- Monday 24th July - London Koko
- Tuesday 25th July - Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms
- Wednesday 26th July - Oxford Zodiac
- Thursday 27th July - Leeds Cockpit
- Friday 28th July - Nottingham Rescue Rooms
- Saturday 29th July - Glasgow ABC2
11.4.06
Wolf parade
Good news for anyone else in the UK who missed Patrick Wolf's recent small show - he's going on a larger UK tour in July in support of new album 'The Magic Position'. Tickets are on general sale on Thursday for the following:
9.4.06
Mornington Crescent (Part 3)
Part three of a guide to fifty-something mostly new bands, tied loosely together by their prescence on the bill of this year's Camden Crawl. See also part two here.
Website
Myspace
Listenable but middling indie with a very slight hint of glam. Signed to Island, which suggests that they learnt nothing at all from last years Cherryfalls debacle. Forgotten them already.
Website
Myspace
Three girls from the wonderfully named Zug, Switzerland, unfortunately I've already covered everything that sets them apart. More painfully average retro. Avoid.
Website
Similarly to The Automatic, I find it much easier to see why they're one of the bigger names playing (catchier and, well, clearly better songs than most reviving a similar past) than to
actually care much for them. Could be much worse.
Website (which is on Angelfire. AWESOME.)
Myspace
Shambolic noise which certainly has plentiful enthusiasm, if not a tune in sight. Could be pretty enjoyable if they had some better lyrics to add to it (maybe a less polished Art Brut), but a bit pointless for now. Avoid.
Website
Myspace
Listenable but middling indie with a very slight hint of glam. Signed to Island, which suggests that they learnt nothing at all from last years Cherryfalls debacle. Forgotten them already.
Website
Myspace
Three girls from the wonderfully named Zug, Switzerland, unfortunately I've already covered everything that sets them apart. More painfully average retro. Avoid.
Website
Similarly to The Automatic, I find it much easier to see why they're one of the bigger names playing (catchier and, well, clearly better songs than most reviving a similar past) than to
actually care much for them. Could be much worse.
Website (which is on Angelfire. AWESOME.)
Myspace
Shambolic noise which certainly has plentiful enthusiasm, if not a tune in sight. Could be pretty enjoyable if they had some better lyrics to add to it (maybe a less polished Art Brut), but a bit pointless for now. Avoid.
The Picture Show (09/04/06)
(click the pics for video goodness as ever)
Not too representative of the album, but probably their most gloriously fun pop moment to date, which is quite an achievement. The video is very funny and not a little cruel, although this being The Flaming Lips everyone turns out happy in the end.
Chances are that fans of The Flaming Lips will also enjoy this single a lot, which comes with a video as endearingly homemade and wobbly as the song sounds. Self-titled debut album is released tomorrow.
A rerelease of a single from just under a year ago, the sound has been beefed up to questionable effect but they've sensibly left the video the same. So it's still an all night uber-rocking antarctic disco party.
Not too representative of the album, but probably their most gloriously fun pop moment to date, which is quite an achievement. The video is very funny and not a little cruel, although this being The Flaming Lips everyone turns out happy in the end.
Chances are that fans of The Flaming Lips will also enjoy this single a lot, which comes with a video as endearingly homemade and wobbly as the song sounds. Self-titled debut album is released tomorrow.
A rerelease of a single from just under a year ago, the sound has been beefed up to questionable effect but they've sensibly left the video the same. So it's still an all night uber-rocking antarctic disco party.
8.4.06
Mornington Crescent (part 2)
Part two of an advance guide to bands playing this year's Camden Crawl, hopefully interesting even to those in Portugal, Israel and, er, wherever else you may be from. With loads more announced and less than two weeks to go I'm going to have to step this up slightly.
Website
Myspace
One of those bands that I've heard of quite a bit but never quite been bothered to actually listen to before, put of by a presumption from other coverage of their music being worthily intellectual and uninvolving stuff. And there may be some truth there, but their visceral sound, a kind of post-rock with added clattering electronic beats, actually makes for much more enjoyment and less chin-scratching than I imagined. Not quite a convert yet, but rethinking prejudices just a little. Worth checking out.
Website
Myspace
Never heard of these before at all, apparently currently supporting Jack White's The Raconteurs. On the basis of the two songs on their Myspace, they play inoffensively upbeat but forgettable retro-rock, reminding on Set Me Free especially of The Zutons' slower and less good songs. Forgotten them already.
The Aliens
Myspace
Containing a couple of ex-members of The Beta Band, debut single Robot Man's funk does remind of them in a couple of places. It also sounds like it was knocked out in a few minutes which leads to both its initital charm and its outstaying of its welcome. Perhaps explains the lack of a proper website too. Forgotten them already.
Website
Myspace
Shouty Welsh pop-rock widely tipped for success this year, Raoul made the top 40 recently just about and their number of songs which are also catchy as anything suggests they'll soon improve on that. Nothing to excite me much though and People In Planes are doing the same thing better (and are winningly listed as an influence!). Could be much worse.
Captain
Myspace
I forgot that I had already heard of Captain but I think that must be more due to the name than any fault at all on their part. Sounding somewhere roughly between Delays and The Crimea, they play sunny, harmonic pop with just a hint of darkness and noise to keep things interesting. Recommended listening.
Website
Myspace
I think I'm going to get very tired of this kind of thing by the end of 50 bands - utterly unoriginal and lumpen retro-rock which reminds of The Ordinary Boys before they decided to try ska. Learning that they've supported Babyshambles and The Paddingtons comes as no surprise at all. Credit to them for making all their songs to date available for free on their site, though. Avoid.
Website
Myspace
One of those bands that I've heard of quite a bit but never quite been bothered to actually listen to before, put of by a presumption from other coverage of their music being worthily intellectual and uninvolving stuff. And there may be some truth there, but their visceral sound, a kind of post-rock with added clattering electronic beats, actually makes for much more enjoyment and less chin-scratching than I imagined. Not quite a convert yet, but rethinking prejudices just a little. Worth checking out.
