A48 and the Wolf- EP
August 12, 2010
Rawr. S’been a while. But it is TECHNICALLY summer. ^^.
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Ah-ha, another band bleeding out of the same vein as All Time Low And Valencia, with the catchiest of guitar rifts and most open and honest of lyrics.
But, hold on a minute…
That’s not an over-played, twangy American accent I hear. Oh no no no.
Lancaster based A48 are representin’ with their new EP, A48 and the wolf, trying to march into the radio time recently set aside for the bright pop-punk invasion from across the Atlantic.
And the early signs are good; for a band just finding their feet, they have a well defined sound and a style to match, and in an EP that carefully paws around playing with the genre, they don’t fall flat.
You know what else? Pushing an acoustic track onto an early record is something I really admire. It’s brave to put that much faith into your frontman’s vocals, ignoring stage presence and attitude and I think it pays off, showing sparks of something greater for the future.
It’s just all adding up to a decent package. The right style to represent the UK in the proper pop-punk genre, front-foot thinking and no weak links. It’s a wry smile for now, but if these guys keep pushing then I can see a pretty big grin on the horizon for these guys in the future.
The Morning Of; the newest Riot Magazine review.
May 14, 2010
The next riot magazine review.
Checkitoutttttt.
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Mmm. ‘The Appleseed Cast’, ’1997′, and now, ‘The Morning Of’.
Beautiful voices and general soothingness to blur you away to sleep and chill you into a pretty powerful state of relaxation…
But then, suddenly, you’re buzzed back with inane happiness, with the piano swinging, quick rhythmed style of ‘The Rocket Summer’ but with male and female lyrics clicking together.
No surprise really, since the newest album, ‘The Way I Fell In’, was producted by Jim Wirt, who’s worked with Bryce Avery in ‘The Rocket Summer’ and with Jacks Mannequin.
So, built for big things then? Whilst they’ve been a quiet bunch this side of the Atlantic and haven’t quite conquered the scene in America, the bouncy lyrics and catchy pop-rifts are built for a mass-teen audience and for anyone who’s heart flutters for that good ol’ piano-punk combination.
It’s hard not to find it intoxicating; this album is built for a Friday afternoon to put you in the best of moods. It’s seriously impossible not to have a wry smile smooched across your face.
The New York based band show nothing but promise, and maybe a UK tour supporting their similarly-styled sisters and brothers would push them right into the limelight.
Some would call it the American version of indie-alternative-rock, and some would say that that’s what we want hitting the likes of GIAN.
S’nice to have something to look forward to, right?
Riot magazine part 2; the Hold Steady.
May 10, 2010
This is my second review, for the Hold Steady, for Riot Magazine.
Although apparently they don’t like link.
Nevertheless, enjoy!
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Music is music, and genre is genre. Both terms mean absolutely nothing.
‘The Hold Steady’ have been deemed rock and pretty much rock alone, but they have set themselves apart in way too many ways in recent years. Their new record, ‘Heaven is Whenever’ was forged under increased media spotlight, greater audience pressure and with the recent departure of fan-favourite keyboard pro Franz Nicolay.
After claiming that he could not produce better with The Hold Steady, he went in a different direction; “I was kind of a fox in a hedgehog band”. ‘Nough said, and thank you for that StrangeGlue.
This pressure-cooker transition into their new album didn’t seem to effect the quality, thankfully; there are no great changes in style or rhythm, aside from the absense of a few throaty backing vocals; the album drifts along seamlessly and eases you back, with Finn’s singing smothering with soothing seductive sneakiness. S’a beautiful thing to behold.
It’s hard to place it along the other albums though, because it’s definately still early days.
The dedicated fanbase are in that shaky stage of getting through a few listens, weighing up the effect it has at first and then nuzzling back as it drifts through their brains. On first look (or listen…) however, it seems that it’s going to being well recieved and although, for many it’s not going to be the best album to date, it certainly won’t disappoint.
