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All The Boys Love Mandy Lane (2008) Review

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When I first heard about the film ‘All The Boys Love Mandy Lane’ I was actually greatly excited. Having then seen trailer on TV for the film the other week I decided that I just had to go and see the film for myself as soon as possible. It came out on February 15th 2008 and therefore I was there waiting at the door, greatly enthusiastic about the prospect of seeing this film I had been longing to watch. The film comes from the director Jonathan Levine, I had not seen any of his films before but he has previously directed ‘Love Bytes’ and ‘Shards’. In directing ‘All The Boys Love Mandy Lane’, Levine has entered in to new territory as horror is a genre that he had not covered before, and given that he had no directorial background in the genre I feel that he has done incredibly well here. The film is described by Total Film as ‘THE OC meets FRIDAY THE 13TH’ and I think that this is probably a fair way of putting it.

Mandy Lane (Amber Heard) is a virginal high school student lusted after by all. Set in the state of Texas, the film progresses with Mandy Lane at its helm as people get killed off one by one in true teen slasher style. It all begins to happen at a party that comes about as the school term comes to a close. In the remote location of an isolated ranch, the party takes place under the supervision of the farm hand Garth (Anson Mount), the only adult on site. Other than Garth, all at the party are teenagers and with everyone drinking, smoking, and having fun; things look set to take a turn for the worse at any moment and sure enough they do.

What may sound to be a very generic set-up actually makes for a brilliant film. The plot may not be the most original in the world however it sure is engaging. There is plenty of blood and gore to keep all you hardened horror fans entertained and never does the film disappoint. You will always be on the edge of your seat as you watch this film and there are times where you can’t help but turn away. As well as being some strongly disturbing scenes visually, there are also others that make horribly graphic use of sound. At times it is difficult to take, but always it impresses with its visual and aural display of shocks and horrors.

At times it is difficult to take in that this film really is a horror film. The visual sheen of the film is more akin to ‘The Virgin Suicides’ than ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre’, the superb cinematography belies the films relatively low budget. There is just something about this film visually which makes it stand out, cinematographer Darren Genet has captured a great beauty with the way in which ‘All The Boys Love Mandy Lane’ has been filmed. Prior to the release of this film Genet had been a very much unknown entity, however he is now sure to be a wanted man by many, an extremely highly sought after cinematographer.

In terms of the acting within this film I feel that it fairs extremely well. The young cast do the film proud and all those involved really impress in their performances. Amber Heard as the films talking point and love interest ‘Mandy Lane’ I feel is one person in particular that performs well in her part. All the boys really do love Mandy Lane, and Heard plays the part of the popular blonde to perfection. Everyone aims to impress her within the film, and outside the film she is the one that impresses us all as an actress. I have no doubt that she will be getting a lot of work as a result of the talent that she has showcased here, and Amber Heard will surely go far as an actress.

I have always been a huge fan of the horror genre, and ‘All The Boys Love Mandy Lane’ is certainly not one that disappoints. Countless teen slasher films come and go which are just too generic to ever be remembered. I lose track of the number of films of this sort I have seen in recent years, however the ones that I enjoy and can recollect fondly are few and far between. I was ever impressed as the film progressed, and this is in no small part down to the fine way in which the cinematography has been executed, and the always impressive acting. The visual glow of this film is what makes this film stand out, and the high calibre of acting that is shown helps add to this. What could have been an extremely generic and predictable tale is actually a thoroughly enjoyable film, and although horror enthusiasts will no doubt see the ending coming from a mile off; ‘All The Boys Love Mandy Lane’ is still sure to impress and I have no doubt in my mind that this is a film you will enjoy.

Personally I feel that ‘All The Boys Love Mandy Lane’ provides a new and interesting twist in the tail for the done to death genre of the teen slasher. There will no doubt be others that disagree with me here, but I personally find the film incredibly enjoyable and although it is at times more than a little predictable; it is ever enjoyable and there is always plenty to keep you entertained. The cinematography is stunning, the acting excellent, and Jonathan Levine has done a brilliant job as Director. The film comes together perfectly and all elements of it just seem to fit together and provide for an entirely enjoyable film that I will happily be purchasing on DVD when released. My DVD collection tends not to expand as much as I would like, but I know for certain that this is one that can definitely guarantee my ownership as soon as the opportunity arises.