Website
Myspace
Never heard of these before at all, apparently currently supporting Jack White's The Raconteurs. On the basis of the two songs on their Myspace, they play inoffensively upbeat but forgettable retro-rock, reminding on Set Me Free especially of The Zutons' slower and less good songs. Forgotten them already.
The Aliens
Myspace
Containing a couple of ex-members of The Beta Band, debut single Robot Man's funk does remind of them in a couple of places. It also sounds like it was knocked out in a few minutes which leads to both its initital charm and its outstaying of its welcome. Perhaps explains the lack of a proper website too. Forgotten them already.
Website
Myspace
Shouty Welsh pop-rock widely tipped for success this year, Raoul made the top 40 recently just about and their number of songs which are also catchy as anything suggests they'll soon improve on that. Nothing to excite me much though and People In Planes are doing the same thing better (and are winningly listed as an influence!). Could be much worse.
Captain
Myspace
I forgot that I had already heard of Captain but I think that must be more due to the name than any fault at all on their part. Sounding somewhere roughly between Delays and The Crimea, they play sunny, harmonic pop with just a hint of darkness and noise to keep things interesting. Recommended listening.
Website
Myspace
I think I'm going to get very tired of this kind of thing by the end of 50 bands - utterly unoriginal and lumpen retro-rock which reminds of The Ordinary Boys before they decided to try ska. Learning that they've supported Babyshambles and The Paddingtons comes as no surprise at all. Credit to them for making all their songs to date available for free on their site, though. Avoid.
7.4.06
Wake from your sleep
There's a name we haven't seen for a while - The Sleepy Jackson are to release a second album, 'Personality', in July. Presumably this applies to the UK as well as Australia but no confirmation there yet.
Admittedly responsible for the worst headlining performance I've ever seen (and I once saw The Saw Doctors), their messily psychedelic debut 'Lovers' was nonetheless rather special and despite some initial hype a bit underappreciated, I think.
Also returning from a rather less long abscence, Ed Harcourt with his fourth album in five years titled 'The Beautiful Lie' and preceded by Visit From The Dead Dog. Hopefully will be a little more inspiring than the last one.
Those tracklistings (it would be possible to guess which is which from the titles but only just):
'Personality':
'The Beautiful Lie':
Admittedly responsible for the worst headlining performance I've ever seen (and I once saw The Saw Doctors), their messily psychedelic debut 'Lovers' was nonetheless rather special and despite some initial hype a bit underappreciated, I think.
Also returning from a rather less long abscence, Ed Harcourt with his fourth album in five years titled 'The Beautiful Lie' and preceded by Visit From The Dead Dog. Hopefully will be a little more inspiring than the last one.
Those tracklistings (it would be possible to guess which is which from the titles but only just):
'Personality':
- You Needed More
- Devil Was In My Yard
- God Lead Your Soul
- Work Alone
- God Knows
- I Understand What You Want But I Just Don't Agree
- Miles Away
- Higher Than Hell
- Play A Little Bit For Love
- Don't Say
- You Won't Bring People Down In My Town
- Dream On
- How Was I Supposed To Know
'The Beautiful Lie':
- Whirlwind In D Minor
- Visit From The Dead Dog
- You Only Call Me When You’re Drunk
- The Last Cigarette
- Shadowboxing
- Late Night Partner
- Revolution In The Heart
- Until Tomorrow ThenScatterbraine
- Rain On The Pretty Ones
- The Pristine Claw
- I Am The Drug
- Braille
- Good Friends Are Hard To Find
5.4.06
And I missed it!
Very promising report from Patrick Wolf's recent gig and showcase of his next album 'The Magic Position' - the song The Stars that's mentioned here was played previously in October and indeed pretty amazing.
Meanwhile further news on fellow young Tomlab singer-songwriter Final Fantasy - his new album really is called 'He Poos Clouds' and is out in the middle of May.
(click for more info)
This time around, he's joined by a string quartet and, yes, there are titles like Many Lives -> 49 MP.
He also plays the second day of Adem-organised festival Homefires, along with Vashti Bunyan and Emma Pollock
Meanwhile further news on fellow young Tomlab singer-songwriter Final Fantasy - his new album really is called 'He Poos Clouds' and is out in the middle of May.
(click for more info)
This time around, he's joined by a string quartet and, yes, there are titles like Many Lives -> 49 MP.
He also plays the second day of Adem-organised festival Homefires, along with Vashti Bunyan and Emma Pollock
4.4.06
Essex girls
Well ok, erm, Staffordshire girls too - Girls Aloud have been added to the V2006 lineup! Excitement postponed for now as they haven't said which day but I'm guessing the one that Radiohead are headlining solely on the basis that Sugababes are playing the other.
Also added: The Rifles, Phoenix, We Are Scientists, The Cardigans and The Saw Doctors.
Also added: The Rifles, Phoenix, We Are Scientists, The Cardigans and The Saw Doctors.
2.4.06
One Last "Woo-hoo!" For The Pantheon
The New Pantheon award, with all the same inevitability as its initial nominations (discussed here), has gone to Sufjan Stevens' 'Illinois'.
Nice for him, although with not so much as a ceremony and barely any attention, being namechecked on new Snow Patrol album track Hands Open is probably going to do him more good.
Nice for him, although with not so much as a ceremony and barely any attention, being namechecked on new Snow Patrol album track Hands Open is probably going to do him more good.
1.4.06
Guillemots at King's College (29/03/06)
It's not often that a band can be irritating enough to really make me want to shout at them to fuck off by the end of a support set, but Misty's Big Adventure manage it.
They actually start off reasonably promisingly. Their laid back ska-tinged indie sounds a bit of a limited approximation of Architecture In Helsinki's but on a couple of throwaway songs like The Story Of Love it's quite pleasant. And they have a dancing man in a suit covered in gloves to watch! Unfortunately, while Architecture In Helsinki are powered by energy and enthusiasm, Misty's Big Adventure have instead a hateful smugness.
'All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small, all things weird and wonderful, George Bush will kill them all' intones their singer gravely, as if making some shocking and dangerous statement that no-one else would dare to. You mean that George Bush is Bad? WOAH!!
