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Starkitten: Cynic's First Choice
Starkitten serve up a peculiar mixture of straight down the middle Rock / "I know that riff from somewhere" Punk / Ride 'em cowboy Rockabilly and all with a clear Pop sensibility.
The tractor beam slow paced opening holds you just long enough for 'Slither' to explode into its main riff with some good old rock'n'roll "Hey"s before Scott Weiland's deep purr slithers atop of the bass and guitar's grunt.
Band Profile: That Fucking Tank
Two members of Kill Yourself keep themselves entertained with semi improved riff and dance rock like Oxes or Ruins or Pink and Brown.
That Fucking Tank to release a 7" picture disc single
The astounding behemoth 2-piece rock riff outfit That Fucking Tank have finished recording sessions for their new release just this month to be released this year through On The Bone Records.
The awesomely titled "Party Crasher" kicks off the New Yoik noiseniks set, the B52 vocals sliding easily over the funky punk.
Not named after the king himself Elviss is one of your classic teenage punk band with some 21st century technology occasionally thrown into the mix.
That Fucking Tank: Andrew/James
Spazzing two-piece avant-rockers That Fucking Tank return with this 7", released in conjunction with Spanish synth sound merchants Grabba Grabba Tape.
Wakefield's The Old House are no ordinary band. Chris Billingham, Craig Newman Matt Knee and Paul Reid are fresh, enthusiastic and fizzing with ideas.
Cheer Up Mungo Hump and the Daddy Special: Untitled
'Sonic instigator' opens this CD with an infectious guitar riff, funky bassline and a vocalist that can actually sing.
Scary Kids Scaring Kids: The Only Medicine
They hail from Arizona, they scream a lot. And I have no doubt if you presented this single to my 4-year-old nephew it would probably scare him.
Susskind: The April Shower Demo
First of all I was going to blast them on the production here but, no, because it clearly states that it is a demo so I'll forgive Susskind for that.
Rock. Or, if we're feeling particularly fruity, RAWK. Down-and-dirty, balls-fully-out Rock, fat of ass and fat of riff.
...From The Shards Of Comets!: Less Magic, More Mechanics
Post-rock seems to be becoming quite popular these days with bands such as Mogwai, Godspeed You Black Emperor and Explosions In The Sky beginning to claim plaudits from all over the place.
Let's get this straight - despite the marketing blurb that was enclosed with this CD describing We The Faceless as 'new grunge', there's nothing particularly new about them.
The Japanaro line-up has changed since they recorded their four-track EP last year, boasting a new sound and a new vocalist.
Pushbike Army: Sleeping In The Ditch
Lets face it, music can transcend plenty of boundaries, but I for one didn't think that time and space was one of them.
King Creosote: Home in a Sentence
Upon uploading this CD to my iTunes library I was bemused to see the track entitled as 'The Track of My Tears' by 'Jimmie's Chicken Shack'.
Johnny Panic: Automatic Healer
Casually walking the line between glam metal and punk, this is a promising new offering from these snotty upstarts.
Lemons and Limes: The Debut EP
Lemons and Limes, a new signing to Leeds-based GrooveStealer Records, get off to a great start on The Debut EP with opener Split Ends.
With a name such as The Crypt, you'd be forgiven for thinking that this band is a Goth-rock or black metal outfit.
They're from Wales. And damn proud of it, it would seem. Novello come from the label 'Dragonffli' ("spelt the Welsh way") and are purveyors of catchy, sometimes dark, atmospheric rock music, but without the cheese of similar rock bands, or the pointless whinging of most emo bands, which they maybe sound quite similar too.
Being confronted by a venue the size of a half-empty aircraft hangar doesn't daunt York's heroic threesome.
After seeing this band live for the first time earlier on in the year, I just had to listen to their EP as soon as it was made just to see if these Bradford psychedelic punk-ish rockers live up to their live performance in the studio.
Right from the get-go, Fuji Heavy's crazy Garage-Space-Punk fires a rifftastic rocket straight up your arse.
Malibu Stacey: Cuatro discos de stomp
The first time I saw Malibu Stacey, I had no idea who they were but was blown away by their professionalism and purist punk rock style.
Viva Voce: Get Yr Blood Sucked Out
The follow up to their acclaimed international debut The Heat Can Melt Your Brain sees man and wife team Viva Voce broaden their sound...
The Bellrays: The Red, White and Black
The down and dirty bass guitar riff of "Remember" kicks off this second Poptones offering from The Bellrays before some rolling drums interrupt proceedings along with strangled guitar for company and then we're off into a rifftastic headlong dash to the chorus.
The Music Roll Exchange: Untitled
The Music Roll Exchange (North London with Huddersfield connections) have their chief blurb-writer primed to start abbreviating the name (they shall be known as TMRE) before anybody has heard of their carefully chosen long name.
experimental
Audit in Progress is the third delivering from these American post punk rockers and it's their most complete sounding album to date.
Lynchpin: In The Interest of Absolution
I do not proclaim to be an expert in the genre of metal by any standards, but listening to In The Interest of Absolution from North Yorkshire's nu-metallers, Lynchpin, it all seems very familiar, and I am doubtful that is because I have heard this particular band before.
Fury of the Headteachers: You Took a Scythe Home
Fury of the Headteachers have come up with a unique style of punk music. It's hard, full of aggression and passion, but they never lose their sense of purpose.
Remo are from the growing collection of "alternative" rock bands hailing from the city of Bradford lately.
Kicking off like a Monster Magnet song Ash seem to be showing signs of rocking a lot harder these days.
Charging headlong at us with spry eyes and barbed words of wit come Glaswegian four-piece Isosceles and their not particularly innovative brand of wry and irreverent art-pop jerkiness.
It's Monday night. And people have left their warm cosy houses, braved the elements and piled down the Well for a sloppy, dirty, nasty sludge-rock extravaganza!
Fucking hell. I think you can take deference to your heroes a bit too far. Tonight we see a disgusting display of fawning to past heroes - The Stands to The Beatles, The Kinks and The Byrds and Jet to The Stones.
Now, I don't think these are Mexicans that like drinking cola, but I have never met them to be sure. 'Come Clean' starts with a thumping tumble of dirty drumming, then leads in to a guitar riff, similar to Queens Of The Stone Age.
