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Post by Razzle Dazzle on Apr 29, 2021 12:14:39 GMT 1
HIT LIKE A GIRL - Heart Racer
Release Date: April 2, 2021The New Jersey band Hit Like A Girl have three albums to their name already, 2017’s 'You Make Sense', 2018’s 'What Makes Love Last' and 2021's 'Heart Racer', with their synth-pop and alt-rock textures they do sound a bit like Nada Surf at times with themes of love and loss neatly tucked into these arrangements, I came across them a few month ago when i charted the excellent Boardwalk and that's all I've heard so bit of a new one for me too here 1. Laundry List 8.5 2. Monsters (ft Bartees Strange) 7.5 3. Don’t Go Far 7.5 4. Inside Of My Head 7 5. Hate Myself For It 6.5 6. Wanna Be Loved 7.5 7. Closure 7.5 8. Boardwalk 9 9. Boomerang 7.5
SummaryWith Heart Racer Hit Like A Girl capture those summery emo pop vibes, there are some nice moments here and well worth a listen, the album does jump from emo pop to shoegaze and no surprise for me the more guitar driven emo pop moments like Boardwalk and Laundry List come out on top, still a nice record to listen to on a wet Thursday morning 7.61/10
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TheThorne
Member
*Hillside, slip and slide, feel the pain, it's no surprise!*
Posts: 27,529
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Post by TheThorne on Apr 29, 2021 16:09:28 GMT 1
Just going by the sleeve design, i should like this, its just screams emo shoegaze hehe
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Post by Razzle Dazzle on May 2, 2021 15:45:48 GMT 1
BLACK HONEY - Written & Directed
Release Date: March 19, 2021Black Honey are a British female fronted four-piece indie rock band from Brighton, the band released an eponymous self-titled debut EP in late 2014 followed by a series of singles leading to the release of self-titled debut album in 2018 which charted at #33. With a Top 40 album, NME front cover and tour with Queens Of The Stone Age already under their belt they went into the studio again to record their second album 'Written & Directed' which has just charted at #7 in the UK, I'm so glad they are finally getting the success their excellent music deserves. I have followed this band since i head 'All My Pride' from their 'Headspin EP' so I have charted every single from this record already (Beaches #19, Run for Cover #3, I Like the Way You Die #6, Believer #2, Disinfect #10, Back of the Bar #20). 1. I Like the Way You Die 9 2. Run for Cover 9 3. Beaches 8 4. Back of the Bar 8 5. Believer 9.5 6. I Do It to Myself 7.5 7. Disinfect 8.5 8. Summer '92 8.5 9. Fire 8 10. Gabrielle 7SummaryThe Brighton quartet’s second album is a great follow up to their debut album, in 2016 I described them as descendants of Garbage, they just had that strong female lead singer, edgy guitars and a sound full of hooks, in the years since they have grown to the point of creating their own cinematic universe both sonically and visually through their music videos, it is a Tarrentino-esq world full of femme fatales and sleazy B-movie villains, with themes of love, loss and redemption. They are a very accessible and interesting band that wouldn't have been out of place topping the pop charts in the late 90s, I love it, 'Believer', 'I Like the Way You Die' and 'Run for Cover' are cracking tunes, they've added some big horns and ran with their sound, ahead of the release of Black Honey’s cinematic second album Izzy B Phillips said “I made this record for young women to feel invincible,” and well I say she smashed it out of the park 8.30/10
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Post by Razzle Dazzle on May 13, 2021 15:29:42 GMT 1
LILITH CZAR - Created From Filth And DustRelease Date: April 23, 2021Lilith Czar is the alter ego of Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter Juliet Simms. The dark and empowering hard rock singer also fronts the emo-punk outfit Automatic Loveletter and found solo success as a contestant on the 2012 season of the NBC reality TV talent competition The Voice. Adopting the Lilith Czar moniker in 2020, Simms released the explosive single “King” in 2021, which appears on her Sumerian Records-issued debut album, Created from Filth and Dust. “Tonally The Mood Is Visceral Angst, And Passionate Reclaiming Of Ones Vulnerability And Resilience. This Represents A New Beginning And Is The Entry Point For My Rebirth And Becoming Something More Ethereal And Powerful. The First Single “King” Was Inspired By The Sexism And Disenfranchisement That I Have Faced As A Woman In The World Of Music. Growing Up I Wanted To Be Able To Live In The Otherworldly Orbit That My Heroes Existed In And I Feel That Having Lived My Life And Going Through The Ups And Downs Of A Life In Rock And Roll I Could Write An Anthem For All Of Those Who Have Faced Similar Strife And Disparity. Everyone Has The Strength Inside Themselves To Take The Anguish Of Their Past And Use It To Transform And Become Their Own Superhero.” - Lilith Czar 1. Intro Poem N/A 2. Feed My Chaos 8 3. King 9 4. Anarchy 8.5 5. 