Their humourless set then ends with not one but two songs which consist solely of grumpy moans, first at people who (GASP!) go to clubs (apparently they only care about their hair!!) and then at bands like Franz Ferdinand who dare to (OH NO!) sell some records and make money, and who, of course, all sound exactly the same and have no real talent to them at all and... yeah, if I wanted to hear a generic Drowned in Sound forum post I'd go and read one aloud myself, thanks. Worst of all, there isn't even any real venom present, just an air of "Look how much better we are than those awful people! And you wonderful alternative people who like us are therefore morally superior too". Blech.
Guillemots are almost the total opposite - playing music of amazing scope and invention but with not a hint of believing their own greatness or trying to exclude anyone. Although Fyfe does only apologise for them being crap three or four times this time. During set-ups between songs he invents jazz numbers based on words shouted by the crowd and sung in a startling Tom Waits impression and covers Fine Young Cannibals. (His combination of infectious enthusiasm and willingness to try anything with constant self-effacement does rather remind of Chris Martin).
If you're reading this blog you're probably fed fed up with talk of Guillemots already so I won't go on too much more, but playing a constantly involving set of over 90 minutes after just a handful of singles is especially impressive. 15-minute long closer Sau Paolo is just plain fantastic, too.
They actually start off reasonably promisingly. Their laid back ska-tinged indie sounds a bit of a limited approximation of Architecture In Helsinki's but on a couple of throwaway songs like The Story Of Love it's quite pleasant. And they have a dancing man in a suit covered in gloves to watch! Unfortunately, while Architecture In Helsinki are powered by energy and enthusiasm, Misty's Big Adventure have instead a hateful smugness.
'All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small, all things weird and wonderful, George Bush will kill them all' intones their singer gravely, as if making some shocking and dangerous statement that no-one else would dare to. You mean that George Bush is Bad? WOAH!!
Their humourless set then ends with not one but two songs which consist solely of grumpy moans, first at people who (GASP!) go to clubs (apparently they only care about their hair!!) and then at bands like Franz Ferdinand who dare to (OH NO!) sell some records and make money, and who, of course, all sound exactly the same and have no real talent to them at all and... yeah, if I wanted to hear a generic Drowned in Sound forum post I'd go and read one aloud myself, thanks. Worst of all, there isn't even any real venom present, just an air of "Look how much better we are than those awful people! And you wonderful alternative people who like us are therefore morally superior too". Blech.
Guillemots are almost the total opposite - playing music of amazing scope and invention but with not a hint of believing their own greatness or trying to exclude anyone. Although Fyfe does only apologise for them being crap three or four times this time. During set-ups between songs he invents jazz numbers based on words shouted by the crowd and sung in a startling Tom Waits impression and covers Fine Young Cannibals. (His combination of infectious enthusiasm and willingness to try anything with constant self-effacement does rather remind of Chris Martin).
If you're reading this blog you're probably fed fed up with talk of Guillemots already so I won't go on too much more, but playing a constantly involving set of over 90 minutes after just a handful of singles is especially impressive. 15-minute long closer Sau Paolo is just plain fantastic, too.
31.3.06
A couple of things to learn from BBC3's Guerrilla Gig Live
- Russell Kane is so annoying it's actually painful to watch. The man makes Rufus Hound look like a comic genius.
- As well as being about 3 years out of date, at least some of the 'guerrilla' element isn't even real - they have a segment in which they show blurry footage that a fan recorded of themselves on the spur of the moment with their mobile phone at a gig (Guillemots at King's College in this case), which is all very well except that the guy in question was standing outside the venue afterwards doing multiple takes in front of a proper camera.
My Latest Novel at Bush Hall (28/03/06)
(or FOUR great bands in one night for less than ten quid! Some sort of a record, surely)
Bat For Lashes is one Natasha Khan, tonight backed sparingly by two other girls on violin, handclaps and various odd instruments. She is clearly almost too nervous to speak, managing only a hesitant whisper, eventually starts playing piano and then... a confident, haunting voice somehow emerges, and a whole set of sparse beauty follows, incredibly fully-formed. Expect to hear more soon.
The Veils only play one song from 2004's debut 'The Runaway Found' but still don't disappoint, with new ones ranging from the clattering Nick Cave-esque Jesus For The Jugular to a couple of softer songs which show off Finn Andrews' cracked, intense vocals to full effect.
Three-piece Semifinalists all sing at various different points in their set, and all don't exactly have brilliant voices, but their seeming ambition to take the biggest headrush moments of The Flaming Lips and keep them up constantly for a whole set, plus movie projections of fireworks, stars and the like still makes for a very exciting, if slightly tiring, set. It will be interesting to see how it translates to their self-titled album released in a couple of weeks.
My Latest Novel already have a fantastic album, 'Wolves', the order of which their set roughly approximates, and a pleasure it is too. Ghost In The Gutter becomes even more fearsome and Learning Lego more furious, while The Job That Mr. Kurtz Done's switch midway through from gentle spoken word into bouncing pop is perfection. All of that is outdone by a monumental encore of The Reputation Of Ross Francis, surely single of the year so far and with a chorus made for shouting in unison by all members of the band and fans alike.
Bat For Lashes is one Natasha Khan, tonight backed sparingly by two other girls on violin, handclaps and various odd instruments. She is clearly almost too nervous to speak, managing only a hesitant whisper, eventually starts playing piano and then... a confident, haunting voice somehow emerges, and a whole set of sparse beauty follows, incredibly fully-formed. Expect to hear more soon.
The Veils only play one song from 2004's debut 'The Runaway Found' but still don't disappoint, with new ones ranging from the clattering Nick Cave-esque Jesus For The Jugular to a couple of softer songs which show off Finn Andrews' cracked, intense vocals to full effect.
Three-piece Semifinalists all sing at various different points in their set, and all don't exactly have brilliant voices, but their seeming ambition to take the biggest headrush moments of The Flaming Lips and keep them up constantly for a whole set, plus movie projections of fireworks, stars and the like still makes for a very exciting, if slightly tiring, set. It will be interesting to see how it translates to their self-titled album released in a couple of weeks.