Stuffy and The Fuses @ Joseph's Well
The marathon framework of the day creates a nice ad hoc feel as each band comes on. However, this can be a problem for the bands upstairs.
Leeds' latest progressive-alt-rock band, Blue Sky Project, show plenty of promise with this record yet generally fall just short in delivering the quality goods expected of a band fronted by enigmatic singer / songwriter / guitarist / promoter / label boss Lewis Denby.
Funk Rock bands are a dying breed (discuss in 500 words or less). The first question then is why? Because the majority of them are not very good and they tend to be the biggest exploiters of tired and tested, slap-bass-riff-driven, meandering five-minute background music.
Pint Shot Riot: Punches Kicks Trenches And Swords
Now I would have given the song title a little more punctuation, but that is how I received and therefore review this song.
If you let yourself, you'll love this band to death. Only the fear of it not being Iggy Pop could stop you.
Yourcodenameis: Milo: Schteeve
Following their impressive Albini produced debut mini album, Yourcodenameis: Milo release their first single proper produced this time by Flood.
The Bronx are back with their take on 80's hardcore and 70's punk. Creepy bass looms at the beginning, then it's covered by harmonised solid vocals by hard voices.
A last-minute change of plan means that I'm reviewing this gig rather than your usual correspondent. And the fact that bus timetables are a rough guide rather than an actual indication of when your bus might arrive mean that by the time I'm inside a packed venue with de-misted spectacles and thawed ears (my, it was cold at that bus stop), Piskie Sits are well into their stride.
Band Profile: Seven Story Mourning
post-hardcore emo
les Flames!: Mutley, 1, From Essex
"We've got the rock, we've got the roll, we've got the sounds to get you excited, we've got the rock, we've got the roll, come on let's go!" sing the les Flames!
Ex- Babes in Toyland Singer/Guitarist Kat Bjelland's three-piece band do the dirty in the dingy glow of Leeds City Centre.
10 Days: The Future is Unwritten
"10 Days are one of the truly original bands on the underground currently." "Ten Days are a trio to be at the forefront of the next generation of alt.guitar bands in this city." With chronic press notices like those any band is going to struggle to make an impression.
Canada seems to be producing some great bands of late with many beginning to enjoy worldwide acclaim, perhaps it's time The Dears got a piece of the action?
Bloodhound Gang: Screwing You On The Beach At Night
In some tiny part of your brain you have to feel sorry for Bloodhound Gang: pre-pubescent boys trapped inside the bodies of men with a sense of humour about as sharp and fashionable as an antique butter knife.
Two things immediately spring out on the three-track demo CD from four-piece "atmospheric rockers" Lunar Camels.
This Black Velvetine's latest release, the three track EP "Goodbye" reeks of all things sleaze, snot and debauched rock.
The Wombats: Backfire at the Disco
I like The Wombats perhaps in the same way that I'd find it hard to dislike a real fuzzy wombat. Whilst real wombats have big old claws, The Wombats have big old hooks, and Backfire At The Disco is full of them.
Volcanoes: Fruits of the Fuzz EP
If there's ever a better time to use the term 'don't judge a book by its cover' it has to be now. When I saw the cover of the Volcanoes E.P.
The first single to be taken from new album 'A Ghost Is Born', Wilco return with an uptempo melody powered by a driving guitar.
The Yards: Forget Your Regrets
Man, The Yards really did draw the short straw when it comes to 'The' bands names didn't they? I can't think of many nouns that are left but 'The Yards'?.
The most striking thing about this single is how it takes seemingly disparate parts of guitar-based pop music from the last 25 years and turns them into a rolling, modern blast of a song.
Listening back to Beasts' original demo recording - released in April last year - it' amazing to note how much a band can achieve in just a few months.
Jack Peat is a fairy. He used to be the drummer in Kram but as they were offered a record contract for one single he bottled out and wanted to focus on University.
John Mayer: Bigger Than My Body
This guy is hot right now and Sony are giving him plenty of backing. Maybe he's not your cup of tea but you're going to have to admit the boy as talent.
Ocean Colour Scene: North Atlantic Drift
Accompanying this latest album by the band it seems the nation loves to hate is a press release ranting about that fact but stating that OCS have defiantly continued to produce great music and be a great band.
As this CD finished, I found myself asking 'oh right, is that it?' You see, Agent Blue are not the most original band in the world.
"Stop The Clock" introduces us to Blind Jackson with a whiny little guitar riff that intermittently returns.
Unclejohnny: Old Men Round A Table
I've heard a lot about this band from various people but never actually seen or heard them so it was good to finally hear them.
indie rock
Various Artists: Brew Records - Vol. 1
Newly formed in June in this year with the intention to showcase "more of the experimental music bursting out of Yorkshire" Brew Records Vol.
Opening track Chaos Adores Me is a slow burning 'Mondays' style tune with some random, and lyrically weak, ramblings over the top.
Do Me Bad Things: Whats Hideous
I wasn't sure what to expect from a band with a listed six vocalists and a support slot with The Darkness under their belts.
Another chewed brick through the window. Another moshingly ripped up piece of adrenalin with amplifiers.
An American band with guitars and a violin will bring images of Hillbilly country rock. Add a hint of reggae and you'll be forgiven for thinking it's the Mad Hatters tea party.
Fury of the Headteachers: Farewell Comrade
Fury of the Headteachers' fresh take on punk rock can be heard on their new release, 'Farewell Comrade'.
Broadcast 2000: Building Blocks
I'll begin this review by thanking Broadcast 2000. This CD is like a breath of fresh air and perfect for chilling out and laying back.
While many of Leeds' rock fans were the other side of town (Razorlight at LU) some of us were supporting local talent.
"Nowhere to Hide" is a clanging bluesified rock piledriver with Americano vocal affectation in the style of Pub Rock, but no particular song.
I've been given a copy of this single that contains the "clean" version of this single so I don't get to hear naughty Mr Half Dollar get nasty on our asses.
Viva Voce: Faster Than A Dead Horse
Viva Voce's latest single 'Faster Than A Dead Horse' is a psychedelic pop gem. Soak up the feel of the song and you'll think you're cruising through San Francisco in the mid-60's.
Northern Ireland's loss is Manchester's gain regards Jist, originating in the former and decamping to the latter.