100 Little Deaths 7.5 6. Lola 9.5 7. Edge of Seventeen 8.5 8. Bad Love 8 9. In My Head 8 10. Unholy 7.5 11. Burn With Me 9 12. Diamonds to Dust 7.5 SummaryCreated from Filth and Dust is a new beginning for Juliet Simms under the moniker Lilith Czar, I absolutely love everything Sumerian Records puts out at the moment, everything their artists do is hook filled emo tinged rock and Lilith Czar is no different as she channels her inner rock queen to deliver an album filled with dark tones, heavy synth-laden beats and soaring vocals. I love the first half of the record, Feed My Chaos is a kick ass song to start the album and sets the tone for the feminist anthems "King" and "Anarchy", a few tracks later we have "Lola" which is my favourite song on the album, an incredibly personal song. On the second half of the record we move into a Stevie Nicks cover of "Edge of Seventeen", which just fits this album seamlessly with the strong lady vibes going on, there is certainly an enchantment element going on here. This is quite a diverse album full of little pop culture Easter eggs, one of the ones I quite enjoyed was the nod to "Queen Bitch" from "Hunky Dory" on the song "Lola" which is one of my favourite Bowie songs. "Bad Love" is another big rocker whilst "Burn With Me" wouldn't be out of place on a Kelly Clarkson record and of course hte record ends in a ballad, we have a bit of something for everyone here 8.27/10
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Post by Razzle Dazzle on May 14, 2021 13:56:22 GMT 1
WEEZER - Van Weezer
Release Date: May 7, 2021Van Weezer is the fifteenth studio album by Weezer. The title is a reference to the band Van Halen, as the album features a focus on heavy guitars and more arena-rock styled songs. Originally slated for release on May 15, 2020, the album was postponed until May 7, 2021 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This one has been a long time coming with the first single "The End of the Game" being released in September 2019! I mean they have had 4 chart toppers so far in my chart from this album so its going to be a high scorer for sure. (The End of the Game #1, Hero #1, Beginning of the End #1). 1. Hero 10 2. All the Good Ones 8 3. The End of the Game 9.5 4. I Need Some of That 10 5. Beginning of the End 9.5 6. Blue Dream 8 7. 1 More Hit 7.5 8. Sheila Can Do It 8.5 9. She Needs Me 7 10. Precious Metal Girl 6.5SummaryNo prizes for guessing "Van Weezer" mixes soft metal and your usual Weezer-esq melodic pop rock to come up with a 80's hard rock homage, it's not a metal album at all, more of a tribute to metal albums, its still all very Weezer full of power-chord centered rock music and sing along choruses. It's a fun listen and very well done, the first half of the album is almost faultless andfrom the second half "Sheila Can Do It" stands out, we also have "Blue Dream" which takes the Randy Rhodes riff from Crazy Train by Ozzy Osbourne, overall a fun album, not to be taken too seriously, I've seen Weezer fans giving the album 0.5/10 but they usually over react, personally i love it 8.45/10
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Post by Razzle Dazzle on May 28, 2021 14:49:25 GMT 1
TOM GRENNAN – Evering RoadRelease Date: March 12, 2021Evering Road is the second studio album by British singer-songwriter Tom Grennan, released on 12 March 2021 through Insanity Records. It was supported by the singles "This Is the Place" and "Little Bit of Love". The album debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart, becoming Grennan's first chart-topping effort. The title is the name of a street in Hackney, London where Grennan lived with an ex-girlfriend, and the album was partially inspired by their breakup. David Smyth of the Evening Standard compared Grennan to Lewis Capaldi, positing that the album could be "an attempt to jump ahead [of Capaldi] again" with the bombast of its production (including "stirring violins, gospel choirs and grand flourishes") and Grennan's hoarse voice. Reviewing the album for NME, El Hunt called the album an improvement over Lighting Matches with some "surprising experimental moments" but primarily "nondescript" and "middle of the road", with Hunt wishing that Grennan pushed his sound further. Writing for British newspaper i, Kate Solomon felt that "Grennan is very good at the contemplative verse-anthemic chorus-contemplative middle-eight structure that lends itself to V Festival sets and his gravelly voice is strong and likeable" 1. If Only 8.5 