Rating:

Sonic Boom Six – Arcade Perfect

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Sonic Boom Six are a band that have driven through from the underground; their journey began in Manchester in the April 2002, and they finally released their début album ‘The Ruff Guide to Genre-Terrorism’ in July 2006. Having gotten their début out of the way after four years, they are now onto their second studio album and it was in fact released in November 2007 through Rebel Alliance Recordings. Sonic Boom Six have come a long way as a band over the years, and their ‘Arcade Perfect’ album is a testament to that fact.

Combining elements of Reggae, Punk, and Hip-Hop – the music of Sonic Boom Six is a concoction that has to be heard to be believed. Add to that mix the energy of Jungle and the essence of Ska, then you’ll come somewhere close to the sound of Sonic Boom Six. It shouldn’t work, yet somehow it does and the band mix the sounds perfectly in order to provide an innovative sound which is very much their own. Sonic Boom Six are a band that without doubt stand out from the crowd, doing so by mixing the most eclectic range of genres and with each and every track sounding fresh and exciting.

Never dull, always exciting; the ‘Arcade Perfect’ album begins with title track ‘Arcade Perfect’, ends with ‘For 12 Weeks, The City Is Theirs’, and has nine tracks in between which all shine through with their excellence. Fronted by Laila K, backed by Barney and Ben – the vocals of Sonic Boom Six are something that always shine through to me about their music. Not only do the instruments combine together magnificently, but the vocal entourage is always excellent also. The male and female dual assault vocals are consistently fantastic throughout the album and never do they disappoint.

The album consists of many highlights, the track ‘Sound of a Revolution’ particularly having captured my imagination. Everything about this one works, the lyrics are superb, the dual vocals excellent as ever, and the instrumental section is absolutely spot on. From the very first time I ever heard this one I loved it immediately and have not been able to stop playing it since. ‘September to May’ is another that stands out when listening to this album, there is just something about it that is ever so charming and makes it a joy to listen to. The track is just so catchy and will have you singing along in no time. With its chilled out vibe and great use of guitars, it works exceptionally well and is never in danger of being anything but highly exciting and hugely enthralling.

With a band that combine such a variation of genres in their sound, the music is always going to be full of surprises. ‘Ya Basta!’ for example is an interesting collaboration from the band with ex King Prawn member Babar Luck, one that is quite different from anything else present on the release yet supremely effective. Babar Luck is not the only one to have collaborated with the band on this release, Matt Reynolds of Howards Alias features also, as do former Filaments man Johnny One Lung and Itch of The King Blues. The collaborations all work extremely well, and using key figures from the scene that the band have been a huge part of for the past five years was an excellent idea I feel.

The ‘Arcade Perfect’ album combines an eclectic mix of genres and I feel that this is something which is pulled off exceptionally well by the band. It could so easily have all ended in disaster, but it all works and every track on the album is thoroughly enjoyable to listen to. Never conventional, always original; the music that Sonic Boom Six are creating is one that I personally am a huge fan of. I have been following the progress of this band for a good few years now and to have seen them progress and evolve into the band that they are today has been fantastic. Sonic Boom Six are a band that are forever driving forward, and their sound never seems to stop improving. The work that all the members have put into this band over the years is phenomenal, and to hear the result of their ‘Arcade Perfect’ album is proof alone that it has all been worthwhile.

Sonic Boom Six are a fantastic band and all elements of their music shine through superbly in this release. Their dual vocals are something that have always appealed to me about their music, something which I feel comes across extremely well throughout this album. There is never a dull moment with Sonic Boom Six, something which has no doubt helped their cause hugely in a scene where many of their contemporaries have long since called it a day. Laila K is a truly phenomenal front woman, and the energy and passion that she puts in to her performance is absolutely sensational. When listening to this album you can hear that the band are giving it their all and this is something which is always great to hear. Sonic Boom Six don’t do things by halves, and throughout the whole of their ‘Arcade Perfect’ album they go all out in their genre bending mash-up of sounds. You’d never think that with the volume of genres that the band combine that this music could ever work, but it does and their sound is highly innovative and always great fun to listen to. Make sure you don’t let the music of Sonic Boom Six pass you by; it would be a huge shame to let this happen.

Label: Rebel Alliance
Release Date: 12th November 2007

Rating:
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Scouting For Girls – Scouting For Girls

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Scouting For Girls are a Pop Rock band from London. They are currently signed to Epic Records, and with lyrics exploring subjects such as wishing to be James Bond for the day and lusting after Michaela Strachan when they were the age of twelve; it is clear that Scouting For Girls do not take themselves too seriously. They formed in 2005, released this self-titled album in September 2007, and already they have shifted over 300 000 copies of it. This is a really great achievement for a band few had heard of little over six months ago. They truly have come a long way as a band in a very short space of time.