The A.M. @ Fez Club (Sheffield)
If you have never been to, or played the Fez Club, I would recommend that you go. Nice staff, a friendly atmosphere 'Moroccan' / middle east décor and silken sheets for the bands to hide behind and call their dressing room.
Shearwater's 4th album "Palo Santo" sees existing band member Jonathan Meiburg rise from the shadow of Okkervil River's Will Sheff and take full command of the songwriting and vocal duties with positive results.
Although its now two or three years since nu-metal brought guitars and rock back into the mainstream, there has been a resurgence of interest lately with bands who are mixing the archetypal heavy rock sound with early nineties classic grunge influences.
Machine is the 2nd musical bullet whizzing past your ear from the gun of these New York art-house punks and boy does it cut the air.
Seattle's Modest Mouse have been sideline spectators on the scene for a good while now, quietly enjoying the flattering but financially lacking "cult" status.
This girl has balls. Big hairy ones. Now I'm not usually a fan of lady-friends with add-ons but in Tigs' case I very much approve.
Paper Cuts: Born On A Slippery Slope
If any bands were to be related to the late At the Drive-in then Paper Cuts would the immature cousin from across the pond whom the family hate to visit at Christmas as they're the ones who get blind drunk and try to hit on your mother.
Yourcodenameis: Milo: They Came from the Sun
The cover art can convey many impressions about an album. Usually they are correct, as is the case here.
Computerman: No More Broken Hearts
I first look at the back of this CD sleeve and I'm thinking to myself they look like every single asymmetrical gender bender who goes to the Cockpit on a Friday night (this is not a good thing!) so I'm praying that the quality of music on the CD is going to be better than the air conditioning at the sweat-pit.
The Boyfriends: No Tomorrow / I Love You
While the band may have a crap name they actually do have the knack to pen a couple of decent tunes as demonstrated on this two-track CD.
Hoggboy have brought their mates along from Sheffield for this show taking in some of their recent releases.
Rachel Cook, the Musical Adventure that is, is perhaps best described as 'not just another acoustic act'.
The biog of London based Dripfeed makes numerous references to Coldplay and although the music itself has a distinct whiff of the band it stands up enough by itself to dispense with such lazy comparisons.
This is a big-hearted CD with two very good songs. The sound is full, the tunes are strong and Matt Worall has a voice on him that draws all the attention.
Imagine Status Quo with occasional bongos. Got it? Ok, that's half way to the sound of 10,000 Things.
Father have already made an impact across all of the ex Yugoslavian territory over the last two years playing with names such as Anthrax, The Hives, Max Cavalera, Henry Rollins, Sisters of Mercy and Madball.
Chicken Legs Weaver: Street Cleaner EP
Royal Park Cellars' favourite Sheffield band Chicken Legs Weaver are unfeasibly good. Doing research on the band I have turned up virtually nothing.
progressive metal
"It'll be really funny and everyone will forgive our recording foibles if we call our demo 'Poorly Produced Demo' upfront - hey it's irony man!" Umm, well it isn't funny and it should really have been called 'Poorly Mastered Demo' lacking as it does in EQ or volume.
The first and best thing you notice about fsor is the passion they have for the tunes they're playing.
Death in Public: Start a Fight
Lancaster's Death in Public's release 'Start a Fight' is an inventive three-track disc. The title track is full of energy and enthusiasm and sets the tone for the rest of disc.
Martha: Kids knee deep in the Power of Love
Martha quickly establish a big power-pop sound on this 3 track release. It's energetic and well played, produced etc, but the overall songwriting is still someway of the polished finish of the CD packaging.
This elegantly European-looking collection of four pieces from five piece Khopek comes cloaked in pale blue mystery.
Various Artists: Dangerlust / Hinterland - split single
"Touch My Ass" eh? Well, if you describe yourself as a dirty, sleazy scuzzy rock band then I might have to pass on that - I might catch something.
Dead Pad live in a world of electro metal, blasts of guitar riffage with a female vocalist and plenty of programmed beats and effects.
'Wait For You' by Tin Soldiers is a solid, light-rock ballad that follows firmly in the footsteps of Snow Patrol, Coldplay, and the like.
Sawthroat @ Cross Keys (Morley)
I've seen these guys many a time and this is was definitely Sawthroat at their very best. Probably the best that I have seen them play since their gig at The Cavern in August.
Biffy Clyro: Glitter and Trauma
You know it's always an oddity when a band are known as well for their odd moniker as they are for their tunes but this Scottish three peice manage to have a large back catalogue that speaks for itself.
The Scaramanga Six: The Continuing Saga Of
Whatever they might get up to in Huddersfield, The Scaramanga Six are pretty big in the large city of Leeds.
Ethan and Nathan Dickens, Stuart Morrison , Rob Soulsby and Tom Francis: Fierce Panda's latest punt into the unknown.
"We aren't like any other band that are currently on the scene..." ahh the old classic. Anyone who's anyone who's been in a band has either thought it or said it and of course like all of them If I Were King are also incorrect.
Mr Dogg: Get Out of the Warehouse
This 6 track EP races insanely through Jam popness, Pistols punkness, punk skaness and punk death metalness.
Bifta Smoking Eskimos: The Columbian Cold EP
We now have a scoop the NME would love to get their hands on, Richard Ashcroft formerly of The Verve and currently enjoying a bafflingly successful solo career has sneaked over to Huddersfield and recorded an EP in secret, working under the name Bifta Smoking Eskimos.
With a name like Lindy you might be conjuring up mental images of a 16 year-old girl wielding an acoustic guitar and a few teen ballads, but actually it's Icelandic in origin and belongs to a 10 foot tall blonde bloke from Canada, still wielding a guitar but thankfully minus the ballads.
The West Country boys are back with a new 'Best Of' album including 5 new songs. This is the first of them and as the funky guitar and strong bass kicks in it's instantly recognisable as Reef, although it sounds slicker than anything we've heard from them before.
This isn't a bad little EP from this newly formed London ensemble; actually it's quite good although after reading their extremely long-winded blurb I got the impression they may be trying to be too alternative for their own good.
The Yo-Yo's: Given Up Giving Up
I remember five years ago as a poor student living in Stoke-on-Trent getting the first The Yo-Yo's album and lending it to anyone who'd listen.
Due to various factors, I have had this album for quite a while now. This I am pleased about as I have a relationship with this album just as I have with all my albums that I have invested in and, due to this, I feel adequately prepared to review it.