My Latest Novel already have a fantastic album, 'Wolves', the order of which their set roughly approximates, and a pleasure it is too. Ghost In The Gutter becomes even more fearsome and Learning Lego more furious, while The Job That Mr. Kurtz Done's switch midway through from gentle spoken word into bouncing pop is perfection. All of that is outdone by a monumental encore of The Reputation Of Ross Francis, surely single of the year so far and with a chorus made for shouting in unison by all members of the band and fans alike.
30.3.06
The Picture Show (26/03/06)
(Well, that's when it should have gone up. Click on the pics for videos as ever)
Sweeping, gorgeous ballad which despite being their most accessible yet and first for a major label is somehow not heading for the top 40 this week. The video is a time-lapse fest which is really very pretty.
Two years ago, Hope Of The States were in a similar position to Guillemots now, the next big thing for properly inventive and ambitious mainstream music. Somehow it all went wrong though, not helped by an exceptionally messy and inconsistent debut album and festival appearances which varied from problematic to disasterous. Their return with this lead track from a vinyl-only EP is decidely low-key, but there are signs that they really could fulfil hope this time.
Also like Guillemots, they use a tried-and-tested video method (someone else miming the song), with this vaguely Soviet piece fitting rather well.
Forget Radiohead or U2, this is where Coldplay stake their claim to be the next R.E.M.. The video meanwhile is, erm, opinion dividing and worth seeing, if perhaps only once.
Sweeping, gorgeous ballad which despite being their most accessible yet and first for a major label is somehow not heading for the top 40 this week. The video is a time-lapse fest which is really very pretty.
Two years ago, Hope Of The States were in a similar position to Guillemots now, the next big thing for properly inventive and ambitious mainstream music. Somehow it all went wrong though, not helped by an exceptionally messy and inconsistent debut album and festival appearances which varied from problematic to disasterous. Their return with this lead track from a vinyl-only EP is decidely low-key, but there are signs that they really could fulfil hope this time.
Also like Guillemots, they use a tried-and-tested video method (someone else miming the song), with this vaguely Soviet piece fitting rather well.
Forget Radiohead or U2, this is where Coldplay stake their claim to be the next R.E.M.. The video meanwhile is, erm, opinion dividing and worth seeing, if perhaps only once.
29.3.06
We're Here
Internet has returned! However, I am off tonight to see, erm, Guillemots (you'd never have guessed that one, huh?) anyway.
A brief catch up on a couple of things from past days: recent newsworthy chart events like the lowest selling number one ever are followed by Danger Mouse and Cee-Lo, or rather Gnarls Barkley (?), heading for number one a week before the single is released, and the FA figure that as the BBC will play Embrace over most of their World Cup montages anyway, they might as well make something from it
A brief catch up on a couple of things from past days: recent newsworthy chart events like the lowest selling number one ever are followed by Danger Mouse and Cee-Lo, or rather Gnarls Barkley (?), heading for number one a week before the single is released, and the FA figure that as the BBC will play Embrace over most of their World Cup montages anyway, they might as well make something from it
27.3.06
Sorry
Apologies for lack of updates but our internet connection broke and will not be repaired til at least Wednesday, so see you then most likely.
23.3.06
Mornington Crescent - all 51 acts for Camden Crawl 2006 reviewed
Going to the Camden Crawl ("most salubrious"... is that really the image they want?) and being confronted with a long list of bands playing that I'd mostly never heard anything by, the only obvious and sensible thing to do was to listen to (and review) every single one of them.
The results will hopefully be useful even to those not going as an overview of lots of new music, from the brilliant to the terrifying. Includes 7 who are actually recommended!
Thoughts in summary:
Recommended listening: Absentee, Captain, Fields, Guillemots, GoodBooks, The Pipettes, The Spinto Band.
Worth checking out: 65DaysOfStatic, Howling Bells, The Maccabees, Morning Runner, NeatPeople, New Rhodes, Pink Grease, The Slits, Sway.
Could be worse: The Automatic, Dogs, Klaxons, Plan B, Switches, V//Formation.
Forgotten them already: 747s, The Automatic, CORD, Humanzi, Mumm-Ra, The OnOffs, The Rogers Sisters, The Rumble Strips, Shit Disco
Avoid: Cazals, The Delilahs, Elle Milano, ¡Forward, Russia!, Larrikin Love, Les Incompetents, The Marshals, The Mitchell Brothers, Paolo Nutini, The Pistolas, The Rifles, S. Rock Levinson, The Sunshine Underground, Wolfmother.
Avoid at all costs: The Fratellis, The Holloways, Louie, The Paddingtons.
Website
Myspace
Admittedly unimpressive live when I saw them supporting Architecture In Helsinki, I'm willing to give Absentee the benefit of the doubt and blame it on awful sound because, so far, their records are really really good. Singer Dan Michaelson has a remarkable deep voice which perfectly matches the dry, world-weary wit of alt-country tinged songs like Something To Bang and A Body In A Car Somewhere, and elsewhere they can even be surprisingly light and uplifting. Recommended listening.
Akira The Don
Website
AKA Adam Anonymous of Playlouder fame, who has previously stated an intention to be 'the rap Morrissey'. Indie-friendly rap with Verve samples and songs about Rick Witter, it's more likable by far when being funny than when trying too hard to make a point (Genocide Is Coming To The USA) but while decently put together (this is some way away from Goldie Lookin' Chain) seems rather uninspiring. Forgotten him already.
Website
Myspace
One of those bands that I've heard of quite a bit but never quite been bothered to actually listen to before, put of by a presumption from other coverage of their music being worthily intellectual and uninvolving stuff. And there may be some truth there, but their visceral sound, a kind of post-rock with added clattering electronic beats, actually makes for much more enjoyment and less chin-scratching than I imagined. Not quite a convert yet, but rethinking prejudices just a little. Worth checking out.
Website
Myspace
Never heard of these before at all, apparently currently supporting Jack White's The Raconteurs. On the basis of the two songs on their Myspace, they play inoffensively upbeat but forgettable retro-rock, reminding on Set Me Free especially of The Zutons' slower and less good songs. Forgotten them already.
