indie albums
Album Review: John Grant – Grey Tickles, Black Pressure
For me, like many people, John Grant first appeared on my radar following the release of Queen of Denmark, his gloriously heartbreaking collaboration with Midlake and simply one of the most astonishing debut albums for many years. Of course, he’d previously been vocalist with the Czars during the 90s and early part of this century, …
Album Review: Luke Haines – British Nuclear Bunkers
Luke Haines is one of Britain’s genuine rock n roll eccentrics. As lead singer of The Auteurs he created some of the greatest albums of the era, including my personal favourite album of all time ‘After Murder Park’. As a solo artist he has created several (mainly concept) albums. And as an author he has …
Album Review: Editors – ‘In Dream’
A nagging synth pattern, a minimal echoing drum and a guy whose baritone chant of ‘I’m a go-getter’ sounds alarmingly like Nick Cave. One could be forgiven for thinking they’re listening to an outtake from the latest Bad Seeds offering, 2013’s ‘Push The Sky Away ‘ that is, until they’re startled by the falsetto in …
Album Review: Morning World by Teen Daze
At the risk of stating the obvious, the introduction of vocals into a piece of music completely changes the nature of it. For instance, a passage of instrumental music, which may be a rich and complex when taken on its own, can be relegated to the mere role of intro or instrumental break once the …
Album Review: Reverend and the Makers – Mirrors
Sheffield indie rockers Reverend and The Makers were instantly covered in glory right from their very first album, the brilliant The State of Things, that marked them out as purveyors of the finest groove-laden smart pop back in 2007, and followed it, with a hint of sophistication and witty political lyricism, with A French Kiss …
Album Review – Ben Folds – So There
The history of rock and pop artists dabbling in orchestral music is long and uneven. From Deep Purple’s lumpy Concerto for Group and Orchestra, to the splendid soundtrack work of Randy Newman, it’s been a mixed bag and unless the musician in question has the appropriate grounding in music theory, it can result in something …
Album Review: McCarthy – I am a Wallet (reissue)
Trust me, there was a time before you’re average indie band shied away from politics, because it might affect their ‘careers’. Today it seems that more bands are worried about saying the wrong thing, than maybe saying the right thing. It seems rather just, that at a time where Jeremy Corbyn, the almost antithesis of …
Album Review: New Order – Music Complete
Deep breath. “Music Complete” is a FABULOUS album but it should have been the second Bad Lieutenant album rather than the tenth New Order album. There, I’ve said it. Shit. Please don’t hate me, New Order. The group are without bass monster Peter Hook, of course, more of which I’ll come to later. Latterly, they …
Album Review: Kurt Vile – b’lieve i’m goin down
Kurt Vile comes off as a bit of a mystery at first. You listen to the guy as he mumbles and shrugs his way through a song, surrounded by some really great music. You wonder is this guy for real? You listen some more and little details, shaded nuances, and sly phrases begin to make …
Album Review: Low — Ones and Sixes
Twenty-one years is a long time to be in a band. It’s quite a long time to be married. It’s a really, unbelievably long time to be married to someone in your band. Such is the case with Low’s Alan Sparkhawk and Mimi Parker, whose eleventh album, Ones and Sixes, is out today. Alan’s and …