Tetra Splendour @ Leeds Festival 2002
Plundering the heavy riff cookbook, Porthcawl's Tetra Splendour sure make a better live proposition than on record (fine single 'Pollenfever' excepted).
The Beauty Shop: Rumplestiltskin Lives
Beginning with a quirky, memorable acoustic riff, this swaggers along for just over three and a half minutes, the vocals ranting about all the drudge of Americana like a drunken cowboy dragging his boots through the mud.
Andrew WK @ Leeds Festival 2002
The one-man party machine drew a large crowd to the Main Stage to witness some self-abuse antics. The performance is full of energy from the start; Mr WK and backing band run around like lunatics.
While all around them are listening to kids in tight jeans and crazy haircuts, hoping that they are an offshoot of the good old punk days, these punk leaders have released ninth studio album 'Reason To Believe'.
Tindersticks: Don't even go there EP
Get warmed up for this Summer's album release and tour with four new songs from an effortlessly mature Tindersticks.
funk rock
Imagine you've just accidentally walked into Doctor Who's Tardis. Easy enough mistake to make, there you are wanting to make a phone call to your mum to tell her to put the Sheppard's Pie in the oven when suddenly your find yourself trapped in a blue time travelling device.
Barnsley based Relay carry off an accomplished and familiar sound. "Different to anything else around at the moment" says a quote from the accompanying biog, written by someone who clearly hasn't listened to The Rain Band, The Music, The Cooper Temple Clause, The Verve, Mansun, Primal Scream and countless others that have mixed the dancier / funkier side of rock with Indie.
Band Profile: It Takes Bridges
It's a riot based around riffs, drama, sweat and volume. Think The Fall fighting Nirvana for the last of the drugs.
Flies are Spies from Hell @ Royal Park Cellars
For this sleep deprived reporter, the prospect of having to walk deep into Headingley on a Thursday evening, with an exam at 9 O'clock the next morning, was not a particularly inviting one, but none the less I upped the courage and made the effort.
The Nervous Shakedown: They've Come To Save Us
Here's a question for you. What do you get when you cross Kyuss, Queens of the Stone Age and the Desert Sessions?
The Fencott Disaster: Ambulance Fever
Shout, scream, whine, loud, fast, stop, start, feedback, riff, rock, ravage, thrash. That's The Fencott Disaster in 12 words.
Motley Crue: If I Die Tomorrow
In December last year cock-rock legends Motley Crue, well known for their drug overdoses and womanising, decided to reform to give music one more crack.
Ignore the crap name. Just pretend there called something cool like "Cranky Gypsy" or "Superwolf" and proceed with the listening.
The Bilderberg Group: This City!
A burst of harmonised vocals introduces this latest single from The Bilderberg Group, "This City". A jaunty, jangly guitar rhythm is the song's foundations whilst a swirl of organ sweeps below those rich vocals.
The band that everyone loves to hate right now. It would seem that everyone who never liked the Stereophonics hates them even more now.
The Horrors: She Is The New Thing
"It's weird, because when we do gigs we just set out to play our songs and not annoy or wind up anyone - but we often cause loads of trouble in the process" says keyboard player Rhys 'Spider' Webb.
Upon first listen this EP made little impression on me, as 'Mucktub' made way for the second track 'Regular Guy', I found myself wondering if my CD player was stuck on repeat mode, and had to check that this really was a new song.
Six By Seven: Artists Cannibals Poets Thieves
I type this review having just had a quick scan of the website and find out that the band have decided to call it a day.
There are few who do country and western techno quite as well as Brixton's Alabama 3. On new album Outlaw the band were apparently inspired by the American mythology of gun wielding cowboy gangs and the realisation that we reserved Brits don't have any of the same sepia tinted glorification of criminals.
The Lodger: The Lodger Sings A Demo CD
The Lodger is starting the Britpop revival as of NOW. His lyrics are honest and insecure at times but he ain't no bedroom melancholic, no no.
The contagious summer smile is amongst us, the festivals are selling the best flat beer money can buy, and the roads are melting beneath our feet.
Listening to the first track provided for me here in neat digital form I marvel at the fact that The Bayonets only formed a few months ago.
The Killers: All These Things That I've Done
The Killers are probably the most aptly-named band around at the moment, after having whipped, bludgeoned and slayed their way across the British music scene with sharp ties and nicely-pressed trousers.
Spitfire Charlie: What did we do last night?
For some reason after hearing the name Spitfire Charlie bounded about I'd started picturing a bunch of Oasis-soundalikes in Parkas.
I like Milburn a lot. They're one of the reasons I started reviewing because you never know when you'll be sent a gem of a CD to cover that you just absolutely love.
School Of Language: Sea From Shore
You'll first realise that this album has got under your skin when you're getting funny looks in the check-out queue in Morrison's, as you've been intoning Uh-Ah-Um-Ee-Ah vowel sounds to yourself like some weird Buddhist chant.
Wednesday night's show at Joseph's Well was one of the best I've seen in the last three months. The two bands fit well together and each played good, rocking sets.
Moneen have always been overtly overlooked in any way you wish to categorise musical success in this country.
The Rise provide a dose of familiar baggy indie guitar dance crossover on this debut CD - think Manchester 1990 if that description was too confusing.
One Minute Silence: One Lie Fits All
Lets start on a good footing. I don't like metal. I went to the download festival and didn't see a single metal band for Christ's sake!
James Taylor, singer of The Rocks, is in pain. Pain of quite a high degree, it would seem, judging by the flayed vocals which drag themselves gratingly over the most uninspired riff to have emerged in 2004.
Charly Six: Get Drunk, Screw, Get High
The boys that once were Brass Monkey are now the men standing up to be counted as Charly Six. With a sound that has undergone several incarnations there has always been some question as to which C6 would be turning up.
Del Scott Miller: My Timing Will Win Me Few Friends
After checking out some fantastic unsigned bands, I'm left with this CD on my desk staring up at me, expectant eye, awaiting a review.
Pete's Sake: If that's what you really want
CD single from this Welsh 4-piece, pretty straight up SoCal sounding pop punk. Complete with American accent.
Pussy Whipped have cooked up a quadruple helping of shoutyness lady style this evening with about 100 at the Bassment to witness the scenes.