2. Something Better 7 3. Little Bit of Love 9 4. Amen 7.5 5. It Hurts 7 6. Never be a Right Time 9.5 7. This is the Place 8 8. Sweeter Then 8 9. Make My Mind Up 7.5 10. Second Time 8 11. You Matter to Me 7 12. Oh Please 8 13. I Don't Need a Reason 7.5 14. Love Has Different Ways to Say Goodbye 8SummaryEvering Road is all about a past relationship, but this isn't a breakup album, more about the journey Tom went on so this is an incredibly introspective record which see's him toying with a soul sound which I like, maybe one or two too many piano ballads for my liking though. Bedford-born Grennan incorporates lots of influences in his music from indie-pop to soul, there's piano ballads and soaring strings. High points for me are opening track "If Only" which can only be described as indie pop with strings and a gospel sound, excellent single "Little Bit of Love", my favourite track on the record and "Never be a Right Time". Very good album but the 14 song track list and a few filler ballads will drag the score down a little, if you get your hands on the deluxe edition the Ella Henderson duet is worth a listen too 7.89/10
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Post by Razzle Dazzle on Jun 2, 2021 19:21:17 GMT 1
PAERISH - Fixed It AllRelease Date: April 23, 2021Paerish are an indie rock four piece from France, they count The Offspring and Weezer in their list of influences which isn't surprising, there's also a touch of early 2000's US alt rock in there, I know I've probably said it a few times before but the song "Fixed It All" just reminds my of My Vitriol. Their debut album came out in 2016 and I did like a few of their songs back then but forgot about them until I charted their comeback single last year, since then I think I have heard five, maybe six songs from their new record so here we go... 1. Fixed It All 10 2. Archives 9.5 3. Journey of the Prairie King 8 4. Albert Suffers 6 5. 412 8 6. Mike + Susan 7.5 7. Violet 8 8. You & I (feat. Patrick Miranda) 8 9. Water Doctor 7.5 10. Hollow 8
SummaryVocalist and guitarist Mathias Court says “Mike + Susan is one of the best songs to summarize my writing process, as I tend to assemble pieces of my life and try to make them fit together,”. “It's a mix of different situations I've experienced. One of them is a discussion I had with a friend of mine, talking about the familiarity and warmth you sometimes feel when you arrive at train stations you've never been to. It's your first time there, but somehow you can feel like you know this place and someone is here waiting for you. Another story in that song was me being on a stopped train, writing on a notebook, and seeing a couple outside dancing in the parking lot. At that time, I was in a relationship that was pretty much about to end, and I realized how beautiful it was but also how I couldn't be insensitive to their happiness.” Listening to their album there are song huge songs here but "Fixed It All" remains my favourite song by them, "Archives" is great too and i love their grungy sound 8.05/10
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Post by Razzle Dazzle on Jun 9, 2021 20:53:52 GMT 1
GRETA VAN FLEET - The Battle At Garden's Gate
Release Date: April 16, 2021Greta Van Fleet is a band that divides opinion, loved and hated equally by critics and classic rock fans for being an un-original Led Zeppelin sounding knock off act, personally i have loved them since 2017 EP "Black Smoke Rising", this is their second album, debut album "Anthem of the Peaceful Army" charted at #12 in the UK back in 2018 and "The Battle at Garden's Gate" did slightly better charting at #8. In just three years, they went from touring at local bars to headline concerts on five continents and winning a Grammy in the process despite the critics 1. Heat Above 9 2. My Way, Soon 10 3. Broken Bells 8.5 4. Built by Nations 7.5 5. Age of Machine 8 6. Tears of Rain 7 7. Stardust Chords 8.5 8. Light My Love 7.5 9. Caravel 8 10. The Barbarians 8 11. Trip the Light Fantastic 7 12. The Weight of Dreams 8.5Summary"The Battle At Garden's Gate" does see Greta Van Fleet find a more original sound, yes there are similarities to Led Zeppelin but its not overbearing, this is more classic 70's rock, at times they sound more like Rush and I like the new direction, it feels more natural. I really don't know what they did to get Rolling Stone magazine to call this album "paint-by-numbers pantomime bullshit" but then again they did pick WAP as the #1 song last year so yeah, clearly that is a masterpiece. Yes they aren't reinventing the wheel but why turn a perfectly good wheel into something that's not fit for purpose, there's a reason why we don't have square wheels just for the sake of reinvention. This is a very good album, the guitars are sharp and heavy, the vocals powerful and soaring, the keyboards add an epic sound especially on "Stardust Chords" and "The Barbarians", its slightly prog, a few fantasy themes, good story telling and a huge leap in sound from there early days, this is a great album 8.12/10
