Release Reviews
My Ruin - To Britain With Love... And Bruises
Always special about getting a numbered CD, not sure what it is but it seems special... no. 03764 is what I hold in my hands right now, nobody else has my number, why? Because I'm special, and from the number to the warm intro spoken in Miss B's trademark monotone voice for such things, everything stays on a heart warm»
Muse - Plug-In Baby
The internet has taken over the world, it's a fact. And it?s even more apparent from song titles/theme?s at the moment. A ?plug-in? - as you will probably know - is one of those things that attach themselves to your browser so that you can watch porn vids? or maybe that?s just me!? Anyway, moving swiftly o»
Luna - Live
My first thought of this record is that it has a really bad cover. A really crude photo-montage showing all the members of the band in corny rock star poses with a sort of nauseatingly orange computer generated sunset behind them. Surely this is the sort of thing you’d expect from some dreadful 80s prog rock outfit, »
Snow Patrol - One Night Is Not Enough
I’m sure most people have been in this situation: you hear/see a really tiny band, enthuse about them to all your mates until they’re your band, then they suddenly get huge and you feel almost betrayed. Know the feeling? Well that’s me and Snow Patrol. Snow Patrol have been knocking around for a few yea»
The Avalanches - Since I Left You
Melbourne's The Avalanches have been getting more than their fair share of hype of late, and their debut single on XL goes some way to explaining why. A deliriously upbeat, luminous slice of dance-pop, 'Since I Left You' is about as sunny a record released in March can be. The sound, dreamy and dislocated and see»
Bonnie 'Prince' Billy - Ease Down The Road
Will Oldham, the man behind the cryptic moniker Bonnie Prince Billy, is one of the best songwriters of the last 20 years. Along with peers Dave Pajo (Papa M), Bill Callahan (Smog) and Chan Marshall (Cat Power), he has resurrected the spectre of Appalachian folk music and injected it with his own, often disturbing, idio»
Snow Patrol - When it's all over we still have to clear up
“When it’s all over we still have to clear up,” a fitting sentiment for an album based around themes of Love, loss, betrayal and the messy aftermath’s of one night stands (as documented in their “Boss tunage”-Evening Session approved-recent single “One night is not enough,” with it’s hook line of “It’s not me that you »
Life Without Buildings - Any other city
This album is a powerful reminder that the punk scene is still producing innovative and exciting new sounds. The first track "PS Exclusive" hits you right away with a heady blast of fast-moving lo-fi guitar work, and a unique dreamy but attitude-filled stream of conciousness from vocalist Sue Tompkins. The band are fro»
The Movielife - This Time Next Year
You know those rare moments when you get to hear a band that’s fresh, new & exciting? When the members are young and still full of untameable enthusiasm for the music they play? Where the lyrics aren’t just void, bland & pointless ramblings of a girl they fancied once but contain relevant, meaningful, positive energy w»
The Ataris - End Is Forever
Anyone who’s ever been in a band will probably turn green with envy when they hear how The Ataris got signed. OK, roughly 4 years ago vocalist Kris Roe goes to see The Vandals & gives them a tape of his band. A few weeks later Vandal’s bassist [& Kung Fu boss] gives him a ring and asks him to record for his label. He g»
Rydell - Per ardua ad astra
In amidst dissing most of the newer punk/rock bands around today I remember Gubby from Cargo Music raving on about this bunch, saying how much they stand out from the pack as musicians & songwriters. And I’ve gotta say I haven’t heard anything quite like them. Each song is an emotional yearning or reminisc»
Propaghandi - Today's Empires, Tomorrow's Ashes
I’ve gotta admit I didn’t quite know what to expect from these fiercely political punkers’ 3rd album. Their last 2 albums, ‘93’s How To Clean Everything and ‘96’s Less Talk More Rock were kinda hard to digest, so riddled with anti-governent, anti-religious –hey, anti-everything essays & quotes they were! OK, so »
Bad Astronaut - Acrophobe
