David_McLaughlin has written the following articles:
They're NSFW through 'n' through, from the name to the attitude and the riotous live shows, but F*cked Up might be 2008's punk-rock success story. Currently in the UK supporting Gallows, the Canadians spill all to DiS»
If there is one major criticism of Pitchblend, it’s that they’re still clearly at the mercy of their record collection. There’s an appreciable degree of drive, quality song craft and tricksy turns with it but the overly familiar parts ultimately lose them points on what is an otherwise cracking first go»
Queens Of The Stone Age gamely give it a go, full of more fizz and fervour than is customary, but it’s literally seconds into the set that hopes for a monstrous rockfest are dashed by the muddy as hell PA. The drums sound weak, as if the skins have been cushioned with cotton wool»
With a full-on UK live jaunt pencilled into the calendar and a significant little ‘x’ marked on February 18 for the release of debut album I Want You To Know That There Is Always Hope, DiS limbers up for a month-plus onslaught of I Was A Cub Scout loveliness by chatting with the band's Will Bowerman»
Some folks never recover from ‘their time’ and Aussie alt-rock four piece The Brels seem to be suffering one hell of a hangover from the ‘90s on the evidence of new album Parasites, Poptarts. Listening through, it’s as if time stood still right after Sebadoh released Bakesale»
Those of you of sound mind and judgement will probably baulk at the twin towers of retro silliness evoked by the terms psychedelia and stoner-rock. So it’s with some trepidation these terms are applied to the trend-bucking progression of Old Growth, Dead Meadow's fifth studio LP»
The Peppermint Conspiracy wispily floats through the stereo so delicate and unobtrusive that you almost forget it’s there; fooling you into a dopey stupor, not quite entrancing or seductive but deflective nonetheless»
It’s difficult to argue the toss over what exactly The Libertines really contributed in their short time together other than a military jacket fad, a handful of okay tunes and a narcissist in love with self-mythology»
Parts & Labor bassist BJ Warsaw strikes out as Shooting Spires, ditching the punk and producing a collection of abstruse musical whims»
How fond (or otherwise) you’ll be of Tennessee’s How I Became The Bomb will depend on your tolerance for the ironic, art-inclined college rock of They Might Be Giants and their ilk...»
Best pick up Challengers instead to indulge in the ebb and flow of one of Canada’s finest album specialists...»
We’ll forgive their occasional foibles and the suspiciously familiar melody lines sprinkled throughout because Jakobinarina make indie music sound fun again...»
So these songs aren’t good enough for Julian Casablancas? That’s some serious hubris on this evidence. The economy and sparkle of Albert Hammond Jr’s solo record Yours To Keep in comparison to The Strokes’ ultimately overcooked First Impressions Of Earth would suggest Mr Casablancas might be best advised to let Hammond have greater input next time around...»
Pre-Emptive False Rapture may be crazier than a shithouse rat but the fun, adventure and variation on offer make it one that should be welcome in any open-minded home...»
