dionisio has written the following articles:
There are no obvious single contenders here or Radio 1 friendly anthems, just stripped-down blues workouts. It might not appeal to the masses, but anybody with a penchant for Robert Johnson or Muddy Waters will find themselves at home.»
Sounding like the illegitimate lovechild of Regina Spektor and Bob Dylan, her songs offer a window into an intriguing world where celebrating the life of a deceased friend by pouring champagne on his grave is acceptable behaviour and cutting your hair to be like Patti Smith is the done thing. Let's face it, Emmy The Average just doesn't sound as good, does it?»
This Glaswegian five-piece have quiet/loud down to a tee with hushed verses and intricate arrangements breaking down into gigantic, cathartic choruses and unabashed shouting matches.»
If Dr Jekyll showed his face more often, British Sea Power could easily be one of the best bands in the country but as it is, they're just one of the most lovable.»
I'm tempted to put a slightly ironic slant on frontman Jon Windle's lyrics and say they haven't got a lot, and I'm desperate for a Sheffield band who get signed to stick with the approach that made sound worthy of a deal in the first place.»
If it wasn't for this sonic barrage, those huge choruses might put them on a par with Keane in places, and early U2 in others. As it is, it's safe to describe their sound as anthemic in the Coldplay sense of the word but with bigger, harder rocking balls. »
Under the warmth of the stage lights is where Thom comes alive. He's not alone, for Jonny, Ed, Colin and Phil sport smiles too as they diligently go about their business, producing the most mind bending space-rock this side of Mars. They're officially back, and boy have we missed them...»
The Band fronted by Neil Young is how tabloids might describe it, but all you really need to know is that it sounds sublime; tailor made for a sweaty little Blues club in New Orleans and not a greasy donor in sight.»
If it wasn't for The Arcade Fire, Amusement Parks... might just be able to claim the title of 'best band with fire in their name 2006' but as it is, they settle for tearing Sheffield apart with a heady cocktail of apocalyptic post-rock.»
Try to forget about The Ordinary Boys and Hard-Fi, the real summer of ska starts now. No corporate makeovers or reality TV shows here, just joyous rhythms and a bouncing brass section backed by lyrics that have more to offer than complaints about the monotony of a 9 'til 5.»
Every Wolfmother song has one thing in common: it'll rock your bollocks off. You'll undoubtedly see cleverer bands this year, but you'll struggle to catch something as visceral as this.»
What would YOU do if confronted with 200 angry bikers? I'd probably soil myself, but The Ape Drape Escape would undoubtedly make a gonzo electro-punk racket and batter said motorcyclists into aural submission.»
To describe the Mogwai experience in mere words is all but futile; they've all been said a thousand times before but still don't come close to conveying the power of their live show. They're like good drugs: they knock the shit out of you, but it's one hell of a ride.»
It's still got those trademark Mackem harmonies, but instead of throwing you around it'll tuck you into bed and wrap you up in cotton wool. Sublime.»
The point of this collection is to innovate, not imitate, and it does that with aplomb. In the process, some lose the magic and others enhance it – that's the inevitable risk. For taking it, at least, I'm sure Radiohead themselves would approve.»
Why won't I give you my love? Well, I like a comeback single to provide some example of musical evolution...»
Stepping off the train at Leicester station, I'm handed a free sample of cherry Coke. As I head for the Student's Union, sipping the lukewarm beverage as I walk, it strikes me that Graham Coxon and this particular flavour have something in common»
Sitting in a Sheffield pub on the day his band headlines The Leadmill for the first time, Milburn's 18-year-old singer and bass player Joe Carnall looks relaxed as he reflects on their transition from playing the part-time pub circuit to signing with a major label...»
“Who are that band I heard on Radio One the other day, the ones who sound exactly like Arctic Monkeys?”»
In case you didn't know, The Young Knives are a three piece rock band hailing from Ashby-de-la-Zouch. They started their musical career playing covers of Neds Atomic Dustbin songs.»
The only band around making music for sex offenders to dance to.»
If I told you that The Far Cries were a boy/girl duo with a penchant for drum machines and angular sexed-up feedback ridden riffery, would you dismiss them as mere Kills wannabes?»
Eventually the chorus will reel you in as Joel Stein's lead guitar mimics his sister's voice to produce an apocalyptic cocktail of aural delight.»
Giant Drag's Annie Hardy is clearly bonkers, but that's no bad thing for a songwriter. From someone so kooky you'd expect something a little avant-garde and in that respect, Hearts & Unicorns is a bit of a let down.»
With a voice to die for and a lyric sheet from somewhere only she knows, artists like Regina Spektor don't come along too often.»
A three minute amphetamine rush of shouty vocals and pedal-to-the metal guitars that sounds like it was recorded in a shed not a million miles away from CBGB»
'Fables' shares a common cause with the likes of ¡Forward Russia!, or any other band that makes noise into something danceable and delectable.»
Boy Kill Boy are certainly easy on the eye, dressed in suits and with all the icy cool you'd expect, but when the music fails to please all of that is meaningless»
Arctic Monkeys have an innate ability to soundtrack life in the noughties and it's this, not clever marketing or the internet, that has taken them to the summit of popular music.»
With quirky lyrics bordering on the perverted and song topics including a bisexual menage-a-trois, a skinhead cross-dressing football fan and cybersex, Little Man Tate clearly move in different circles to most, and they're shaping up to be an unconventional 2006 Sheffield success story.»
