Rufus Wainwright: Out of the Game (2012)

Five years can be a long time for a new Pop release but in Rufus Wainwright’s case this statistic is a little deceiving. Release the Stars was released in 2007 but he has not exactly been sitting waiting for inspiration since then. He successfully staged a note perfect recreation of the 1961 Judy Garland Carnegie Hall concert in London and New York, subsequently releasing it as a DVD and CD in 2009.

Rather than resting after that Rufus wrote and produced a highly successful opera, Prima Donna, which premiered at the Manchester international festival in 2010. At the same time as this he released an album All Days are Nights: Songs for Lulu, a sparse, ten track song cycle that was the rawest music he had ever produced. Add into this the death of his mother and the birth of his first child you can see that a five-year gap between mainstream albums doesn’t seen quite so long. Continue reading

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New Band Spotlight: Sonic Hearts Foundation

Today I want to introduce a new band spotlight of a band local to us who we saw live in March, and have kept in touch with since.

Who are you and where do you hail from?
Sonic Hearts Foundation, Glasgow

Please introduce the band members
Anthony (guitar / vox/ Keys), Brian (Guitar/ Synth) Thomas (Drums), Conor (Bass)

How would you describe your sound?
Effects driven wall of sound with intense tribal like drumming, rhythmic bass lines and lyrics which represent modern times. Continue reading

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Straight Lines – Freaks Like Us (2012)

Straight Lines - Freaks Like UsEver since I first heard Straight Lines début Persistence In This Game I’ve been excited to hear more from the band. It’s only been a couple of years, but they’re back already with follow up Freaks Like Us. I’m happy to report that it’s just as great if not better than their first release.

Although the album only sports 10 tracks and clocks in at 36 minutes long, you really won’t mind and as those last few seconds tick away you’ll hope your player is set to repeat so you can experience it all again. Its shortness is rather appealing to me as it just so happens to be roughly the time it takes me to get to work in the morning. If your own journey is longer, never fear; you can always listen to it again! Continue reading

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Radiohead – OK Computer (1997)

From the initial off-time drums to the heavily distorted guitar refrain, ‘Airbag’ tells you that this is a different Radiohead to that which you heard on their previous album, The Bends. A very different Radiohead.

Sure, sitting here in 2012 looking back to their 1997 release you would be forgiven for thinking that it just sounds like Radiohead do. But back then, it was clear that as an artist they were about progression, and ‘High & Dry’ this was not. ‘Airbag’ was just so different and did not easily invite the listener in, or wrap warm cosy feelings around them.

I loved Radiohead before OK Computer was released, and had already had the pleasure of seeing them live on The Bends tour twice. In that regard I was already a fully paid up member of the “I love Radiohead club”. But then perhaps I had more to lose, what if I wanted (or at least expected) The Bends Part 2. Certainly at the time there were many who hated OK Computer, and still do as they wonder what happened to their favourite little Indie Rock Band as they cry “Why won’t they play ‘Creep’ live anymore?”

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New Band Spotlight – De’Nova

De'Nova Band ShotIt’s time to introduce you all to another up and coming young band in our “New Band Spotlight” section. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you De’Nova.

Who are you and where do you hail from?
We are DE’NOVA, a four piece alternative rock band from Manchester, UK.

Please introduce the band members.
Kevin Daos (18): Vocals & Guitar
Luca Nardella (18): Guitar
Sam Hardman (17): Bass Guitar
Ryan Powell (18): Drums Continue reading

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Skindred / Therapy? / Black Spiders – Jägermeister Tour @ O2 Academy Glasgow, 11/04/12

20120416-115022.jpgPulling in to Glasgow on Wednesday night for the second night of the fantastic value Jagermeister tour, were Black Spiders, Therapy? and Skindred. Playing with the touring bands we also had local band Yashin.

For the rest of the tour Black Spiders were on second – after the local band – but for some inexplicable reason, they were on first tonight and excruciatingly early. Black Spiders drummer looks like the bastard son of Travis Barker, and at times plays almost as frenetically. Black Spiders are a bit like Marmite to most, personally I really like them. I’ve seen them a handful of times over the years and really like their album and EPs.

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Sinch – Hive Mind (2012)

Sinch - Hive MindI’ve had a fair bit of difficulty with this review. Sinch have been one of my favourite bands for a long while despite having a fairly sparse release history. I’ve been waiting seven years for a successor to 2005’s Clearing the Channel to come along but in this time I’ve never tired of listening to the back catalogue. After last years disappointment seeing Mötley Crüe live for the first time I was wary of falling into the trap of overzealous anticipation, and so I listened to Hive Mind with a mixture of excitement and open mindedness. And I didn’t like it. Thankfully though, that’s not the end of the tale. Continue reading

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Steel Panther @ 02 Academy Glasgow, 28/03/2012

I’ve got so many good things to say about Steel Panther live. They have the personas, they have the look, they have the screaming girls and everything else any 80s Heavy Metal band worth their salt had.

Steel Panther are justifiably considered a comedy rock band but these dudes seriously know how to play. Let’s go back 30 years for a minute and replace every profanity Steel Panther use with the word ‘Love’. We would suddenly have song titles such as ‘It Won’t Love Itself’, ‘Supersonic Love Machine’ and ‘Party all Day (Love all night)’. If it wasn’t for the swear words and crude (oh so crude!) lyrics, these guys would have been up there with Mótley Crúe and Def Leppard and not supporting them on their comeback/anniversary tours. The point I’m trying to make is that as entertaining and comedic Steel Panther are, they are worth checking out based on talent alone.

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