Andy has written the following articles:
There's not much out there right now to compare ‘Daddy’s Gone’ with, and we certainly can't name too many bands tackling such issues so openly (without sounding cheesy) in recent years, especially in a doo-wop style»
Seven years in the making, you’d think Mumm-ra's debut album would arrive with more fanfare...»
If you’re closed minded, or don’t like Belle & Sebastian then please look away now…»
For more than five years Bexhill-On-Sea based Mumm-ra have been writing and performing wonderfully confident pop songs, fuelled by synths and characterised by frontman James New's distinctive vocals, largely going unnoticed.»
DiS Southampton is back and better than ever. Each month we aim to bring you the best in new music at the cheapest of prices and this time we have a bit of an Oxford-themed special for you. The now four-strong DiS Southampton team is proud to present Dive Dive and The Young Knives, with support from local heroes Dead! Dead! Dead! Here’s all you need to know:»
Southampton based trio Xavier Floyd Firebird don’t half know how to write catchy hooks. So catchy, in fact, you’ll be cursing them for the rest of the week following a single listen to this, their debut release.»
As we previously reported, Southampton-based Xavier Floyd Firebird are to release their debut single in February and are embarking on a huge tour. Here are the full details...»
Last week saw sales of legitimate downloads in the UK outstrip those of CDs - 312,290 downloads were sold against 282,399 CD singles.»
It's that time of year again and us enthusiastic DiS writers have been busy compiling our top albums of 2004. This writer immediately thought of albums that I couldn’t stop playing – and there’s none that have done this more to me recently than 19 year-old Willy Mason’s debut.»
We're back for a Christmas party, - write it in your diaries (and buy the tickets!)... The Southampton DiS team have conjured up an amazing evening with four quite fantastic and unique bands. Now I know this might sound like bragging, but us lucky Southampton DiSers have got lots to shout about. In case you hadn't noticed, there's a bit of a scene taking shape. We've already brought you The Departure, the much hyped Dead! Dead! Dead!, the quite brilliant Colour Of Fire, Fleeing New York, The Sonic Underground and Steve The Model/Objects. What have we got in store this time? Here’s all you need to know:»
Just thought we here at DiS would bring you up to speed with where things are at regarding official Elliott Smith releases.»
Joint-headline tours have a long history. In Southampton’s legendary smaller-than-your average Joiners venue Coldplay opening for Terris springs to mind. You don’t need me to tell what did or didn’t happen to both bands and tonight serves up another potentially juicy treat: Thirteen Senses and The Open. Which band would steal the show?»
It’s been a busy year for Canadian band The Dears. Since 1995 they’ve ploughed a relatively lonely furrow in their homeland, releasing a couple of albums and EPs along the way. It wasn’t until this year's SXSW festival in Austin, Texas, however, that anyone really began to take notice. Suddenly, anyone who was anyone wanted to sign The Dears and Bella Union emerged victorious. Crucially, however, unlike their new label-mates Explosions In The Sky, The Dears look set to take on this side of the Atlantic by storm with this intense and epic album.»
Discovering an artist’s back catalogue has to be one of the most rewarding things about being a music fanatic. I took this album to Switzerland with me last year. I played it on repeat for most of the five days I was there - The Wannadies is a slow burner that rewards greatly with repeat listening...»
If you’ve been out and about in Southampton over the past few months you’ll have been hard pressed not to have heard anything about Dead! Dead! Dead!. The energy and originality that characterises their live performances has now been given the studio treatment with, quite frankly, astounding results.»
Hot on the heels of their triumphant Reading/Leeds shows and their debut top 30 single, All Mapped Out, The Departure have confirmed details of their debut headline tour.»
No, we haven’t forgotten you, Southampton. After Colour Of Fire rocked local Lennon’s Nightclub from its foundations earlier in the year, Drowned In Sound is back for another debauched night and we’ve got another amazing couple of bands for you to check out. Here’s all you need to know:»
After 10 years together, Creed have decided to call it a day.»
'Mexican Wine' becomes download-only. B-sides album in the works.»
Brighton art-punk outfit Kill Kenada are back with a new single, 'Massachusetts Murder Medallions', and kick off their new tour in Birmingham later this month.»
Napster has lauched in the UK, two months earlier than was widely expected.»
How to follow a hit like Stacy’s Mom? For most bands, this would prove tricky, to say the least, but Fountains Of Wayne are not most bands. Prepare for the soundtrack to your summer – it’s only just begun…»
Mew are hard at work recording their new album, which has a working title of 'The Saviours Of Jazzballet'. The album will be the band's second release for Epic following last year's acclaimed collection, 'Frengers'.»
Everyone's favourite emotionally scarred singer-songer writer, Chris Carrabba, AKA Dashboard Confessional, is to release his versions of songs from REM's 'Automatic For The People' later this month.»
The Beastie Boys are back with a new single and album, their first new material proper since 1998. And we at DiS are keen to see what they have to offer...»
Ben Folds and his piano are back in the UK for a tour later this year. According to his official website, BenFolds.com, the tour kicks off in Leicester on November 12th and climaxes in London on the 25th. The tour will be in support of his as-yet-untitled second solo LP proper, due sometime this summer.»
Delta Chi may just be the saviours of indie that, let’s face it, we’ve all been looking for ever since Britpop died a horrible death sometime in the late 90's...»
Blur are to return to the studio to record a new EP, flying in the face of speculation that Think Tank would be the band's last effort. Furthermore, they want a certain Mr Coxon to come back...»
HMV, the giant global music and video retail chain, is to close three of its six outlets in the US by the end of the month.»
New York doomsters Interpol are to return in September with a new album.»
