Alt-Rock
Album Review: Craig Finn – We All Want the Same Things
In late 2007 I encountered an album that saw me regain my faith in rock music. With its cranked up guitars, big choruses and quick-fire repeated lyrics, that album was Almost Killed Me by The Hold Steady. In a matter of weeks I had bought all three of the albums they had released up to …
Album Review: Son Volt – Notes Of Blue
I think if you went back 22 years to 1995 you’d find the running thoughts on the trajectories of Son Volt and Wilco would be significantly different than what actually ended up happening. While Wilco’s debut album A.M. was decent enough, it didn’t hold a candle to the gritty and windswept Midwest epic that was …
See: Justin Currie – ‘This Is My Kingdom Now’ plus album news and tour dates
Justin Currie returns to his songwriting throne with the announcement of his fourth solo album, ‘This Is My Kingdom Now’. 2016 seemed like a busy year for Justin Currie – with various performances including the Kelvingrove Bandstand (when the weather finally permitted) and a stunning collaboration with the RSNO in Paisley Abbey, along with helping …
Album Review: The Courtneys – II
When it comes to modern Indie Rock and Surf Rock, the general consensus is that if it is not done correctly, it can grow old very fast. Thankfully, Canadian trio The Courtneys have yet to figure out how to make a bad song. Even by barely changing their sound over the course of two albums, …
Track: The Dears – To Hold and Have, plus UK tour dates
Montréal husband and wife duo The Dears will return with their sixth studio album, Times Infinity Volume One, due out on February 3, 2017 through Dangerbird Records. From it, the band have today shared a new track, to have and to hold. As the album title suggests, it’ll be followed by volume two later in …
Album Review: Japandroids – Near To The Wild Heart Of Life
It seems that Brian King and David Prowse have gone full Hooters(the band not the chain store.) They’ve turned their DIY, punk-inspired anthems into full-on roots rockers. From 2009s Post-Nothing clear through to 2012s breakout Celebration Rock, Japandroids have cultivated this caffeinated, punk-meets-Springsteen-meets-Replacements sweat and blood-stained love letters to getting drunk, falling in love, punching …
Track: Desperate Journalist – Resolution
Desperate Journalist release their timely new single ‘Resolution’ and get 2017 off to an explosive start. The North London four-piece have followed up their comeback show at London’s Kamio in November – and the release of brooding track ‘Hollow’ – with their new single ‘Resolution’ released, fittingly, on 1 January (via Fierce Panda Records). Taken …
Album Review: Body/Head – No Waves
I remember being pretty floored by Coming Apart, the first record by the Kim Gordon/Bill Nace avante noise band Body/Head. In fact, I can remember thinking how on the edge that album was. Piercing, jagged guitar squalls mixed with Kim Gordon’s improvised vocal belting made for a compelling listen back in 2013. The record felt …
Track: The History of Colour TV – Wreck
Out right now is Wrecks, the new single from Berlin based trio The History of Colour TV, taken from their third album Something Like Eternity. Recorded in France with Peter Deimel (The Wedding Present, Shellac, The Ex) at the legendary Black Box Recording Studio, Wreck is a departure for the band – as they’ve adopted …
Track: Hello Casanova – I’ll be waiting
Formerly known as Foreign Affairs, Northern Irish pop punk three piece Hello Casanova yesterday released their new single I’ll be waiting. The band, Matt Irwin (rhythm guitar and vocals), Ethan Williamson (lead guitar and vocals), and Martin Miller (drums and percussion), recorded I’ll be waiting with acclaimed producer Rocky O’Reilly (And So I Watch You …