I could mention the fact that Bad Astronaut consists of former & current members of Lagwagon but don’t think this is your average pop-punk record. There’s a slight inter-galactic sci-fi theme to this band with some weird little bleeps appearing here & there but my guess is that it’s just vocalist/ guitarist Joey Cape»
The Offspring - Want You Bad
Let's think back to The Offspring's last single, "Original Prankster". It was appalling. Truly hideous. It seemed to indicate a downward spiral for the quality of Offspring singles, floundering in the mire of novelty-single-quicksand - in short, they had done a Terrorvision. It was so bad that on hearing "Want »
Llama Farmers - Note on the door
Of the people I talk to who know the Llama Farmers exist, many if not all of them totally respect the post-grunge groove of this awesome four piece. Unfortunately for the Llama’s however, many of these people would never, on any account, envisage setting off to the back roads of, lets say, Camden – The Underworld for e»
Various - Cheffing And Blinding
16th six-tracker from everyone’s favourite non-independent indie label. The last six-track compilation from Fierce Panda was an all American affair that featured …And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead, Fiver, Hopewell, Interpol, Bright Eyes and The Fire Show, would this compilation prove that us Bri»
Econoline - Econoline EP
The eagerly anticipated debut release from London’s newest noiseband Econoline
Ever wondered what would happen if you were to take the fuzzy guitar noise of Husker Du, combine it with the freeform dynamics of Braid then add the ex-frontman of the Cashcow, Mr Ian Scanlon, a self-proclaimed 80’s US hard»
Caretaker - Routine
Second release from the boys from Petersfield
Really not too sure about this, I adored their previous release '(pause) EP' and Seb, the bassist, told me little later on that they weren’t that happy with it they’d be back with even better songs.
So when I got this I shoved it straight into m»
Mother Goose - Village
Another release from those Finnish Freaks
They may well be freaks but you can't help but love them. Another glorious release from Helsinki's… if not the World's finest artnoise band. Mother Goose are at their most laid back on the title-track 'Village', a delicate and fragile droning slowcore n»
1 Giant Leap - Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost
This DVD/CD single package is effectively a trailer for the 1 Giant Leap DVD/CD/LP Project which will come out later this year. This is the future. …at least the way I've always seen it. A project that, from the outset, has been 100% multimedia. Music and visuals created and recorded together, filling my head wit»
Joe Jackson - The Collection
I first heard of Joe Jackson in 1979, specifically due to the pop genius of the deservedly massive hit: 'Different For Girls'. This collection comprises tracks from that time through to 1989. He is often compared to Elvis Costello, since their careers started at a very similar time. While both artists put a lot »
Hosh - Maria
Hamburg five piece Hosh's first single seems to be pitched slap bang in the middle of the mainstream of modern rock, and it's pretty good. The single, 'Maria' has all the makings of a big rock hit, a big singalong chorus, nice quiet/loud drops… the second track 'Killer Ants' also doesn't disappoint. G»
The Divine Comedy - Love What You Do
Neil Hannon writes a pretty tune, I like the way it picks up, and the way the melody twists around….and the production and sounds are great. When I first heard it I thought…Hey…this is nice… …but the lyrics say nothing at all. Is this what you write when you've nothing to say, but still have a contractua»
Thirst - From Mouth to Skin
"Look young, got a dick like a gun - overplaying rock star fun". Someone should tell Thirst that you can only get away with lyrics like that when you actually are a rock star. And they have a little way to go yet.
Broken up into the constituent parts, Thirst are strong and clearly very talented. The large gu»
Drowned in Manchester #15 – May 2013
armchair dancefloor 39: Mount Kimbie interview, Bobby Browser, Powell, Move D, Leon Vynehall...
DiS meets John Lydon - Part 1: The Man
DiS Does Singles 20.05.13: Paramore, Laura Marling, The Replacements
DiS joins the Music Alliance Pact + May 2013's global MAP compilation
Drowned in Bristol #12
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