Mr Shiraz: Sleeping With The Enemy
Dum Dum. Dum Dum. Dum Dum. Dum Dum. The bass drum thumps with moody guitars then the wailing brass kicks in to captivate you rather than provide a tune.
There's the possibility of a successful band here, but it's unlikely to be named Louie. I mean, it could form from Louie, or component members thereof, but for now all we see before us is a band going through the stage of self-finding, identification and formation.
When I moved to Leeds 15 years ago, the first gig I saw was in Lister Park, Bradford, with a packed crowd enjoying the sounds of The Wedding Present, who were on a stage in the middle of a lake.
The Parnell Deception: Untitled
According to the press release The Parnell Deception are "often described as Tool thrown into a melting pot with Radiohead".
Crash Cartel. Hmmm, now there's a name you can't help but think you've heard before but in which lifetime god only knows.
The Ting Tings: That's Not My Name
"That's Not My Name" is a punchy shot of girly spazz-pop, caterwauling its way through three and three quarter minutes of sparklingly riotous perfection.
The Playmates: Smash Hits / Jackie Wright
The Playmates just reek of scuzz. They've got scuzz seeping out of every orifice. They've got scuzz in places you don't even have places.
Keeping in tune with the current fascination of resurrecting Britpop, Pioneers arrive with their brand on melodic pop songs, centred around jangly guitars, blistering vocals and fuzzy organ.
Imagine going to a gig and getting given a CD to review. Well that's what happened with this CD by Seven Hours.
They still look like extras from the rough council estate in The Bill but the 4 lads from Leeds have done pretty well for themselves in this their year of destiny.
Somehow while living the rock 'n' roll lifestyle Red.Star.Line managed to find the time to whip up a whole album.
Lyrics. I've never been good in identifying quality lyrics. That is lyrics that others deem to be of any quality.
Defining yourself in a saturated market is hard at the best of times, and for many bands that choose punk or grunge the struggle is for acceptance when stereotypically most "piss poor local bands" usually fall into this category.
Fine Apple, one of Bradford's unknown bands outside the area, choosing to ply their trade at Rios, bring us a great four-track EP.
This must be the aural equivalent of what happens when one of those people who try to make themselves look like Dracula smiles 'cause they're, y'know, happy and stuff.
The name Demon Summer immediately conjures up images of Satan chilling on a beach in Cornwall while the sun beats down on his already fiery flesh.
Leeds' own The Dharma (formerly know as Unyson) display a buried love of Freedom Rock on this 3 track demo, that's big choruses, hands in the air and the wind in your hair.
The Parkinsons: A Long Way To Nowhere
It doesn't seem like yesterday that I reviewed and interviewed four guys for Mean Fiddler. Riotous exhibitionists, yet the nicest guys you're ever going to meet out behind the scenes, they were out on a day trip to prop up the Saturday morning third-stage festivities at Leeds Festival, and the 'Fiddler, whatever their reasons, didn't publish any of it.
Once in a while a CD comes along which is very special indeed. Today is one of those days. Produced by the band themselves and released on their own label this is Mondo's second album, "Before the Fall".
The Chemical Brothers: Push the Button
The Chemical Brothers are back after a long overdue hiatus and have produced an album whose sound can only be described as well...
Solace's accompanying letter tells me immediately a lot about what I should expect from this CD... I know, I know, never judge a book and all that but I just hope that if this goes to record companies they try some other tactic than scrawled biro.
Blue Sky Project: Masquerade EP
I have awaited more tracks from Blue Sky Project since listening to their last EP on MySpace (oh the beauty of the Web!) and thought they had potential, so naturally the next offering from them needed to exceed all expectations.
This Days Fury don't so much wear their influences on their respective sleeves as paint them in thirty foot high day-glo letters and carry them around on a rotating bill board.
The Pigeon Detectives: Untitled
The Pigeon Detectives are one of the most entertaining live bands around Leeds at the moment. On stage their frantic and furious frontman belts out shambolic rock 'n' roll gems like there's no tomorrow, often threatening to decapitate one of the band's guitarists as he throws his mic stand, microphone and himself around the stage in an uncontrolled fit of pleasure.
Interesting ways to sort out your band's musical direction number 341 - take the Kaiser Chiefs' sharp approach to indie-pop, add a dash of razorblade guitar riffs, some Stooges style onstage hyperactivity, stick a rocket up its jacksy and enjoy.
Leeds bands announced for Carling Stage at Leeds Festival 2004...
Carling Stage bands have been announced this week for Leeds Festival 2004 and the line up includes a number of local bands.
I was instructed by Cooler Green to write a review for their gig at the Rocket on Friday 1st February.
Planet Of Women: Waking Up the Neighbourhood
"November spawned a monster" sang Morrissey back in 1991. Fourteen years on and this turn of phrase could be applied to some of the current wave of artists riding on the coat-tails of the glam rock/ cock-rock resurgence instigated by The Darkness.
This latest offering from the up-and-coming whippersnappers from Welwyn Garden City encapsulates perfectly what this band are all about; a three-minute burst of loud, simple, magnificent punk rock.
The Research: She's Not Leaving
It seems the more you love a song, the harder it is to review. When you hate something, you can slag it off for a good hour or so, it is harder to justify love.
To be honest I've never seen Downfall before, never heard a single note played by this lot before, I've heard good things, don't get me wrong, but I've never been to a gig to see them play, call it laziness I guess...
Two support bands. Why? Why oh fucking why? Maybe I need clarification, but I thought the whole point of a support band was to warm up the crowd for the main event, not take away all the time from them?
Empire Dogs are not here to change the world. Nor are they here to frighten the pants off us like next door's Rottweiler.
Is it me? I keep hearing recordings that make no demands, move no stones and promise no thrills. The Reverse come from Crouch End and make much of acoustic guitar strumming.
Hmmm, interesting. On first inspection Kaylium seem to be one to file under the "decent, but not a band to get your knickers in a twist over" section.
Well this was my first time to the new live venue on the Leeds circuit that is The Kirkstall Lites, and boy was I impressed after the night was over!
Too excitable too soon, my young boys. Puscha's (albeit high-energy thrashing-at-the-bit heavy-breathing) second single gets all hot and bothered before it has anything to show for itself.
Rock/Alternative/Metal
I like this CD. Very much. Reviewing acoustic bands is not really my strong point, but this CD just shouts out "play me, play me".
