Album Reviews
Album Review: Beirut – No No No
At its best ‘No No No’ is cheerful, breezy, spirit-lifting. But that same lightness is also what holds it back from being anything more than a solid, ultimately not-very-remarkable listen. There’s plenty here that is nice, and pleasant, and I can imagine looking out of a bay window onto autumnal parkland enjoying this record as …
Album: Public Enemy – Live from the Metropolis Studios
Remember the Public Enemy Gig at the Metropolis studios last year? Me neither, that’s probably because there were only 125 tickets given to lucky fans, giving them a ring side seat to see one of hip hops most legendary acts up close and personal for a one off rare performance. Well, every cloud has a …
Album Review: Iron Maiden – The Book of Souls
Iron Maiden are back with new music in the form of The Book of Souls, a greatly anticipated double- album that’s sent metal fans into a frenzy. OK, it’s sent me into a frenzy. I may be categorically the wrong person to review this as I am a huge Maiden fan. For those of you …
Album Review: Public Image Limited – What The World Needs Now…
’Can’t speak for the rest of the world but, certainly, I need this new Public Image Limited album in my life RIGHT NOW! Rotten and co extend their Third Coming with some new product and, in a lot of ways, it’s a continuation of 2012’s “This Is P.i.L.” Such a shame old John-Boy couldn’t convince …
Album Review: Foals – What Went Down
The pressure is on for Oxford-based art rockers Foals. With such a flawless back catalogue of albums, can their forth and latest effort stick to the same high standards of its predecessors? When their debut ‘Antidotes’ was released in 2008, it was a completely new sound to anything around at the time. It inspired a …
Album Review: Mammoth Penguins – Hide and Seek
Cards on the table before we even start this review. I love Emma Kupa. Well, her songwriting at least. It was lucky that her six song mini album Home Cinema lifted me from my depressive slumber following the split of Standard Fare, one of,if not the first, group ever to appear on Backseat Mafia. A …
Album Review: The Train Set – Never California
In my day,that day being back in the late 80s and early 90s, the home made compilation cassette was the calling card of the young man about town. From subtle messages contained within for potential partners, to an assert action to a new acquaintance that your musical taste marked you out as a person it …
Album Review: This Other Kingdom – Telescopic
Dublin Neo-Psych band This Other Kingdomwill release their debut album ‘Telescopic’ in the UK on August 28th. The album was released in Ireland in April 2015 and charted in the top 10 on iTunes and also featured prominently in the Irish chart. The UK version is set for release on Good Vibrations Records and will …
Album Review: Beach House – Depression Cherry
Did you ever hear an album that feels like an emotional punch in the gut? Something that squeezes your innards until you want to collapse into a puddle of overwrought, bawling mess on the floor? Sure you have. Nick Drake, Elliot Smith, Jeff Buckley, and The Zombies have all done it to me in the …
Album Review: Yo La Tengo – Stuff Like That There
In the scheme of things, I have to be honest and say I’d prefer a new Yo La Tengo album filled with original songs. That’s just how I feel. Sorry Ira, James, and Georgia. I’d much rather hear newly-penned, original tunes coming out of the YLT camp any day of the week over covers. But …