mangygoats

it's out of 5, so the same mark as DiS...

at least to an 8, personally. Easily one of my favourite things of a year so far, coming at a time where there's not exactly a shortage of good stuff...

An Island

and I am feeling rather mean for this. Quite a few people have said that they it's a better album than Narrow Stairs too - I just don't see it. I do really like Death Cab generally though - this just seemed too 'rote' for me, or at least it did from the shoddy stream Atlantic Records gave us access to. Doubtless the CD version will blow me away...

Gotta emphasise again though - St Peter's Cathedral really is a stunning track.

Ta! The grading thing was a nightmare, actually - the albums alone warrant very high ratings, but most of us know that already, so really it comes down to the value of the new stuff, which isn't very high. So in the end I had to go for a kind of median score...

As for the Cobain reference, I did feel a little dirty there, but felt that if I was going to use the NME quote then I needed to reference the rift there too.

I miss Plan B...

They started their set with just forty people watching. Absolutely shocking.

A fair few more by the end, mind, but still...

What about the Hanbury Ballroom? Easily the most intimate venue in town. Then there's St George's Church which has hosted some awesome gigs, and Concorde 2 does really warrant a mention, as its calender is always impressive.

I like The Hope, too, and definitely agree with the shout out for the Prince Albert. As with the post above, though, I'm wondering why this feature's so truncated, with not even a mention of Loop or The Great Escape, surely two of the country's best festivals...

So i thought it was pretty mediocre. But I seem to be pretty alone amongst the press voices.

My review's here:

http://www.musicomh.com/albums/lostprophets-3_0110.htm

This news is a shame, methinks.

makes me sad.

http://festivals.musicomh.com/primavera-2009-1_0609.htm

It's hardly original, but you've got to get your music everywhere. New Media is great for this - obviously everyone has a MySpace, but get on Last FM too - that way people are gonna hear you by accident.

Radio One's Introducing is a good way to try to get festival gigs too, so make sure you send a demo to them. And play everywhere! Give our CDRs on the street, get to know local promoters and be prepared to have your soul destroyed playing pubs where no-one's there and everybody hates you...

Get to know other bands - email them, set up tours, help them out with promotion etc, and they'll do the same back. Be prepared to do stuff for free: it's the only way right now.

Oh, and write good songs - don't just be derivative as you'll fade out when the scene moves on. You need to stand out, and that might mean pissing some people off or alienating some people - but don't just be a Gallagher dick. You have to ingratiate your fans - garner goodwill, as Reznor put it - and then they'll want to spend money on your band.

Bloody tough environment right now, though...

And finally they're getting some recognition. Had this horrible fear that, despite Sleepyhead pretty much soundtracking last summer for me (courtesy of a line of best fit mp3), they'd disappear into the ether once again.

But they haven't. That's good.

absolutely rocked this set. Don't like it on record, but here...

And I almost missed my train waiting for the drum machine ending to 2 Rights. Love it.

Missed Errors, sadly, but Fuck Buttons were awesome.

Misty's Big Adventure.

That is all.

I like The Sun Smells Too Loud...

Nice riff.

Saw them in Brighton last week - sooooo good...

Love the album, but live they're incredible. Especially the multiple drumming/percussion.

They played at Loop yesterday - very very good, although it was a shock three hours later when friend pointed out that Micachu was a girl...

I look at reviews, not so much to help decide whether to get an album or not but to hear someone else describe the music - many reviewers are really excellent writers. Many are terrible too, but hey...

That said, many of the best reviews I've read recently aren't from professionals. Like www.musicomh.com - some outstanding writers there.

you went there on a school trip? Damn, that's cool...

could i have some tickets, please?

and could you also make it so crystal castles don't clash with saul williams...