The Aliens
Myspace
Containing a couple of ex-members of The Beta Band, debut single Robot Man's funk does remind of them in a couple of places. It also sounds like it was knocked out in a few minutes which leads to both its initital charm and its outstaying of its welcome. Perhaps explains the lack of a proper website too. Forgotten them already.
Website
Myspace
Shouty Welsh pop-rock widely tipped for success this year, Raoul made the top 40 recently just about and their number of songs which are also catchy as anything suggests they'll soon improve on that. Nothing to excite me much though and People In Planes are doing the same thing better (and are winningly listed as an influence!). Could be worse.
Captain
Myspace
I forgot that I had already heard of Captain but I think that must be more due to the name than any fault at all on their part. Sounding somewhere roughly between Delays and The Crimea, they play sunny, harmonic pop with just a hint of darkness and noise to keep things interesting. Recommended listening.
Website
Myspace
I think I'm going to get very tired of this kind of thing by the end of 50 bands - utterly unoriginal and lumpen retro-rock which reminds of The Ordinary Boys before they decided to try ska. Learning that they've supported Babyshambles and The Paddingtons comes as no surprise at all. Credit to them for making all their songs to date available for free on their site, though. Avoid.
Website
Myspace
Listenable but middling indie with a very slight hint of glam. Signed to Island, which suggests that they learnt nothing at all from last years Cherryfalls debacle. Forgotten them already.
Website
Myspace
Three girls from the wonderfully named Zug, Switzerland, unfortunately I've already covered everything that sets them apart. More painfully average retro. Avoid.
Website
Similarly to The Automatic, I find it much easier to see why they're one of the bigger names playing (catchier and, well, clearly better songs than most reviving a similar past) than to
actually care much for them. Could be much worse.
Website (which is on Angelfire. AWESOME.)
Myspace
Shambolic noise which certainly has plentiful enthusiasm, if not a tune in sight. Could be pretty enjoyable if they had some better lyrics to add to it (maybe a less polished Art Brut), but a bit pointless for now. Avoid.
Myspace
Bound to suffer from the fact that they are not, as it turns out, the same thing as Field Music, they do still have an impressive line in atmospheric indie with a hint of electronica. If You Fail We All...'s crystalline prettiness in particular worth checking out. Recommended listening.
Website
Myspace
Having already seen them as a support band twice, I'm already well aware that I find their frenzied, unrelenting At The Drive-In impression briefly hilarious and then deeply irritating. Slightly more tolerable on record for what it's worth, but not by much. Avoid.
Website
Myspace
A bad choice of name (although nothing compared to their song The Gutterati) as there appear to be at least two other bands sharing it. One of them have apparently now changed their name to The Lurios and are jangly and slightly forgettable, much recommended over this tuneless derivative horror though. Avoid at all costs.
Website
Myspace
Currently gaining good reviews all round for their debut single, they tie together various strands of recently popular indie into twitchily catchy, surprisingly cohesive songs, with Walk With Me and Paschendale treading a line somewhere between British Sea Power, Clor and Franz Ferdinand to much better effect than that sounds. Recommended listening.
Website
Myspace
You probably already know my views on them (AMAZING) but their imagination stands out all the more among some of the company here. If you haven't them yet then, well, why not? Recommended listening.
Website
Myspace
Just like Portishead, not in the actually being any good at all sense but in being named after their home town. Actually, their music is very slightly above average for the kind of punk revival stuff that there's far too much of here, but as for the lyrics... Well, here are some examples from Great Britain (as copied from their myspace, where they are proudly available for public display):
'So this is great britain and welcome aboard
A sinking ship thats full of shit and someone nicked the oars
A failing false economy
an anti-punk automony
OUr once unique Identity's
Been washed from our shores
In a land of hope and glory
do we really rule the waves?
The truth is a different story
We're all just a bunch of slaves'
Avoid at all costs. Unless you love The Others, I guess.
Website
Myspace
Aussie four-piece seemingly attracting PJ Harvey comparisons all round on the basis of little more than having a female singer. Much better than their name suggests, but their eerie, brooding rock never quite makes the impression it should. Good live from past experience though. Just about worth checking out.
Website
Myspace
Irish support to the likes of Hard-Fi and Dirty Pretty Things, some half decent snarling rock songs don't quite answer the question of whether we really need another Kasabian. Forgotten them already.
Website
Myspace
A messy, uncoordinated combination of post-punk, actual punk, electronica and tuneless singing which only really seems to work at the messiest moments. Potentially entertaining though I wouldn't recommend with any confidence. Could be worse.
Website
Myspace
Thoroughly enjoyable supporting Elbow in February, but that was seemingly largely due to guitar problems forcing them to fall back on violin-led folk dance, a much more attractive proposition than their usual faux-raggae and erratic Mystery Jets-meet-Libertines style. Probably best avoid.
Website
Myspace
Dirty Pretty Things are a much, much better Libertines tribute band. Avoid.
Website
Myspace
To be able to appreciate, or even offer comment on, all types of music would be great but with relentlessly noisy rap like this I feel way too out of my depth to actually offer a verdict at all, except to say that the remix (well, it's more of a destruction) on myspace of The Rakes' 22 Grand Job is definitely hilarious.
Website
Myspace
More sub-sub-Libertines bollocks, taking unoriginality to an extra level on Young Evil Souls with an astonishingly brazen theft of the riff from Bloc Party's Helicopter. Avoid at all costs.
Website
Myspace
Single Latchemere is more retro post-punk but manages to rise above nearly anything else of the sort here by the virtue of being very well-played and more importantly having hugely entertaining silly lyrics about a leisure centre sung in a this-is-no-joking-matter way. They don't have anything else up on Myspace to quite match it but it's nice to not have to write them off completely. Worth checking out.
Website
Myspace
The very first band on the list to not offer complete songs on their website or Myspace page (something to do with being signed to Vertigo?) which is a reason to turn against them right from the start. Missing out on more of what sounds like Mansun if they didn't have any ideas at all beyond a pale replication of their peers isn't too much of a hardship though. Avoid.
