull by comparison. Also, what I like to call the interval track- 'Salmarnir', seems to consist mainly of some idiot speaking elvish wank. Despite this, 'Define The Great Line' is an interesting spin on a very stale and saturated genre. A complex and refined breath of fresh air. (09/07/06)