Matthewjbutler has written the following articles:
Worst Case Scenario's latest split-release reveals a pleasing Bert and Ernie clash of styles this month. »
Flashing bright lights, strange echoing noises, human-like figures emerging from the shadows… surely it’s close encounters of an indie kind? »
“We’re not a f**king bakery,” claim The Boy Least Likely To after forgetting to bring cakes for the crowd tonight. It’s a shame because if they had been handed around, the band would have been officially entered the Guinness Book of Records as the Tweeest-Thing-Ever™. »
In an Indie Wacky Races, a car crash between an under-the-influence Zutons and the harmonic-pop mobile of the Futureheads would no doubt create a smoking wreckage in the shape of SixNationState.»
You get the impression that in the timeframe Daniel (formerly of GusGus) spends perfecting one song, most bands have been hyped-up, drugged up, fucked up and gone back on the dole.»
Having spent more time knob-twiddling and finger-plucking in his bedroom than can be considered healthy, it’s impossible to imagine Aidan Smith stripped of his domesticated sound. Every song he produces threatens to be interrupted at any minute with a cry of: “Aiii-dan! Teeeea’s on the table.”»
Over complication is often the trapdoor of a great pop song, although this probably isn’t going to be a problem for a group which “can’t remember how they came to be a band”. However, it’s impossible not to be weary of The Delights given that, one of their career highlights includes the unenviable task of “supporting Proud Mary”.»
Let's get it straight out the way right now, shall we? Yep, Editors could undoubtedly form a Joy Division tribute act and perfect the epileptic-chic cool with little time needed to refine their sound. Boy Division, anyone?»
Given the current state of Royal Mail, it's unlikely that four horsemen popped this single through the DiS letterbox. Shame, because the apocalyptic coda of 'At A Window' manages to make War Of The Worlds look like Mary Poppins. Cor blimey, it's loike the end of the world me old china.»
Betsy: “You know what you remind me of?” Travis: “What?” Betsy: “That song by Kris Kristofferson, where it said “Like a pusher, partly truth, partly fiction, a walking contradiction.” (Taxi Driver, 1976)»
There is non-more an apt song for Tomboy to begin a gig with than ‘Fashion Police’. Although the song attacks fashionistas, there is little getting away from the style paraded by a band with healthy splodges of eyeliner, poses set to stun and a feeling that the gig is merely a warm-up for a couple of gigs at Knebworth.»
The Race explode off the blocks like a rocket on their debut single with 'Go Figure', but it is the yearning quality of 'Raising Children' which puts the band well ahead of the competition.»
The Young Knives told DiS recently of their hatred for “boring office jobs with big firms”. These desires of escapism are so vivid when playing ‘Junky Music…’ that the band are almost clawing their way out of the speakers. This urgency gives the group an ability to reach out to the listener, and give you a big enough shake to make Louise Woodward blush.»
For a band who promised so much with their debut, JJ72 didn’t half f*ck it all up with their overblown second album. A sell-out crowd tonight shows that people are willing to forgive this however, and it’s all smiles onstage tonight, save for the face-pulling earnestness of their angst ridden mini-anthems, of course.»
Given that medical science has proved that Linkin Park’s music induces vomiting (even from their own singer), it seems a little rich of the band to strike over Warner Music’s recent financial overhauls. Rich is the important word however, because as the millionaire (c)rap-metallers fight against their label’s share prices, one thing has become clear: forget rock n’ roll, or even grot n’ roll – it’s all about stocks n’ roll these days.»
When bands cover each other via singles, it often descends into the musical equivalent of Chelsea shitting all over Accrington Stanley in a lovingly put together/patronising friendly. “Accrington Stanley, who are they? Exactly, nah gerroff!”»
For someone routinely masturbated upon from a great height by style magazines with their fingers (literally) on the pulse, James Murphy is a pleasingly cynical fucker.»
Without wanting to sound like a certain creepy moon-walker, it’s always great to see music getting the kids excited. It’s fitting tonight as Eddie Argos pogos away like a spoilt brat force fed dangerously fizzy sweets while demanding “I want children on buses singing your name”.»
With the festival season upon us, we're finally far enough into the year to begin welcoming bands "formed in early 2005". Say hello to three-piece The Sailplanes then, and if this demo is anything to go, they'll be around in early 2006 at the very least too.»
Turncoat exist somewhere between hope and despair and it feels impossible not to be moved both emotionally and literally through jerky, sporadic flinches. With a singer cutting an Ian Curtis like figure, it seems apt to hear such torment in songs with lyrics including: “I must confess I’m an absolute zero”.»
Much fancied Southamptonites Dead! Dead! Dead! will hit the road for their first national tour next week. Having opened up for the likes of Ash, Dive Dive and Delays, the tour is in support of debut single 'George Lassoes The Moon', which is soon to be released by Apricot Records. Fruity!»
“Reissue! Repackage! Repackage!”»
If they were to make 'Incredible Hulk: The Musical', you'd imagine the songs written for the big green bastard would be a lot more interesting than the quiet parts reserved for Bruce Banner.»
Taking to the stage to the sound of sirens, The Dead Sixties produce an alarming franticness and immediacy tonight.»
The music from a group called The Hair is going to have to be pretty darn good to make you forget about the terrible band name. The latest EP, ‘Haircuts’, from the York-based four-piece sits fidgeting somewhere between the jumpy electric shocks of Hot Hot Heat and the raw power of The Black Keys.»
This is quite possibly the best song about a canine cosmonaut that I’ve heard in weeks. As a fitting tribute to the Soviet’s first dog in space, Laika, The Arcade Fire really do sound like they’re from another planet here with lots of high pitched yelping thrown in for good measure.»
Perhaps sick of waiting around for Thom to lay down some lyrical flows, Roots Manuva has created a hip-hop update of ‘Creep’ for his latest single. Through an infectious mixture of paranoia and self-doubt he purrs: “UK rhyme saviour, no never quite. That was just a media totality of hype”.»
“We’re not very good at these” are the words which begin a face-to-face with Oxford three-piece The Young Knives. “I like the ones where people just email you questions so you have a bit of time to think about it. I just hate people!” claims guitarist and lead singer Henry Dartnell.»
The tracks on this Bright Eyes single are as bittersweet as a lemon and chocolate-flavoured ice-cream, although the radio-friendly ‘First Day of My Life’ couldn’t be any sweeter if Micky Mouse was singing it to you on your birthday.»
The fact that Snow Patrol's 'Final Straw' album is played before Alaskan Pipeline take the stage tonight is surely no coincidence. Vocalist Chris Olden might look like a cropped Liam Gallagher but his singing bears more than a small resemblance to Gary Lightboy and the band have enough lighters-aloft tunes to make even a Mancunian primate weep.»