Website
Myspace
Signed to Mike Skinner's label, guest appearances don't help the feeling that it's often a poor imitation of his own stuff, with too little to say and not even said that well. Listen to Harvey Nicks and the only funny or memorable part is Sway's brief contribution, more on him in a bit though. Avoid.
Website
Myspace
Who exactly decided that they could be the next Coldplay? The album makes it sound like they could have done with a while longer before being forced down the unwilling public's throats, but actually has some very fine moments (It's Not Like Everyone's My Friend and Work among them) which amid their bluster somehow turn a certain bewildered awkwardness into an asset in a similar manner to their live shows. Worth checking out if you haven't already made up your mind.
Website
Myspace
Pleasant, tuneful indie but ultimately lacks the hooks or ideas to make too much of an impression. Forgotten them already.
Website
Myspace
'NeatPeople strike a blow against the homogeneity of the charts and the carbon copy posturing of too-cool-for-school indie boys' apparently. Er, right. Anyway, they supported The Bluetones on their last tour and anyone still following them is likely to like this a lot too - brassy, very catchy guitar pop with a lot of charm and a little style. Worth checking out.
Website
Myspace
Still somewhat of a mystery how their fantasticly breezy single You've Given Me Something That I Can't Give Back (more than a touch of The Smiths, there) managed to sneak into the top 40 in early 2005, especially considering that they've done nothing of note since and all by disappeared. Even on just the basis of that song though, probably worth checking out.
Website
Myspace
The available songs are so poorly recorded that it's almost difficult to pick out if there is any potential here but just about deserve the benefit of the doubt. Pleasingly tasteless electro-glam which flirts with chaos to no great ill effect. Worth checking out, perhaps.
Website
Myspace
Ah, I thought that that was too many half-decent acts in a row. Time for some plodding, deeply average singer-songwriter stuff. Avoid.
Website
Myspace
Bluesy, none-more-retro rock which sounds quite a lot like The Zutons without any saxophone or particularly great tunes to add much interest. Forgotten them already.
Website
Myspace
Urgh. Avoid at all costs.
Website
Myspace
Admittedly all that they are really doing to set themselves apart is to lovingly recreate a different section of music past (sugary Sixties girl-group pop) to everyone else, but having not listened to them before they actually turn out to be much better in practise than in theory - so well done it's rather irresistable. Recommended listening.
Website
Myspace
More of more of the same post-punk with nothing remarkable at all. Avoid.
Website
Myspace
Acoustic-guitar toting rapper, recently heard on xfm constructing a hypnotic track round samples of Radiohead's finest moment Pyramid Song, though I missed what the song was. More fascinating than outright enjoyable in general at the moment but might be worth keeping track of. Could be worse.
Website
Myspace
Just after The Pistolas we have The Rifles, who clearly want to be The Jam rather than Gang Of Four, but still don't bring anything much of interest to their attempts. Avoid.
Website
Myspace
Despite being named after the Rogers sisters in the band there's actually a guy in the band as well who does many of the vocals, which is a distracting start. Anyway, it's very competent but unremarkable garage rock. Forgotten them already.
Website
Myspace
See The OnOffs. Only with a bit more brass. Forgotten them aready.
Website
Myspace
They'd have to be bloody good to overcome a name like that, and they aren't really. Funky enough dance-punk but it's actually a bit too polite! Forgotten them already.
Website
Myspace
Reforming veteran punks (who, er, recently played a gig at Selfridges department store) with a large hint of reggae who I had somehow not actually heard before. The cover of Heard It Through The Grapevine in particular is great fun. Worth checking out.
Website
Myspace
More uninspiring post-punk with particularly nasty whiny vocals. This is starting to get a bit tiring, you know... Avoid.
Website
Myspace
See recent live review. Or in short: great fun, especially live. Recommended listening.
Website
Myspace
As with The Pistolas. Avoid.
Website
Myspace
Leading light of UK rap, I couldn't really tell you if there's any better but his stuff is certainly sparky and almost always very funny. Favourite line has to be the one after he is asked for an autograph by a kid: "Mum, is this how you spell Lemar?" Worth checking out.
Myspace
Powerpop which made a bad first impression thanks to, er, individual vocals but soon begins to win over through sheer catchiness. Could be worse.
Website
Myspace
Some rather lovely slow building indie which isn't quite ruined by overly angsty vocals. Reminds of The Veils, apart from the bits where they try to be the Arcade Fire, nothing quite takes off as it could though. Unless that's just the effect on listening to fifty bands. Could be worse.
Website
Myspace
Holy shit, their first song on myspace has 141,000 plays! That's more than anyone else in this whole piece probably. They may or may not all have been thinking 'This sure sounds like the Top Of The Pops theme' (the old one, they may or may haven lost track of it now). Horribly overdramatic Led Zeppelin worship, here. Avoid.
The results will hopefully be useful even to those not going as an overview of lots of new music, from the brilliant to the terrifying. Includes 7 who are actually recommended!
Thoughts in summary:
Recommended listening: Absentee, Captain, Fields, Guillemots, GoodBooks, The Pipettes, The Spinto Band.
Worth checking out: 65DaysOfStatic, Howling Bells, The Maccabees, Morning Runner, NeatPeople, New Rhodes, Pink Grease, The Slits, Sway.
Could be worse: The Automatic, Dogs, Klaxons, Plan B, Switches, V//Formation.
Forgotten them already: 747s, The Automatic, CORD, Humanzi, Mumm-Ra, The OnOffs, The Rogers Sisters, The Rumble Strips, Shit Disco
Avoid: Cazals, The Delilahs, Elle Milano, ¡Forward, Russia!, Larrikin Love, Les Incompetents, The Marshals, The Mitchell Brothers, Paolo Nutini, The Pistolas, The Rifles, S. Rock Levinson, The Sunshine Underground, Wolfmother.
Avoid at all costs: The Fratellis, The Holloways, Louie, The Paddingtons.