The sound of Scouting For Girls is one that you will either love or hate; I feel that there is generally no middle ground with this sort of music as you will either take on board and be amused by the cheesy lyrics, or this will be a factor that will make you despise and detest the band. I personally don’t mind the lyrical content of the band at all, it actually adds to the charm and enjoyment that can be gained from listening to Scouting For Girls I feel. One complaint I do have with the lyrics however is just how repetitive they can be; it’s one thing the lyrics not being particularly intelligent, but when repeated over and over again they can certainly become a little irritating. I’ve noticed that repetition is something that Scouting For Girls seem to be huge fans of, and whilst repeated emphasis of words will certainly make you remember their music; it can sometimes be for all the wrong reasons.

The album consists of a mere ten tracks, plus one extra tagged on as a ‘Bonus Track’ at the end of ‘James Bond’. The album clocks in at a total of just under forty Minutes including the ‘Bonus Track’, and despite my grievances with the repetitive nature of the lyrics, I am actually quite a fan of this self titled début release from Scouting For Girls. There are a number of tracks that stand out strongly to me, most notably ‘Heartbeat’ and opening track ‘Keep On Walking’. That said, it is actually exceptionally hard to have favourite tracks when it comes to this album as pretty much all the songs sound the same and therefore if you like one you’ll probably like them all, and in the same sense; if you’ve heard any track by the band and not been a fan then chances are that you will not find this début album from them to be too impressive.

‘Heartbeat’ is one that captured my attention when listening to this album due to the exceptional nature of its chorus. The majority of the bands choruses on this album are very much the same and follow the same general patter, however there is something that stands out about this one as being just a little bit different and it is therefore a definite favourite of mine from this album and a clear highlight. ‘Heartbeat’ is a track that you can go back and listen to time and time again without ever tiring of I feel. It really is an infectious little number and once I start listening to it I find it hard to stop. ‘Keep On Walking’ again stands out to me as a result of its fantastic chorus, a track which works exceptionally well at the beginning of the album and sets up the mood fantastically. There is nothing particularly ground breaking about it, it just really appeals to me as it is so incredibly catchy, something that can actually be said about the Scouting For Girls album as a whole in fact.

When listening to this album you tend to get the impression that something is missing from the sound of the band. When you listen carefully, you soon discover that the band are devoid of a guitarist; the three instruments that the band possess are keyboard, bass, and drums. It is strange that the music works so well given the absence of a guitar to drive their sound forward, however I feel that the main reason the music does work is because of the great nature of the bands choruses. It is here that Scouting For Girls thrive, and not a single one of the tracks on this album disappoint in the chorus department. Always incredibly catchy, never short of enthralling; Scouting For Girls make the most of what they have and pull through with an incredibly well rounded sound which never fails to impress.

Although the band have only released one album so far, they are already causing a massive stir and are loved by people all around the country. Whilst the band have plenty of fans though, there are also a lot of haters out there as well. I explained earlier that Scouting For Girls are either a band that you will love or you will hate, so therefore it is really no surprise about the divide of opinion that the band cause. I do appreciate that Scouting For Girls début album will not be for all, but if you’ve not come across the band before then I would suggest that you give one of their tracks a try. If you like what you hear then go ahead and purchase their self titled début album as you can expect to hear plenty more the same. Scouting For Girls are not the most original of bands and they are certainly not the most intelligent, however the music that they are making is good fun to listen to and their album is therefore one that I would recommend. Listen to this album with an open mind, but don’t expect to find too much variation or lyrical intelligence or else you’ll be thoroughly disappointed.

Label: 14th Floor
Release Date: 17th September 2007

Rating:
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The Enemy – We’ll Live and Die in These Towns

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The Enemy are an Indie Rock band from Coventry and can be seen to have had it very, very easy. They formed in 2006, and after playing a mere 10 gigs the band sought the help of ‘Grand Union Management’, the people that had helped Boy Kill Boy to success the previous year. They were soon the opening act at Coventry’s Godiva Festival, and shortly after this they became the first signing on Stiff Records for twenty years, a subsidiary label of Warner Records. This album was released through Warner in July 2007, and hit Number 1 in the album charts; a great achievement for the band. They are loved by the NME, hated by XFM’s breakfast show presenter Alex Zane due to altercations during a television interview, and although I personally do not like how they shot to success so quickly, I must concede that I really do quite enjoy some of their music.