‘The Sweetest Part of The City’, the opening track, is a reet-beautiful introduction to the album and plays homage to the lyrical weaving that has defined the band’s l’histoire:
“We went out to get some more wine, but it’s a long haul to the corner store from the center of the universe when you can’t get your car off the curb”
Sometimes, it’s exactly what you need, and everybody should enjoy a quick snuggle to ‘The Hold Steady’ once in a while. Well, that’s a decent enough recommendation anyway, for now.
They are niche enough (well, in today’s music climate anyway), and you may surprise yourself if you’ve managed to avoid them until now.
Me vs Monday, Monday 3rd May, Bristol Pear, and bear in mind that my skills and brain are shaky…
May 5, 2010
Bear and pear wasn’t a onomatapedendcmcind joke there, I’m gonna point that out… oh man, that word is not good to spell this early in the morning.
*spell-checks*
onomatopoetic.
Hot damn that word was worth looking up! Onomatopoetic? Jeez. I’m spoiling you.
Right, this review will obviously be up on the Shoot the Stars site with all the filth I spew filtered out, so check it out here. There’s no link right now because It’s not quite there yet, but that’s where the link will be in the near future. Just sayin’.
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I miss Selly and I miss music. Busy times and not-as-rich-as-other-student times means that I get too little of both of those beautiful things, and you know what?
S’time for change.
Or, s’time to get friends to Bristol Pear to other friends playing for us.
Me Vs Monday showed the kind of grassroots hope that I like to see in my music. S’all about going off with a bang.
But over, like, a long time.
Kind of like a star…
Or not.
I’ll be honest, I forgot the name of the first band but they weren’t my style and they weren’t in style. S’good to have a jolly, but there’s a definite difference between merry and jolly.
A difference that’s a pint wide.
But, after casual ignorance of a twangy indie same-old, I was happy to get back into my old style and enjoy some ‘Kids in Glass House’ style rocking out.
In a more casual, ‘look at me, I’m a reviewer’ kind of way.
Seeing such enthusiasm on a stage that most would agree was smaller than their energy deserved showed that Me Vs Monday really mean a bit of business. They spark up with everything I want when I feel like sitting back and enjoying the pop-punk style of my wee teen years; clingy lyrics and the good-ol’ catchy hooks claw at you and it’s hard to say not give in.
Quirky covers are obviously a must, and Me Vs Monday certainly hit the spot; no-one minds a bit of K$sha, let’s be honest.
And then throw in some Gaga? REALLY?
There’s a whole lot of love there.
But don’t think I’m writing off their own material; normally, at this stage in a bands life the covers are a highlight and the rest drains away, but c-c-c-catchy tracks like ‘laughing and Joking’ stuck with me and got a decent response from a minimalist crowd.
I’ve got my own personal test; if I’m humming after a song, that’s pretty decent. If it’s being sung, you’re onto a winner, especially in a pub with the acoustics of, well, a pub.
Hats off, but not just yet. I’mma stick my neck out early and see these guys are going to get somewhere, because the nice guy stylings that go with a sweetened ‘You Me at Six’ style are always going to wash well with an audience still crying out for more.
And I reckon they’ve got a wee bit o’ talent, these guys. Keep up with them, they’re definitely on their way and well worth a look.
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Also, since you troubled yourself with coming to my blog, here’s an extra video of them with a beautifully quirky cover.
I’m (still) Ben.
Or owmyfoothurts.
or owmyenvironmenthurts, if you’re that way inclined (if not, you’re a blatant recyclingaphobe).
But, this time, it’s all change in the membrane? Does that even still rhyme?
But yes. My journalistic skeels are being put onto music journalism via my good friend Jemma Dodd, and her soon to be probably ish promo company Shoot The Stars.
Wait and see.
But, while we’re getting there, I still have a job to do.
Last night, and to be reviewed later, we saw Me Vs Monday kick it up in good ol’ comfortable Selly and that’ll be the first stop on the word-train that is going to be this blog.
So, strap yourselves in.
Because I’m going to lock the seatbelts so you can’t get out and have to read ^^!
Peace outttt.