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Post by Razzle Dazzle on Jun 14, 2021 23:07:06 GMT 1
OLIVIA RODRIGO - SourRelease Date: May 21, 2021SOUR is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo, she is known for her roles as Paige Olvera on the Disney Channel series Bizaardvark and Nini Salazar-Roberts on the Disney+ series High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. It was released via Geffen Records with its production handled by Dan Nigro, who also co-wrote the album alongside Rodrigo. Originally planned as a debut EP, Sour was upgraded to a full-length album after the viral success of Rodrigo's debut single, "Drivers License". Inspired by Rodrigo's favorite genres and singer-songwriters, Sour is primarily a pop and alt-pop record that spans from energetic pop punk songs to bedroom pop ballads. Its subject matter centres on adolescence, failed romance and heartache. She said the album explores her perils and discoveries as a 17-year-old, with its title referring to the "sour" emotions young women experience but are often criticized for, such as anger, jealousy and unhappiness. Sour received critical acclaim upon release, reviews regarded it a solid debut album, underscoring Rodrigo's musical versatility, honest lyrics, and Generation Z appeal with hte album topping hte UK and US album charts. 1. Brutal 9 2. Traitor 8 3. Drivers License 8 4. 1 step forward, 3 steps back 7 5. Deja Vu 7 6. Good 4 u 9.5 7. Enough for you 7.5 8. Happier 7.5 9. Jealousy, Jealousy 8.5 10. Favourite crime 7 11. Hope ur ok 8SummaryThis is the kind of merging of genres i like, at times this record reminds me of a young Taylor Swift (who is credited on ‘1 step forward, 3 steps back’, a song which interpolates Swift’s ‘New Year’s Day’) and at other times it reminds more more of Republica, especially opening track "Brutal", if you told me it was a comeback Republica song I'd believe you, it has that attitude, themes of insecurity, anxiety, and trust run throughout this versatile collection of songs. The album takes clear influence from the quirky pop song writing of both Taylor Swift and Lorde, while borrowing elements of 2000s pop-punk to great effect with a little Fiona Apple and Sam Fender thrown in here for good measure. My highlight here is me is unsurprisingly the pop punk inspired ‘good 4 u’ but i did really enjoy a few of the ballads which usually aren't my thing, one of which "Drivers License" already has 855m streams! Enough For You is a nice acoustic indie ballad and "Jealousy, Jealousy" mixes things up a bit with a funky base line, this is not what i thought it would be (in a good way), this is a solid debut album 7.90/10
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TheThorne
Member
*Hillside, slip and slide, feel the pain, it's no surprise!*
Posts: 27,529
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Post by TheThorne on Jun 15, 2021 8:53:31 GMT 1
I’m still on the fence with Olivia, yes I have charted two of her songs but I think there is far better more exciting young pop stars than her such as Baby Queen and Chloe Moriondo, but her new single current number one!, is the best I’ve heard and I’d rather have artists like her topping the charts than 99% of the music that goes top 40.
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Post by Razzle Dazzle on Jun 15, 2021 9:48:25 GMT 1
I’m still on the fence with Olivia, yes I have charted two of her songs but I think there is far better more exciting young pop stars than her such as Baby Queen and Chloe Moriondo, but her new single current number one!, is the best I’ve heard and I’d rather have artists like her topping the charts than 99% of the music that goes top 40. Yeah I'd throw Maggie Lindemann in there too, it's just nice to see a generation of young female pop stars not afraid of adding some real drums, real guitars, real emotions and work with the right producers to make music that wasn't cool a few year ago. Halsey featuring on a MGK track too, it feels like the emergence of a new genre, ofcourse we have heard it all before but its been lost for well over a decade. With Olivia going to #1 in UK and America this could be the push other acts need to break into the mainstream
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Post by greendemon on Jun 19, 2021 13:14:39 GMT 1
I had never even heard anything she'd done until the whole Paramore thing made me curious about 'Good 4 U'. Pretty good song. Similar chord progression to 'Misery Business' but don't think it's a rip off or anything.