Over rated; probably, but a decent band nonetheless, The Enemy’s 2007 début album ‘We’ll Live and Die in These Towns’ is one that is well worth listening to. Of the eleven tracks present on the album, six have already been released in some shape or form already, and with a seventh due out in March; it would seem that The Enemy may well be on a mission to release every track from their début. Would sure be an interesting one if they did, and I personally would love to see them do it. That said, a couple of the tracks they have not already released aren’t exactly the best of tracks so I doubt that they’d do too well if they were released upon the world as singles.

‘We’ll Live and Die in These Towns’ begins quite weakly with the track ‘Aggro’, one of which I am really not at all a fan of. I just feel that the track never really gets going and is therefore not very interesting at all to listen to. I never like to hear a weak opening to an album, it generally means that the album ahead is going to be rather disappointing, however this is not so with The Enemy. Despite the dodgy opening they then go on to produce quite an impressive display in the rest of the album. They don’t wait long to prove their worth as the second track on the album is actually ‘Away From Here’ which is probably my favourite from this release. It’s such a fantastic track and right from the very first time I ever heard it I was a huge fan. The track just captures my imagination entirely and has me hooked from beginning to end as the band blast their way through this superbly catchy ultimate Indie anthem.

‘You’re Not Alone’ is another highlight from the album for me. Although it only reached Number 18 in the charts, I feel that it definitely should have been at least a Top 10. It is a hugely powerful track, one where the vocals really shine through and the driving guitars really make the track stand out to me. The lyrics aren’t exactly ground breaking, however they work and somehow possess a great power about them which makes them sound more important than they perhaps are. It is warming and reassuring to hear the band belting out the lyrics of ‘You’re Not Alone You Know’ in a vocal tone so deep that it will rock the very foundations of your existence. The Enemy have a great talent for producing intensely powerful music and ‘You’re Not Alone’ is no exception to this rule.

When a band have released six singles from an album and are soon to push that number up to seven; you’d imagine that with only four remaining tracks to pick from there would be little or nothing of interest remaining. In thinking this however, you’d be completely wrong as ‘Technodanceaphobic’ for a start is absolutely excellent. It is not a conventionally appealing track; it has quite a slow pace and a rather repetitive musical back beat, however it works and actually sounds absolutely excellent. This is a track that I’ve played many times over the months and is one that I would wholeheartedly recommend to all. Given that it has not been chosen as a single, maybe I am out on my own in my love for this one, however even still, I somehow doubt it and perhaps the excellence of this one has been carelessly overlooked.

One thing that does strike me when listening to this album is that the last two tracks are really quite disappointing. The album begins badly with ‘Aggro’ and the closing tracks ‘This Song’ and ‘Happy Birthday Jane’ are equally irritating to listen to. They just don’t appeal in quite such a way as the rest of the album, and these three tracks alone I feel detract from the overall quality of the ‘We’ll Live and Die in These Towns’ album as a whole. Bad openings and closings are something that I hate to hear when listening to an album, and this one possesses both which really is a great shame. The Enemy are a decent band and had they hidden these three tracks in the middle rather than putting them at the beginning and end of the album then I probably wouldn’t have minded so much, but for me these are very important points and can make or break an album for me. Whilst I’d find it very hard to dislike a decent album purely on the basis of a bad opener or closer, I do find it greatly irritating to hear and am disappointed with The Enemy for their decision to use these tracks in the places that they have.

The Enemy make terrific use of their instruments on this release and prove themselves to be really quite proficient performers at their trade. Their brand of Indie Rock is not always successful as at times it can sound a little dull in my opinion, but for the most part the band sound great in doing what they do and should definitely look to continue on with the same formula in the future. Front man and champion guitarist Tom Clarke is in possession of a fantastic voice and his vocals really shine through in this release. His guitar work is also greatly impressive, and with the ever powerful drums, and booming bass lines to back him up; the music of The Enemy is absolutely fantastic and for the most part listening to this album is therefore a joy.

Although this début album from The Enemy contains a few tracks that will probably not impress you as much as others, the album as a whole is really rather excellent and I feel that it is definitely worth checking out. Success came a little too easily for The Enemy as far as I’m concerned, however I shall not be holding that against them as I think that it is great when Rock bands do well for themselves. Whether a band has been together for 5 minutes or 5 years; cracking the mainstream is a great achievement that should not be belittled in any way, shape or form. If you’ve not yet listened to this début album offering from The Enemy then why not give it a go? There’s bound to be at least the odd track or two here that will put a smile on your face, and if you happen to be a fan of the Indie Rock genre then I’m sure that you will find great enjoyment in this release. There are a lot of bad Indie bands out there, but The Enemy are not one of them.