Website
Myspace
Admittedly unimpressive live when I saw them supporting Architecture In Helsinki, I'm willing to give Absentee the benefit of the doubt and blame it on awful sound because, so far, their records are really really good. Singer Dan Michaelson has a remarkable deep voice which perfectly matches the dry, world-weary wit of alt-country tinged songs like Something To Bang and A Body In A Car Somewhere, and elsewhere they can even be surprisingly light and uplifting. Recommended listening.
Akira The Don
Website
AKA Adam Anonymous of Playlouder fame, who has previously stated an intention to be 'the rap Morrissey'. Indie-friendly rap with Verve samples and songs about Rick Witter, it's more likable by far when being funny than when trying too hard to make a point (Genocide Is Coming To The USA) but while decently put together (this is some way away from Goldie Lookin' Chain) seems rather uninspiring. Forgotten him already.
Website
Myspace
One of those bands that I've heard of quite a bit but never quite been bothered to actually listen to before, put of by a presumption from other coverage of their music being worthily intellectual and uninvolving stuff. And there may be some truth there, but their visceral sound, a kind of post-rock with added clattering electronic beats, actually makes for much more enjoyment and less chin-scratching than I imagined. Not quite a convert yet, but rethinking prejudices just a little. Worth checking out.
Website
Myspace
Never heard of these before at all, apparently currently supporting Jack White's The Raconteurs. On the basis of the two songs on their Myspace, they play inoffensively upbeat but forgettable retro-rock, reminding on Set Me Free especially of The Zutons' slower and less good songs. Forgotten them already.
The Aliens
Myspace
Containing a couple of ex-members of The Beta Band, debut single Robot Man's funk does remind of them in a couple of places. It also sounds like it was knocked out in a few minutes which leads to both its initital charm and its outstaying of its welcome. Perhaps explains the lack of a proper website too. Forgotten them already.
Website
Myspace
Shouty Welsh pop-rock widely tipped for success this year, Raoul made the top 40 recently just about and their number of songs which are also catchy as anything suggests they'll soon improve on that. Nothing to excite me much though and People In Planes are doing the same thing better (and are winningly listed as an influence!). Could be worse.
Captain
Myspace
I forgot that I had already heard of Captain but I think that must be more due to the name than any fault at all on their part. Sounding somewhere roughly between Delays and The Crimea, they play sunny, harmonic pop with just a hint of darkness and noise to keep things interesting. Recommended listening.
Website
Myspace
I think I'm going to get very tired of this kind of thing by the end of 50 bands - utterly unoriginal and lumpen retro-rock which reminds of The Ordinary Boys before they decided to try ska. Learning that they've supported Babyshambles and The Paddingtons comes as no surprise at all. Credit to them for making all their songs to date available for free on their site, though. Avoid.
Website
Myspace
Listenable but middling indie with a very slight hint of glam. Signed to Island, which suggests that they learnt nothing at all from last years Cherryfalls debacle. Forgotten them already.
Website
Myspace
Three girls from the wonderfully named Zug, Switzerland, unfortunately I've already covered everything that sets them apart. More painfully average retro. Avoid.
Website
Similarly to The Automatic, I find it much easier to see why they're one of the bigger names playing (catchier and, well, clearly better songs than most reviving a similar past) than to
actually care much for them. Could be much worse.
Website (which is on Angelfire. AWESOME.)
Myspace
Shambolic noise which certainly has plentiful enthusiasm, if not a tune in sight. Could be pretty enjoyable if they had some better lyrics to add to it (maybe a less polished Art Brut), but a bit pointless for now. Avoid.
Myspace
Bound to suffer from the fact that they are not, as it turns out, the same thing as Field Music, they do still have an impressive line in atmospheric indie with a hint of electronica. If You Fail We All...'s crystalline prettiness in particular worth checking out. Recommended listening.
Website
Myspace
Having already seen them as a support band twice, I'm already well aware that I find their frenzied, unrelenting At The Drive-In impression briefly hilarious and then deeply irritating. Slightly more tolerable on record for what it's worth, but not by much. Avoid.
Website
Myspace
A bad choice of name (although nothing compared to their song The Gutterati) as there appear to be at least two other bands sharing it. One of them have apparently now changed their name to The Lurios and are jangly and slightly forgettable, much recommended over this tuneless derivative horror though. Avoid at all costs.
Website
Myspace
Currently gaining good reviews all round for their debut single, they tie together various strands of recently popular indie into twitchily catchy, surprisingly cohesive songs, with Walk With Me and Paschendale treading a line somewhere between British Sea Power, Clor and Franz Ferdinand to much better effect than that sounds. Recommended listening.
Website
Myspace
You probably already know my views on them (AMAZING) but their imagination stands out all the more among some of the company here. If you haven't them yet then, well, why not? Recommended listening.
Website
Myspace
Just like Portishead, not in the actually being any good at all sense but in being named after their home town. Actually, their music is very slightly above average for the kind of punk revival stuff that there's far too much of here, but as for the lyrics... Well, here are some examples from Great Britain (as copied from their myspace, where they are proudly available for public display):
'So this is great britain and welcome aboard
A sinking ship thats full of shit and someone nicked the oars
A failing false economy
an anti-punk automony
OUr once unique Identity's
Been washed from our shores
In a land of hope and glory
do we really rule the waves?
The truth is a different story
We're all just a bunch of slaves'
Avoid at all costs. Unless you love The Others, I guess.
Website
Myspace
Aussie four-piece seemingly attracting PJ Harvey comparisons all round on the basis of little more than having a female singer. Much better than their name suggests, but their eerie, brooding rock never quite makes the impression it should. Good live from past experience though. Just about worth checking out.
Website
Myspace
Irish support to the likes of Hard-Fi and Dirty Pretty Things, some half decent snarling rock songs don't quite answer the question of whether we really need another Kasabian. Forgotten them already.
Website
Myspace
A messy, uncoordinated combination of post-punk, actual punk, electronica and tuneless singing which only really seems to work at the messiest moments. Potentially entertaining though I wouldn't recommend with any confidence. Could be worse.
Website
Myspace
Thoroughly enjoyable supporting Elbow in February, but that was seemingly largely due to guitar problems forcing them to fall back on violin-led folk dance, a much more attractive proposition than their usual faux-raggae and erratic Mystery Jets-meet-Libertines style. Probably best avoid.