Vessels: Two Words & A Gesture
Shoegaze and experimental music can be quite hit-and-miss. Some would probably argue, with more than just slight condescension, it's more often miss; but then it's these factions that miss out on some of the more interesting artistic visions on the music scene.
The Sugars: Doo Wop (Sugar So Sweet)
Bands such as Arctic Monkeys may dispute that image isn't everything, and whilst it certainly isn't, it's always good to find a band who, in addition to writing first-rate songs, also have a good ol' bash at looking damned good.
"like Sevendust battling it out with deftones and Metallica" - The Machine
This, the farewell tour of Leeds' greatest outsider band Cud, is to be a blinder. Maybe not all the hits are here, but the setlist covers their five original releases with a bit of everything.
The Pattern: Fragile Awareness
What I like about the pattern is that after first listening I couldn't stand them. I listen 3 days later and I can't stop ...
Seven Nautical Miles: Every Ocean Reversed
Like six post-metal Viking Kings wandering in search of their riff Valhalla, Seven Nautical Miles' debut album is a densely layered, dark and brooding affair in the tradition of all great epic post-metal bands - namely, that crushingly heavy, glacial guitars are interspersed with delicate light arpeggios that glimmer like the aurora borealis (ok, enough Viking/Scandinavian clichés).
Fifth Goodbye: This Is My Impression EP
Sadly, I cannot remember back to my experimentation with guitar playing so the name of the guitar effects used to open Bandstand escapes me, so for my lack of technical knowledge I do apologise.
The impact is immediate. As soon as you hear Brooke Dundas' voice you know this girl is something special.
This certainly sounds promising. An indie duo consisting of a female singer/guitarist and her husband drummer (who really can play nearly everything: drums, various percussion, keys, and - wait for it - a kazoo.
The Conway Story: Even when the wind blows
Whoever wrote these guys' press release must be pretty crap at making references. "Reminiscent of Keane and Coldplay" goes one line, making me fear the worst.
The Music: You Might As Well Try To Fuck Me EP
"You Might As Well Try To Fuck Me" is the debut release from Leeds' The Music on the Hut label, and, put bluntly, is a blinding tune.
Second single to be released from Charlotte Hatherley's critically acclaimed debut album 'Grey Will Fade', 'Bastardo', is a poppy, sun-kissed, fun-packed offering.
Son Of Dave @ Brudenell Social Club
Having attended the show on a recommendation from a friend who had seen his performance on Later... I was unsure what to expect from Son Of Dave having heard the eclectic descriptions.
Richard Nixon would be proud. At last, something good with his surname. This 3 track EP from Manchester quartet Tricky Nixon is mighty impressive.
This second offering from York-based alt-rock outfit Heroic Trio, the follow-up to last year's Driveby EP, is a decidedly mixed affair.
Oh God here we go again. Haven't we reached our quota of tawdry predictable Coldplay tribute acts yet...
Like many of today's music buying public I'm too young to remember The Jam as they were but like so many others I have a few of the albums in my collection and I can hum the classics.
Redcarsgofaster: Micro / I Am The Storm
I need to start by apologising to the band on this one. This double A-side was released on August 14th and due to work commitments and down-right laziness I've only just got round to properly reviewing it.
Sometimes I hate writing reviews. I got into it because I love writing and love music. But sometimes you have to review something that you really don't enjoy and it's horrible because it's no fun slagging off bands that put their heart and soul into their music.
Receiving an EP from a band that lists influences ranging from Radiohead to Jeff Buckley to Nirvana, I had no idea what would greet me when I started listening.
Yellow Stripe Nine: Look Sharp EP
Yellow Stripe Nine are a band I've heard of but never heard, until now, and on the basis of this CD I'm wondering why.
This three-track promo CDR is awesome. No really. I didn't understand it at first but once my wife had taken over and proclaimed how much she loved the record after just one listen, I had to work out what it was that I had missed...
Smilex are from Oxford. They're inventive and spirited and should do a fizzing stir-fry of set at the Royal Park Cellars when they come to Leeds on November 1st.
The Culprit formed in mid 2005 from the remnants of dissolved bands. The four piece band has so far released two self produced EPs and with over 17000 plays on their MySpace page, they seem to be doing right.
After arriving home from my brief holiday in Iceland, it's ironic to find a song about summer waiting on my doorstep.
Despite the disappearance of much of the area's student crowd, the second batch of Fake Hips welcomed a health-sized crowd by the time Liverpool-based Friday's Ghost arrived onstage.
Billy Talent: 4 Piece from Toronto, they seem to be getting some really good press at the moment and look set to be the next "Big Thing" with the angst ridden pocket money wielding teenage Sum 41 fans out there.
Did you ever notice how much Bradford is like Los Angeles? No, neither did I, but BD's Seven Hours propel me into the dark and dirty underground blues bars of LA's cinematic masterpiece 'Swingers' with a "You're so the money baby" and a blast of EA Hockey.
Nine Black Alps: Everything Is
Nine Black Alps are the latest in the long line of bands to be adorned with that oft used title 'The Next Nirvana' but for anyone who is now hearing band names such as Silverchair, Puddle of Mudd and Bush, fear not.
Kanuba are the fretboard funkateers looking to put the pork into York and the groove into West Yorkshire with their latest EP release.
That Fucking Tank @ Leeds Festival 2008
That Fucking Tank, confounding expectations as usual, are here on the BBC Introducing Stage like basking sharks in a paddling pool.
Four-piece workaholics The Hair have been in and around Leeds for yonks, I remember vaguely seeing them in support somewhere.
Rhode Island announce themselves with the borrowed voice of a court house judge from some seedy American backwater.
I bet Thee Virus House really get annoyed all the time with people printing their name The Virus House, because yes that wasn't a spelling mistake or typo, they are Thee Virus House.
Ah the theremin. Not since 'Good Vibrations' have I heard such magnificent use of the instrument. Opening track on this four track EP, and aptly enough the title track, 'Dandelion' thumps along with its array of kitsch 1960s instruments, its sleazy guitar riff and its myriad of churning organs, booming drums and a vocalist that sounds suspiciously like Jason Pierce.
The opening guitar induces a wince, the shaky drumbeat turns the wince into a grimace and as the vocals come in teeth grind until there's nothing but flesh.