Label: Warner Music Group
Release Date: 9th July 2007

Rating:
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The Wombats – A Guide to Love, Loss & Desperation

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The Wombats are a three-piece band from Liverpool, an Indie band that have been together now since 2003. Having had three Top 40 singles from their début album, ‘A Guide to Love, Loss & Desperation’ is an album which has brought great success to The Wombats and as far as I’m concerned this is nothing less than they deserve. Released in November 2007, their first album offering to date is thirteen tracks strong and consists of many fantastic tracks. Having been together for several years previous to recording this album has clearly benefited The Wombats greatly as they sound excellent in their ‘A Guide to Love, Loss & Desperation’ album; a really tight unit performing perfectly together as a band.

After hearing their ‘Let’s Dance To Joy Division’ single on the radio, I just had to get my hands on this album from The Wombats and am very glad that I did. This track really impressed me, and from the first time I ever heard it I was singing along by the end and tapping my feet frantically to the beat. It really is an instantly infectious Indie track and still remains to be one of my favourites from this album. Their other single ‘Moving To New York’ is another definite stand out track for me, one which I have worn out with continuous play over the last couple of months. I just never tire of the track and always enjoy singing and dancing along as the band blast their way through this one. The lyrics always bring a smile to my face, the guitars sound great, and the vocals are absolutely excellent. Everything about the track pleases me and I feel that I would find it hard to ever become bored of listening to it.

With ‘Moving To New York’ coming near the beginning, and ‘Let’s Dance To Joy Division’ towards the middle, it should not be seen that these are the only stand out tracks from the album as this is really not the case. The album contains a great depth of quality, and many of the other tracks present on this album are hugely impressive. ‘Lost In The Post’ for example is an excellent track with a fantastic chorus also, I absolutely love the energetic ‘ Backfire at the Disco’, and ‘My First Wedding’ closes the album brilliantly. Basically, there is no track here that particularly disappoints and listening enjoyment can be gained from each and every one of the thirteen tracks here present. ‘Backfire at the Disco’ is a track which I feel captures the band at their very best, it is a fantastically catchy track and is perhaps even more so than either of the aforementioned tracks which have already been released as singles. If I were working for the record label I would definitely commission this one as the next to be lifted from the album as I feel that it is one which could perform extremely well as a single release and could even propel the band in to the Top 10 for the first time in their history.

‘A Guide to Love, Loss & Desperation’ is the first album the band have ever released in the UK, however in 2006 they released an album in Japan only entitled ‘Girls, Boys and Marsupials’. It could therefore be seen perhaps then that this is the bands second album, however the fact that most of the tracks that were present on the Japan release are here also means that this is not really so. It would be foolish to argue that this is the bands second album when the track listing is largely the same, but what I will say is that ‘A Guide to Love, Loss & Desperation’ is an album that you should really look to listen to. I am sure that there are many people out there that would be greatly impressed with the music that is on display on this album as there is never a dull moment with The Wombats and their tracks always possess plenty of life, character and charm. With such great energy and tremendously catchy tracks, The Wombats are a band that should go far and I for one can’t wait to hear more from them. This should be the start of a long and successful career for The Wombats; it’s taken them several years to hit the mainstream, but now that they’ve done so they should be here to stay.

Label: 14th Floor
Release Date: 5th November 2007

Rating:
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Elliot Minor – Still Figuring Out

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Last time I reviewed Elliot Minor I referred to them as McFly’s ‘boring little brother’. For this; I apologise. Elliot Minor sound far more like Busted than McFly, but that’s beside the point and I like Busted anyway. What I’m trying to say here is that I’ve changed my mind about Elliot Minor, I’m still not a fan of the track ‘Jessica’, but their latest release ‘Still Figuring Out’ has actually really impressed me. I like the way the band combine almost classical elements with what I would describe to be Pop Punk, it works fantastically well and their sound comes across magnificently here I feel.

At three minutes in length, the track is just right and is a perfect example of how music of this sort should sound. Backed with some powerful rock guitars, the vocals of Elliot Minor come blasting through and truly do provide a treat of aural excellence. ‘Still Figuring Out’ is an incredibly catchy track, one that will no doubt get lodged in your mind for months to come. Everything about ‘Still Figuring Out’ just seems to work, all elements of the music fit together perfectly to provide for one of my favourite tracks in a long while. It is no wonder that this track launched straight to Number 17 in the charts, it really is quite extraordinarily catchy and is a fantastic track to listen to.