Website
Myspace
Dirty Pretty Things are a much, much better Libertines tribute band. Avoid.
Website
Myspace
To be able to appreciate, or even offer comment on, all types of music would be great but with relentlessly noisy rap like this I feel way too out of my depth to actually offer a verdict at all, except to say that the remix (well, it's more of a destruction) on myspace of The Rakes' 22 Grand Job is definitely hilarious.
Website
Myspace
More sub-sub-Libertines bollocks, taking unoriginality to an extra level on Young Evil Souls with an astonishingly brazen theft of the riff from Bloc Party's Helicopter. Avoid at all costs.
Website
Myspace
Single Latchemere is more retro post-punk but manages to rise above nearly anything else of the sort here by the virtue of being very well-played and more importantly having hugely entertaining silly lyrics about a leisure centre sung in a this-is-no-joking-matter way. They don't have anything else up on Myspace to quite match it but it's nice to not have to write them off completely. Worth checking out.
Website
Myspace
The very first band on the list to not offer complete songs on their website or Myspace page (something to do with being signed to Vertigo?) which is a reason to turn against them right from the start. Missing out on more of what sounds like Mansun if they didn't have any ideas at all beyond a pale replication of their peers isn't too much of a hardship though. Avoid.
Website
Myspace
Signed to Mike Skinner's label, guest appearances don't help the feeling that it's often a poor imitation of his own stuff, with too little to say and not even said that well. Listen to Harvey Nicks and the only funny or memorable part is Sway's brief contribution, more on him in a bit though. Avoid.
Website
Myspace
Who exactly decided that they could be the next Coldplay? The album makes it sound like they could have done with a while longer before being forced down the unwilling public's throats, but actually has some very fine moments (It's Not Like Everyone's My Friend and Work among them) which amid their bluster somehow turn a certain bewildered awkwardness into an asset in a similar manner to their live shows. Worth checking out if you haven't already made up your mind.
Website
Myspace
Pleasant, tuneful indie but ultimately lacks the hooks or ideas to make too much of an impression. Forgotten them already.
Website
Myspace
'NeatPeople strike a blow against the homogeneity of the charts and the carbon copy posturing of too-cool-for-school indie boys' apparently. Er, right. Anyway, they supported The Bluetones on their last tour and anyone still following them is likely to like this a lot too - brassy, very catchy guitar pop with a lot of charm and a little style. Worth checking out.
Website
Myspace
Still somewhat of a mystery how their fantasticly breezy single You've Given Me Something That I Can't Give Back (more than a touch of The Smiths, there) managed to sneak into the top 40 in early 2005, especially considering that they've done nothing of note since and all by disappeared. Even on just the basis of that song though, probably worth checking out.
Website
Myspace
The available songs are so poorly recorded that it's almost difficult to pick out if there is any potential here but just about deserve the benefit of the doubt. Pleasingly tasteless electro-glam which flirts with chaos to no great ill effect. Worth checking out, perhaps.
Website
Myspace
Ah, I thought that that was too many half-decent acts in a row. Time for some plodding, deeply average singer-songwriter stuff. Avoid.
Website
Myspace
Bluesy, none-more-retro rock which sounds quite a lot like The Zutons without any saxophone or particularly great tunes to add much interest. Forgotten them already.
Website
Myspace
Urgh. Avoid at all costs.
Website
Myspace
Admittedly all that they are really doing to set themselves apart is to lovingly recreate a different section of music past (sugary Sixties girl-group pop) to everyone else, but having not listened to them before they actually turn out to be much better in practise than in theory - so well done it's rather irresistable. Recommended listening.
Website
Myspace
More of more of the same post-punk with nothing remarkable at all. Avoid.
Website
Myspace
Acoustic-guitar toting rapper, recently heard on xfm constructing a hypnotic track round samples of Radiohead's finest moment Pyramid Song, though I missed what the song was. More fascinating than outright enjoyable in general at the moment but might be worth keeping track of. Could be worse.
Website
Myspace
Just after The Pistolas we have The Rifles, who clearly want to be The Jam rather than Gang Of Four, but still don't bring anything much of interest to their attempts. Avoid.
Website
Myspace
Despite being named after the Rogers sisters in the band there's actually a guy in the band as well who does many of the vocals, which is a distracting start. Anyway, it's very competent but unremarkable garage rock. Forgotten them already.
Website
Myspace
See The OnOffs. Only with a bit more brass. Forgotten them aready.
Website
Myspace
They'd have to be bloody good to overcome a name like that, and they aren't really. Funky enough dance-punk but it's actually a bit too polite! Forgotten them already.
Website
Myspace
Reforming veteran punks (who, er, recently played a gig at Selfridges department store) with a large hint of reggae who I had somehow not actually heard before. The cover of Heard It Through The Grapevine in particular is great fun. Worth checking out.
Website
Myspace
More uninspiring post-punk with particularly nasty whiny vocals. This is starting to get a bit tiring, you know... Avoid.
Website
Myspace
See recent live review. Or in short: great fun, especially live. Recommended listening.
Website
Myspace
As with The Pistolas. Avoid.
Website
Myspace
Leading light of UK rap, I couldn't really tell you if there's any better but his stuff is certainly sparky and almost always very funny. Favourite line has to be the one after he is asked for an autograph by a kid: "Mum, is this how you spell Lemar?" Worth checking out.
Myspace
Powerpop which made a bad first impression thanks to, er, individual vocals but soon begins to win over through sheer catchiness. Could be worse.
Website
Myspace
Some rather lovely slow building indie which isn't quite ruined by overly angsty vocals. Reminds of The Veils, apart from the bits where they try to be the Arcade Fire, nothing quite takes off as it could though. Unless that's just the effect on listening to fifty bands. Could be worse.
Website
Myspace
Holy shit, their first song on myspace has 141,000 plays! That's more than anyone else in this whole piece probably. They may or may not all have been thinking 'This sure sounds like the Top Of The Pops theme' (the old one, they may or may haven lost track of it now). Horribly overdramatic Led Zeppelin worship, here. Avoid.
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