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Post by Razzle Dazzle on Jul 1, 2021 12:17:27 GMT 1
ROYAL BLOOD – TyphoonsRelease Date: April 30, 2021Typhoons is the third studio album by English rock duo Royal Blood. A predominately self-produced effort and a fairly big change in sound compared to their first two albums pairing their usual alternative and hard rock sound with elements of dance-rock and disco, the band recorded the album throughout 2019 and 2020 and was preceded by three singles—"Trouble's Coming", "Typhoons", and "Limbo"—in addition to the promotional single "Boilermaker". Released to positive reviews from critics "Typhoons" became their third #1 album 1. Trouble's Coming 9 2. Oblivion 8 3. Typhoons 8.5 4. Who Needs Friends 7.5 5. Million and One 8 6. Limbo 8.5 7. Either You Want It 7.5 8. Boilermaker 7 9. Mad Visions 7.5 10. Hold On 7 11. All We Have Is Now 7SummaryI don't hate it, such a change in direction though, gone are the catchy hooks of Little Monster or Come On Over or Figure It Out, replaced with drum machines and a fuller more driven disco sound, the first half of the album is great though, not sure how much repeat listening they will enjoy with this sound though as by the second half of the album it all did sound a bit samey but then how much can you do with a drum, a bass and some effects, overall i don't think the album is as great as the critics say or as bad as the hardcore rock fans are saying, it's somewhere in the middle. The three singles "Trouble's Coming", "Typhoons", and "Limbo" are by far the best songs on the album, as we got later into the album I didn't even notice when one song ended and another began which i think says everything. The album does end with a piano ballad though but it just feels so out of place tagged on at the end, overall some good ideas, song good songs but maybe an EP of this sound would've been enough 7.77/10
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Post by Razzle Dazzle on Jul 15, 2021 14:52:24 GMT 1
MAMMOTH WVH - Mammoth WVHRelease Date: June 11, 2021Wolfgang Van Halen is an American musician best known as the former bassist for Van Halen (2006–2020). His parents named him after the classical composer Wolfgang Mozart. At 29 years old, he was the youngest member of Van Halen prior to their dissolution after the October 6, 2020 death of his father, Eddie Van Halen. In November 2020, Wolfgang Van Halen started a new band called Mammoth WVH. All tracks are written by Wolfgang Van Halen and peaked at #12 in the Billboard Top 200 1. Mr. Ed 8 2. Horribly Right 7.5 3. Epiphany 8.5 4. Don't Back Down 10 5. Resolve 7.5 6. You'll Be the One 7.5 7. Mammoth 9 8. Circles 8 9. The Big Picture 7 10. Think It Over 9.5 11. You're to Blame 8.5 12. Feel 8.5 13. Stone 7 14. Distance 8
Summary Wolfgang Van Halen played every instrument on this album, creating such a full sound you might be mistaken to think this was a full band, for just one man that is pretty impressive. This album reminds me of the first Foo Fighters record, maybe WVH will settle down with a full band but for now it is very much a solo project and the similarities don't end there, this is for the most part a very Foo Fighters/Queens of the Stone Age early 00's alternative rock sounding record with at times a late 80s mainstream AOR feel. No doubt about it, i love this album, he has already had two #1 songs in my current chart and hopefully there are many more to come and a big shout out to the kick ass album art too 8.17/10
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Post by Razzle Dazzle on Jul 28, 2021 15:38:44 GMT 1
YOU ME AT SIX - Suckapunch
Release Date: January 15, 2021Ok this is an older one i meant to get to ages ago!, the first single from this album "What's It Like" came out in August 2019! For those who don't know Suckapunch is the seventh studio album by English rock band You Me at Six, musically, Suckapunch has been described as rock, incorporating electronic flourishes. Vocalist Josh Franceschi said VI "felt like we were sparring with the idea of the next step for the band", while Suckapunch "feels like we're there". He explained that the band was more comfortable utilizing elements of hip hop and R&B into their sound, without it coming across as contrived. Suckapunch was met with generally favourable reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, the album received an average score of 79, based on 5 reviews and became hte bands second #1 UK album, I know TheThorne is a big fan of the band and I've been a pretty big fan since I saw them live in Leeds in 2013 1. Nice to Me 8.5 2. Make Me Feel Alive 7.5 3. Beautiful Way 9 4. WYDRN 6.5 5. Suckapunch 8 6. Kill the Mood 7.5 7. Glasgow 7 8. Adrenaline 8 9. Voicenotes 7 10. Finish What I Started 7.5 11. What's It Like 8