Anyone who remembers 90s indie rockers Midget will know of Richard Gombault, and obviously this, his new project.
Miss Black America: Emotional Junkmail
Have you seen the video? Picture the scene - a darkened room, with a table in the middle. On the table is a plate of cookies at one side and four pints of milk lined up in a row at the other side with an empty glass next to them.
It hardly needs stating that Selfish Cunt won't be troubling the top ten. A commendable refusal to join the ranks of commercialism which may make listeners feel SC are sincere.
The Longshots: Million To One EP
'Ex-Girlfriends' kicks off in incendiary fashion and sets the tone for the next eleven and a bit minutes of your life.
Jerry Cantrell @ Rio (Bradford)
How influential were Alice in Chains? Maybe not as influential as their nineties grunge peers Nirvana, maybe not as highly touted as their glum superstar friends Soundgarden, but if you step back and look at the crop of bands that are now doing a piss poor impression of one of the heavier, yet more diverse Seattle bands from the grunge explosion, you'll realise how that most of these bands (Godsmack to name the most blatant copyists, even taking their name from a song from "Dirt") were losing themselves in the misery that was one of the most critically acclaimed albums of the 90's, 1992's "Dirt", rather than jumping around and trying to craft three chords into sub-Nirvana anthems.
Spoonfish. Hmm. Interesting name. It's good. This Keighley four-piece band are definite contenders. They play energetic enthusiastic metal in a classic style (but claim to be NU).
The first line sung by Craig Nicholls pretty much sums up the entire listening experience for 'Winning Days'.
Neils Children: Always the Same
Wow that's a sick guitar sound! Yet it pounds around my head picking up on each one of my senses. This is a crazy indie-punk number from Neils Children, sounding like The Futureheads mixed with Pistols-esque vocals yet they have their own unique psychedelic feel to the piece.
One obvious disadvantage of calling yourselves Breakthemould is that reviews of your recorded output are inevitably going to query whether or not you do actually "break the mould" in terms of pushing new musical boundaries.
Creature With The Atom Brain: I Am The Golden Gate Bridge
After two vinyl-only EPs, The Snake and Kill The Snake, I Am The Golden Gate Bridge is the first full-length album from the bizarrely named Creature With The Atom Brain, the brainchild (no pun intended) of Aldo Struyf.
rock blues
One thing I can never fathom about O Fracas is whether they're creative geniuses, or really rubbish. See, sometimes, all I can infer from the established Leeds four-piece's music is that they've had a load of particularly good ideas, but then decided to sack off rehearsal in favour of taking loads of drugs and piecing the sections together in a manner that seemed perfectly rational at the time.
Promising name I thought. Very Jack Kerouac, but with cunning regional twist with the old M62 and that.
Raw, loud and unrestrained, the latest offering from the boy/girl blues trash outfit is the epitome of nicotine-stained scuzzy rock 'n' roll.
It's a chilly Saturday night, and my feet have past the point of freezing. Upon reflection, acid pink sling-backs are unsuitable for an occasion where any amount of walking is required.
The Whippets: You'll Be Fine EP
I'm not really a lover of filling reviews with press release fodder, but this is fucking excellent: "The Whippets sound like a dip in a plunge pool, followed by a particularly tricky numbers round of Countdown, standing on your head and then finding a tenner you didn't know you had and spending it all on Pic n'Mix." Right dissection fans, let's go...
indie pop
Five O'Clock Heroes: Bend To The Breaks
Today in chateaux Lewis we open the packaging to discover a wonderful display of thoughtful CD case design.
Angels & Airwaves: We Don't Need to Whisper
As the frontman of Blink 182, Tom DeLonge sold millions of records and gained huge popularity off the back of songs about falling in love, shagging your mum, and being a teenage delinquent.
My Morning Jacket: Sweatbees EP
Ok, lets get it out of the way. The Flaming Lips. There, I said it. It's something My Morning Jacket are going to have to live with; people will always make comparisons.
As the stereo gobbles up its latest shiny donut of musical nourishment, I have to stop it mid-bite to check I've put the right CD in - the resemblance of Protein Shake's opening riff to the chorus of 'Fire' by the Jimi Hendrix Experience is uncanny.
Fonda 500 @ Royal Park Cellars
If there's one thing I love its a bit of swagger in the face of adversity. A nice big "Fuck You" when things aren't going quite right.
Loqui: I Can't Believe It's Not Better
An ostentatious biography package accompanies this 'Greatest Hits' compilation from Loqui, which also encompasses their life as Vertigo Green.
This is a very smart live recording. It's raw, punchy and pretty effective. Sawthroat don't do complicated stuff.
Oh! nearly! nearly! This stuff is on the edge of genius, fighting to avoid the big drop into the bathos of emulopop.
Review featured with permission from www.whisperinandhollerin.com Upon walking through the front doors, the first thing you notice tonight is just how young looking 90% of the 300 strong crowd is inside the aircraft hanger like Cockpit.
Tonight's support act Aereogramme are an oddity - they have a singer who resembles what you imagine Fran Healy would look like if he acquired a bit of a meths habit, a guitarist who's the dead spit of Bill Bailey and a bassist who looks like he's on loan from Saxon.
Three Children Of Fortune: Scarlet Fever
Despite sounding like an early-eighties kids cartoon a la Mysterious Cities of Gold, Three Children Of Fortune are in fact a post-rock trio from Medway who specialise in creating a "visceral, angry and abrasive take on British guitar music".
You have to feel a bit sorry for MoFo as they take the stage to an audience numbering approximately three.
Chugga Chugga Chug, cheeky twidly solo, screamy bits, nice bits. It's a dynamic most of us have got used to since Killswitch Engaged released "Alive Or Just Breathing", but funnily enough, this Leeds-based 5-piece have some killer songs, some wicked riffs and this whole 5-track CD just works.
Workout Holiday is a collection of re-recorded songs from the first two EPs by White Denim. This ramshackle three-piece from Austin have been causing a bit of a stir of late, and on this evidence it's fairly easy to see what the fuss is about.
There was a time, albeit brief, when I lived the Oxford music scene, kicked around venues such as Zodiac and claimed bands such as Dustball to be my fave.
I will make no apology for the lacklustre performance given by openers KENOSHA, who decided that the paying customers were not worthy of them playing a part in the proceedings.
