Review
by Joe Wisbey
Richard Hawley wears glasses. He also played guitar on "Under The Bridge" by All Saints. Keen eyed readers will know he was also in The Longpigs. Perhaps most importantly, he's produced the year's most emotional record thus far. "Baby, You're My Light".
From the gentle acoustic arpeggio, to his»
Review
by Joe Wisbey
So what IS a "classic" album? Personally, I define this over used term as an album which alters the way Pop music is going. Thus, Parklife, Stone Roses, Leftism, The Chronic, all changed the direction of a specific genre of music. So what's this pile of poo from Travis doing in that illustrious list then?»
News
by Joe Wisbey
Turin Brakes are playing a special gig on the roof of THE ORANGE SHOP in WEST LONDON later this morning (October 23).
The band are celebrating the release of their new single, 'Emergency 72', by mirroring The Beatles gig on the Apple roof in the 60s.
Olly Knights from Turin Brakes sai»
Review
by Joe Wisbey
Don't tease me like that. For a minute, or for three and a half minutes to be precise, I thought this demo of Southampton five-piece Euphorian Sound was going to be a complete waste of time. The opening track on this three song CD is called "Better Things". And my God it's terrible.
It's so unremark»
News
by Joe Wisbey
Tindersticks drummer Al Macauley has walked out on the group's current European tour, suffering from "exhaustion".
Tindersticks are currently on a European tour, which called at the London Royal Albert Hall earlier in the month, backed by local orchestras.
The group were forced to play a sho»
Review
by Joe Wisbey
"Three more inches of hair, is a whole fucking world, of rebellion"
Does he kiss his mother with that mouth? Matthew Jay gets, for just about the only time on his album, angry. A word not normally associated with NAM strummers like Jay and Harcourt and McCrae. This is from opener, "Four Minute Re»
Review
by Joe Wisbey
Which one is gonna be? Which Paul McCartney are we gonna get? The genius one? The one who wrote "Eleanor Rigby" or "She's Leaving Home"?? Or the nasty Wings-infested one??, "Mull Of Kintrye and all that??
Well pretty much the former, with a dash of the latter added in for the sake of »
Review
by Joe Wisbey
Why has no one heard of Jackdrag??? He is, as my friend James would say, the "man"!!
Very much in the vein of a slightly darker Steve Malkmus, John Dragonetti (His still bizarre real name) makes delectable fizzy pop, coupled with a hint of Hip-hop and psychedelia, and makes it extremely well. Although, Mal»
News
by Joe Wisbey
The White Stripes have turned down an appearance in a GAP advert worth an estimated $1million.
The band, who've just signed to UK label XL in a deal rumoured to be worth up to £1million, said that they were approached by the high street fashion house to get involved with their latest television cam»
Review
by Joe Wisbey
I hate it when bands do this. Bleed an album dry. As far as I'm concerned, it should be written in stone that a band can only release 3 singles from any one album. I mean, do you remember 'Performance And Cocktails'?? Did anyone actually say, after listening to 'Hurry Up And Wait', "aww! DEFINITE single m»
News
by Joe Wisbey
Starsailor have launched a passionate attack on the pop world, claiming that 'real' music is back at last.
My favourite band(sorry), whose debut album looks set to enter the charts at number two this week, spoke out during an interview with a UK tabloid.
Lead singer, the slightly mopey James Walsh, c»
News
by Joe Wisbey
OASIS pulled the release of their new single because Noel Gallagher thought it simply "wasn't good enough", and has claimed that brother Liam delayed the release of the album by doing "nothing" for the last "three-and-a-half months".
Speaking in an interview in the current issue of Manchester lifestyle ma»
News
by Joe Wisbey
Norwegian acoustic duo KINGS OF CONVENIENCE are to perform in front of the Norwegian Ambassador in London to celebrate 100 years of Noble Prizes.
The winner of this year's Nobel Peace Prize is to be announced on October 12 in Oslo. To coincide with the announcement, the pair will perform a set at the Norw»
News
by Joe Wisbey
Savage Garden have split, and the band's Daniel Jones found out that the duo were no more by reading it in a newspaper.
Singer Darren Hayes broke the news without telling Jones. Jones said that his understanding was that he and his partner would be taking a break from the band to pursue solo projects.
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Review
by Joe Wisbey
So, here they are again. One of the brightest, most intelligent, interesting guitar bands of the Nineties return after a long, Kelly Jones-ish 3 years away. Welcome back, Jarvis.