SummaryThe opening track "Nice to Me" is an industrial rock and garage rock song that sets the tone for the rest of the album, complete with glitchy percussion and synthesizer work. "Make Me Feel Alive" talks about having control, losing it, and then eventually reclaiming it. The track is the band's heaviest song since "Bite My Tongue" on their third studio album Sinners Never Sleep (2011), and is driven by Flint's breakbeats. "Beautiful Way" is about the relationship one has with themselves, getting older, and accepting flaws. "WYDRN", short for What You Doing Right Now, was written in Toronto, Canada, and sees the band make R&B-indebted rock. "Suckapunch" sees the band move into dance-rock and electro territory, and is about finding one's self. "Kill the Mood" was written in Los Angeles, California, and is followed by the ballad "Glasgow", which discusses the loss of a loved one. "Adrenaline" talks about having split personalities, and relying on co-dependency. Franceschi wrote the penultimate song "Finish What I Started" about an instance where he nearly took his own life. The closing track "What's It Like" is an electronic rock song with influence from hip hop, recalling Amo (2019)-era Bring Me the Horizon. Discussing the song, Franceschi said he "sort of poke fun at those who are libertines or self-serving ... Life's not a competition, but people have a tendency to play it out that way." I like that they are experimenting with a more synth heavy industrial sound, their single "Beautiful Way" is my favourite track on the album but there are a few misses here, I'm not sold on the songs with an R&B edge although "Kill The Mood" and "Adrenaline" ended up coming across more like Imagine Dragons than Jay Z so they were decent 7.68/10
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Roo.
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Post by Roo. on Jul 28, 2021 19:40:29 GMT 1
I've been waiting for this review for ages! WYDRN is your least favourite, and one of my favourites love Glasgow and the singles too except Make Me Feel Alive, which is just a bad Prodigy rip-off at points. (I am slightly biased because my other half was friends with them for a while as they were starting out and I've met them )
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Post by Razzle Dazzle on Jul 28, 2021 19:58:20 GMT 1
I know, its been on my to do list for a good 7 months WYDRN is certainly the least You Me At Six track on the album, so pretty interesting from that point but it never grew on me
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Post by Razzle Dazzle on Jul 28, 2021 22:43:52 GMT 1
DEATH FROM ABOVE 1979 - Is 4 Lovers
Release Date: March 26, 2021Ok my plan is to work through some of these older albums before they start to pile up (more than they already are). Death From Above 1979 (also known as Death from Above) are a a Canadian rock duo consisting of bassist Jesse F. Keeler and drummer and vocalist Sebastien Grainger. The band released their debut album, You're a Woman, I'm a Machine, in 2004 and broke up in 2006. They reformed in 2011 and released their second album, The Physical World, in 2014. Since then the band has released 2 more albums, Outrage! Is Now in 2017 and Is 4 Lovers in 2021. I saw these guys live in 2005 on the NME stage at T In The Park sandwiched between (Charlie from Busted's) Fightstar and Maxïmo Park 1. Modern Guy 82. One + One 93. Free Animal 8.54. N.Y.C. Power Elite, Part 1 75. N.Y.C. Power Elite, Part 2 76. Totally Wiped Out 7.57. Glass Homes 78. Love Letter 6.59. Mean Streets 710. No War 8SummaryI love their unique fusion of post-hardcore, dance-punk and garage-rock and this is certainly their most inventive and creative Death From Above 1979 album, they started by only incorporating drum and bass into their music but have added a fuller sound with synthesizer, piano and keyboards on recent albums which adds to the dance edge and a poppier sound. 'Is 4 Lovers' feels like DFA1979 are attempting to call back to their raw roots whilst maintaining some of their more poppish sensibilities but man the production the production is so dense and stifled, the drums are pretty muted all for effect but it creates mixed results. It’s interesting to hear DFA1979 moving in a different direction though, Is 4 Lovers has received generally positive reviews. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from professional publications, the release received an average score of 71, based on 11 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews". The album received four-star reviews from both Allmusic and NME. Writing for the former, Matt Collar praised the album for its "sonically vibrant production" that "feels bigger and more robust than you might expect." Meanwhile, writing for the latter, Andrew Trendell described Is 4 Lovers as "their best album since their debut, adding that "Death From Above still pack a punch, but the bruise is a lot more colourful this time." Exclaim!'s Ashley Hampson gave the album an eight out of 10, in particular praising the song "One + One" for "showcasing how much they've grown since their early days." For me it's a mixed bag with a few highlights with the album starting well and finishing with a very nice track in "No War" 7.55/10
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Post by Razzle Dazzle on Jul 29, 2021 11:23:42 GMT 1
SKEGGS - Rehearsal
Release Date: March 26, 2021Skegss are an Australian surf music and garage rock trio originally from Byron Bay, New South Wales. Their line-up includes Toby Cregan on upright bass, Jonny Laneway on drums and Ben Reed on lead guitar and synth. Rehearsal is their second studio album and debuted at number one in the Australian Chart, described as a “thrill ride through the band’s laissez-faire lifestyle and sunkissed narratives of love, friendship and youthful musings”. Time Out described the band as "DIY, beer-drinking and self-producing maniacs from the surf coast". I have been playlisting their singles since 2014 so sounds like one worth checking out. 1. Down to Ride 7.5 2. Valhalla 7 3. Fantasising 8 4. Running from Nothing 7.5 5. Bush TV 7 6. Picturesque Moment 7 7. Under the Thunder 8 8. Sip of Wine 7.5 9. Curse My Happiness 7.5 10. Wake Up 7 11. Savour the Flavour 7.5 12. Fade Away 6.5 13. Lucky 7
SummaryAs you might imagine this record is mostly pretty standard indie style surf rock including the excellent "Fantasising" and "Under the Thunder" but there are also a couple of nicely written acoustic pieces that are very Gallagher-esque such as "Running from Nothing" and "Wake Up", we also have the sea shanty-esq "Picturesque Moment". This is a fun record and there's plenty here to get your teeth stuck into if you like live-and-let-live garage rock music and surf rock 7.30/10
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Post by Razzle Dazzle on Aug 1, 2021 12:40:40 GMT 1
THE SNUTS – W.L.
Release Date: April 12, 2021W.L. is the debut studio album by Scottish indie rock band the Snuts, released on 2 April 2021 through Parlophone. It entered at number 1 on the UK Albums Chart, making it the first debut album by a Scottish band to do so since the View's Hats Off to the Buskers in 2007. Formed in 2015, the Snuts gained a strong following playing what they describe as "anthemic indie rock" and in November 2018 the band signed with big label Parlophone. In March 2020, the band released their Mixtape EP (which scored a 7.60 in my 2020 reviews), showcasing some different influences and styles, and it was met with success, peaking in the Top 20 of the UK Albums Chart. This album going to #1 for me was a huge shock, they were just an unknown band with no Spotify plays when I charted their first 'proper' single, "Seasons" way back in June 2018, later that year they signed with Parlophone Records and hte rest is history 1. Top Deck 7.5 2. Always 7.5 3. Juan Belmonte 7 4. All Your Friends 7 5. Somebody Loves You 6.5 6. Glasgow 8.5 7. No Place I'd Rather Go 7 8. Boardwalk 6 9. Maybe California 7.5 10. Don't Forget It (Punk) 7.5 11. Coffee & Cigarettes 9 12. Elephants 7.5 13. Sing for Your Supper 8
Summary8 of these songs were singles so I know a lot of these already but for those who don't know The Snuts they are a classic Indie band with big choruses and festival style anthems but they also have their melancholy moments which is beautifully demonstrated on opening track "Top Deck". Yes there's thousands of bands who sound like this but in 2021 it is a bit more of a novelty, not the best album of the year but there are some good moments here such as "Glasgow", "Coffee & Cigarettes" and "Sing for Your Supper" 7.42/10
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