Entering the barely packed side room at first glance this does not seem like the prime of Switches' domains, stage drab and atmosphere mellow.
Hailing from Ireland, but sounding decidedly American, Drat are here to tide over all the Weezer fans who are tired of waiting for Rivers to get off his ass and write some more albums.
The Thermals: The Body The Blood The Machine
When they recorded their first album on a beat up old four-track in a local hotel room, Portland trio The Thermals and their label Sub Pop boldly stuck two fingers up to the industry and said "look we can have a hit record even with out all the expensive tweaks." Quite right too, More Parts Per Million went on to be an underground smash if there is such a thing and the tinny production only added to its joy.
drum 'n bass
Having spent four years of my life in Bradford, I still never worked it out as to why this curry capital of the north has managed to take it's place as the 'must have' of any self respecting Rock bands tour dates.
Various Artists: On The Bone Records: Compilation One
Eventually, a compilation release is the logical step in any promoter's relationship with their artists and audience.
Colour of Fire, acclaimed local(ish) alt-rockers, opened up tonight in front of a reasonable crowd. Having just finished a considerable UK tour, they didn't seem at all tired, or perturbed to back in their regular gigging territory.
"Swift will remove your mask, whether dressed in white or dressed in black." they claim. A surreptitious war on Slipknot fans?
i concur: Lucky Jack / Build Around Me
As far as 'post-rock' goes, i concur appear to amass all the hallmarks of the genre with the precise and systematic grace of the consummate disciples they purport to be.
It's hard to put a finger on it, but whatever it is, Jonjo Feather has it, and he's got it in spades.
Half Man Half Biscuit: CSI: Ambleside
Reviewing Half Man Half Biscuit has to be one of the most difficult tasks I have ever taken on. They are brilliant, with sharp witted lyrics and feet tapping riffs.
Ryan Spendlove is name to watch. He has a pretty face, a sharp-tongued soulful voice and the kind of snarly delivery that every generation likes to call its own.
Making notes as I listen to Mojo Pin for the first time I can feel the internal on/off switch clicking at regular intervals.
On a bar-full of chemically dubious sweetiepops and bilious lagers here stands a single malt of geological integrity and permanent joy.
The Blackout: The Blackout! The Blackout! The Blackout!
The Blackout have never claimed to be reinventing the wheel. Most of the criticism levelled at the valley boys are usually due to their lack of originality.
Redwire declare on their website to be "the most exciting band to come out of Bradford ever!" Considering at the minute the only other Bradford band I can think of are Embrace...
The Coral: Nightfreak & The Sons of Becker
The latest recording form The Coral is the product of improvisational sessions. I awaited the release of this CD with anticipation since I saw them in November and heard two of the songs live.
Various Artists: Bright Young Things 2007
Fifteen quite individual tracks - and yet there's more than a hint of overall unity to this. Not sameness: far from it, but a feel that it wouldn't be impossible to cook up a narrative thread plotting the journey from minute 1 to minute 59, and so award concept album status as well as whatever other accolades are coming to BYT 2007.
Parisman: A Lesson In The Art Of Balance
Parisman take one great leap into their own future with this very polished three track CD. No more uncertainty about how to balance the rock and the electronics.
After reviewing rock bands for the last few months, it's an unexpected change of direction that sees me listening to this 4 track CD by dance trio Emmet.
Virginia Creep: Crack Out Baby
There was a time, years ago, when hulking behemoths stood astride the world we call 'Rock!' with their axes in hand and their lean bodies covered in garish spandex, tight fitting leather and tremendously outrageous haircuts.
This is very primitive guitar rock with a swagger and attitude that some people are just going to love.
Full line up for Futuresound 2004 is announced...
Futuresound Music can now confirm which thirty bands have got through to the next round of their unsigned competition, Futuresound 2004.
A popular place with the alternative crowd, the Bassment was an impressive half full as That Fucking Tank took the stage at 8 o'clock.
From the truly glorious, rousing opening riff, you can tell that 'Morden' is going to be a tale of teenage angst for our times and what a tale Good Shoes turn it into.
Eureka Machines @ Leeds Festival 2008
Eureka Machines charge up the whole show for the next three days by demolishing Friday's graveyard slot, tearing out classic rock songs like Saturday night was already half way through and speeding us all up to life-threatening pulse levels.
Franz Ferdinand: You Could Have It So Much Better
That's right folks, the notoriously troublesome second album is due, you've used all your best tunes on the first one and back home everybody else has re-hashed them behind your back while you've been busy conquering North America.
When the Foo Fighters were born from the smouldering remains of Nirvana there was collective, worldwide pants wetting as the grunge world considered the possibility of the music to come.
Dave Cooke takes his material from the wistful, listless and mundane corners of pop vernacular. He dries it out, tidies up the lyrics, gives it a tune and then mocks it with delicious and subtle cruelty.
Dawn Parade @ Royal Park Cellars
Unison take to the stage sporting interesting T-shirts, boy band hair cuts and are apparently very new to the music scene; however, they don't actually show it a great deal.
Sometimes you can just tell a band's going to be good from their name. These guys call themselves The Budda Cakes so obviously they're gonna be brilliant.
Last Riot: Shoot For The Sky EP
Purple fiery dice adorn the front of the Shoot For the Sky E.P, suggesting a devil-may-care rock'n'roll attitude but there's also a hint of glam sparkle about it which builds up the fear that Last Riot might be as camp as KISS.
First up at Tuesday's Elustrious night were Leeds skank-meisters UNIT - a seven-piece whose horn enhanced take on dub was straight from the lo-fi, speaker-shuddering rulebook of 60s and 70s Jamaican studio supremo King Tubby.
Neurosis: The eye of every storm
After developing a cult following in the USA in the last few years it's a suprise Neurosis have never been a big name on UK Shores.
punk garage rock
Motion City Soundtrack @ LMUSU
Support act The Matches' front man Shawn Harris boasted a flamboyant dress sense and quite a long tongue.
Do Me Bad Things: Time for Deliverance
Okay so I'm heading into this review with a kinda biased viewpoint of the band to begin with after seeing their piss poor performance at the Reading festival this year.
I'm always suspicious of acts whose press releases seem overly keen to labour the point that their musical influences are made up of a diverse mix of seemingly irreconcilable bands and artists, as well as stressing the fact that their sound cannot be "pidgeonholed" in any way whatsoever.