We can go on for hours (and many of you shall) about whether Pulp, or indeed any Britpop band, are still relevant today, but we »
Review
by Joe Wisbey
Manchester Starsailor wannabes, Barfly, present another well produced record, which is very poppy and
melancholy and like the release from Valve, is trampling towards familiar territory – ie. the indie-guitar, balladly,
pop charts. Which, in my humble view, is no bad thing.
"Shelter" is a more of »
News
by Joe Wisbey
The next Sterophonics single will be a cover version of Rod Stewart's 'Handbags and Gladrags'.
The track, not featured on their current album 'Just Enough Education To Perform', will appear on November 26 through V2. It was recorded earlier this year with Jools Holland And His Rhythm a»
News
by Joe Wisbey
Starsailor have announced details of their debut album's US release.
'Love Is Here' will be released on January 8 2002, preceded by a short tour in December.
The band are currently preparing for the release of 'Love Is Here'on October 8 in the UK, before undertaking promotional duties in Ame»
News
by Joe Wisbey
Linkin Park are set to release a remix album of material from their multi-million selling debut 'HYBRID THEORY' early next year.
Handsome Boy Modelling School's Prince Paul, Dilated Peoples' Evidence and hiphop producer The Alchemist are amongst those already signed up to remix.
"We've alway»
In Depth by Joe Wisbey
Celebrities. Now, apparently, they dominate our culture as never before. Ask a 14 year old to name five countries and their capital cities, and they'll look at you, smile, and go back to sending their text, or should that be "txt" message. Ask them to name five pop bands and their lead singers, five TV chefs, five wome»
Review
by Joe Wisbey
Before we start, lets get one thing stunningly clear. I absolutely fucking despise Nu-Metal. It's all pointless, passionless, dull noise, made by middle class, early 30's twats groomed down to every last tatoo by thier horrible, money driven record companies. Give me Shed Seven any day. But now, I find myself, sitting »
Review
by Joe Wisbey
As far as Kelly Jones is concerned, it's all about the song writing. I read this interview he did in the NME a few months ago where he bemoaned the state of British song writing, and demanded that people got back to "proper" song writing and forgot about this stupid Dance music. "Proper" song writing Kelly? What, like »
Review
by Joe Wisbey
Let us, first of all, get things into perspective. The Music are four 18 year old boys. They play an interesting, off-kilter, but really nothing especially different, dance-indie type thang. Tonight, at the good ol' Army And Navy, people have come expecting the greatest night of their lives. They don't get it, b»
News
by Joe Wisbey
It has been confirmed that Welsh indie-popsters Catatonia have split up.
The band's official spokesperson has confirmed this morning (September 21) that Cerys Matthews has left the band.
It is thought that the decision was made at a meeting last week, and follows the relatively disappointing perform»
News
by Joe Wisbey
The Music release their Hut Recordings debut, the You Might As Well Try To Fuck Me EP, on November 5th 2001.
All four tracks were recorded at The Townhouse Studio in London with producer Lenny Franchi in late August/early September.
The tracks include live staples "You Might As Well Try T»
Review
by Joe Wisbey
The Byrds. They were good weren't they? All that jangly guitar and radio-friendly melodies?? The Cosmic Rough Riders clearly liked them. Cos as far as I'm concerned, they've started releasing their old songs.
"The Pain Inside", of course isn't ACTUALLY a Byrds cover version, that was just a w»
Review
by Joe Wisbey
It's been a long time coming. But it's here. It's the best record of the last 4 years. It's the most powerful, vivid, emotional lyric since Morrissey used to exist. It's Starsailor.
Now, I'm more than aware that many of you who are reading this now, don't particularly like this record. Hey! There ma»
News
by Joe Wisbey
The scheduled FARM AID Foot & Mouth benefit show, which was due to feature appearances from COLDPLAY, ASH, TOPLOADER and REEF has been cancelled.
A statement has been issued, blaming the "horrendous events in America" for the cancellation.
The statement reads: "Due to the horrendous events in America we h»
Review
by Joe Wisbey
I remember Travis. No, I mean I really remember Travis. I remember buying "Good Feeling" on the day it came out. I remember thinking that the only decent track on "The Man Who" was the hidden one. I remember when "The Invisible Band" came out this year. I remember it being pretty darn average.
But, »
In Depth by Joe Wisbey
Parents? Who'd have them? Sadly most of us "youngsters" are lumbered for a good part of 40 years with them. If your lucky you may love them. If your amazingly lucky, they may give you money for spending time with them. Sadly, this happens once in an extremely blue moon. On your journey from cradle to grave, they offer »