Alt-UK

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Archives for June 11, 2007

Sounds Like Violence – Heartless Wreck

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Having recently played a handful of UK tour dates, Sounds Like Violence now release a new single in the form of ‘Heartless Wreck’, and I personally have to admit to not being in the slightest bit impressed with this latest offering. Sounding like a Swedish Placebo here vocally, Sounds Like Violence screech their way through this one and fail to ever really get going. There are moments when you feel as though this single has some real promise and is beginning to grow some balls, however ultimately it always seems to go back to being a vocally irritating and musically uninspiring track. When the band released their ‘The Pistol’ EP back in 2004 I was really quite impressed with what I heard, however somewhere in the past 3years something has obviously gone drastically wrong for them as they are now sounding dreadful as far as I’m concerned. This year saw the band release their debut album in the form of ‘With Blood On My Hands’ through Deep Elm/Burning Heart – I for one will not be rushing out to buy it. Unless you’re a fan of Placebo and feel you would enjoy hearing a slightly edgier version of them then I’d stay well clear of this one.

Label: Deep Elm/Burning Heart Records
Release Date: 11th June 2007

Rating:
Review Star

Koopa – One Off Song For The Summer

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Koopa made history earlier this year when they became the first unsigned band to enter the UK Official Top 40, entering at No. 31, and if the quality and catchiness of this one is anything to go by then they should be set to do it again come Sunday. ‘One Off Song For The Summer’ is one of the best songs I’ve heard this year by far, and with an incredibly strong chorus you’ll be humming it for months to come having heard it even just once. If this track were to be released by a band as well renowned for instance as McFly then there is no doubt at all in my mind that this track would easily enter the top 5, if not grace the prestigious Number 1 spot. It really is a finely crafted pop anthem, and with ‘Summer Anthem’ written all over it well and truly lives up to its name as the ‘One Off Song For The Summer’. Koopa are clearly a band with a bright future ahead of them – currently showcasing the fact that you don’t need to be signed to do well anymore.

Release Date: 11th June 2007

Rating:
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Bowling For Soup – I’m Gay

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Following on from the release of first single ‘High School Never Ends’, Bowling For Soup are now to release ‘I’m Gay’ from their ‘The Great Burrito Extortion Case’ album. As ever, the single is catchy pop punk at it’s finest and still proves Bowling For Soup to be one of the best in their genre. Having never taken themselves too seriously, the emphasis has always been on having fun with Bowling For Soup and this is still a theme that is ever present in their music. ‘I’m Gay’ is a terrific single complete with an incredibly catchy chorus, strong guitars and good humour throughout. I have a great love of pop punk and as such have always been a fan of the band, and other than their quite frankly awful cover of Fergie’s ‘London Bridge’ they have never given me any reason to consider myself otherwise. Chances are that you’ll already have made up your mind about whether or not you like the band which is fair enough, but I’d strongly suggest you give this track a try as it truly is one of the finest Pop Punk tracks you’re likely to hear this year. Bowling For Soup tracks always put a massive smile on my face and in my opinion thats what music should be about.

Label: A&G Records
Release Date: 11th June 2007

Rating:
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The Holloways – Generator

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Having originally released ‘Generator’ last October with the track named in NME’s top 20 tracks of the year, The Holloways have now re-recorded it and are to release it again on June 11th through TVT Records. Since having released it last, the track has been used on Fern and Reggie’s Radio 1 weekend show as the theme to their ‘New Music Generator’ so has since been exposed to a much larger audience. ‘Generator’ is a definite summer anthem which with it’s use on Fern and Reggie’s Radio 1 show should guarantee it a fair degree of success upon release. The track is an upbeat and enjoyable offering, showing The Holloways to be well and truly capable of penning tracks with fantastic pop sensibilities. It was a strange time of year to have released the single in the winter, however the fact the song is now being released in its rightful season should definitely reflect upon the popularity it will enjoy. Having spent the last 18 months on the road with the likes of Babyshambles and The Kooks, as well as having played several of their own sold out headline dates, this Summer could be when The Holloways really explode into the limelight.

Label: TVT Records
Release Date: 11th June 2007

Rating:
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