With the sound that the band are creating, I feel that they will never be too popular in the Rock world, however having said that I would love for the band to prove me wrong. I recently read in an interview that Elliot Minor wish to be perceived as a Rock band and not as a Pop band, dismissing any claims that they are in any way ‘manufactured’. Obviously they do have strong elements of Rock in their sound I feel, however the production of the music is perhaps a little too squeaky clean for the majority of Rock fans out there. I wish Elliot Minor well, and personally can’t wait to hear their album when it is released upon the world reportedly in May.

Label: Repossession Records
Release Date: 28th January 2008

Rating:
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All Time Low – So Wrong, It’s Right

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All Time Low - So Wrong, It's RightAll Time Low are an American Pop Punk band hailing from Maryland. Consisting of four members, the band have been going since 2003 and in this time have released two albums and two EP’s. Their first album and EP were released through Emerald Moon Records, however their last two releases have been through Hopeless Records; the former home of Avenged Sevenfold and Thrice. The band were listed in the popular American magazine ‘Alternative Press’ as one of their chosen ‘Bands You Need to Know in ’07’. This was obviously a great achievement for the band and having also been listed in this weeks Kerrang! magazine as a band with ‘New Music Coming Your Way’, it is clear that All Time Low are a band who are all set to cause a stir in UK shores also.

Although the album from All Time Low has been available here since September 2007, the real test of whether or not All Time Low can make it big in the UK will come in May when they head over for the Give It A Name Festival in London and Sheffield. With the London date set to be held at Earls Court and the other at Sheffield Arena, the band will have a great chance to prove themselves in front of a large crowd and it could be the making of the breaking of them. If they put on a good show then they could potentially explode in popularity from there, however should they fail to impress then any chance of making it big in the UK could be all but over.

The ‘So Wrong, It’s Right’ album contains twelve tracks of Pop Punk goodness, making for an excellent listening experience spanning forty minutes. The band never take themselves too seriously and always sound like they are having terrific fun in doing what they do. Their energy and exuberance reminds me of Blink 182 in their heyday, a band who are seemingly completely carefree, yet producing music which is fantastic fun to listen to. The album erupts with ‘This Is How We Do’, a relatively short track which kicks the album off with a bang. The drumming is quick, and the guitar riffs intricately woven with the vocals very much at the forefront of the bands sound. It is not always that bands choose to place so much emphasis on vocals in a release, however the instruments definitely seem to take a back seat to the vocals here. The first track is everything you could possibly wish for in an opening track, it leaves you wanting more and eager to listen on.

Vocally the band remind me a little of New Found Glory, something which to me is nothing to be ashamed of. I love the voice of New Found Glory’s Jordan Pundik, however I actually feel that the vocal tone of All Time Low’s Alexander Gaskarth is far greater than the New Found Glory man’s has ever been. The vocals are clearly spoken, always easy to make out and ever a joy to listen to. The vocals are something which stand out to me about this band as crucial, it is through the bands clearly spoken and finely executed vocal style that the music is made exceptional and the band are all the more enjoyable. I love vocal style of this sort, and when I hear bands with this kind of sound I always instantly fall in love with them. All Time Low are no exception to this rule, and since hearing their ‘So Wrong, It’s Right’ album for the first time I have not been able to stop playing it.

Whilst there are many tracks from this release that stand out for me, there are a couple that do so a little more than the others. Highlights are in an abundance, and the bands clear musical talent and distinctive vocal tone is an elemental factor of this. ‘The Beach’ provides the album with the perfect summer anthem, not only does the lyrical content make this so but the general sound of the track also. Although not yet the summer, when listening to this track it is easy to forget that this is the case and to get lost in the summery vibe and upbeat aura of the music. This is a feel good song for the summer, a perfect track to crack out if you happen to be down at the beach.

‘Remembering Sunday’ is another fantastic track which stands out to me when listening to this album. Featuring vocals from Juliet Simms of the band Automatic Loveletter, this is the token ballad from the album and works remarkably well. It is great to hear the band trying out a variety of different styles in this release and definitely mixes things up a little, making the album all the more interesting to listen to. The acoustic guitars in this one fit perfectly, the vocal harmonies close to perfect and the aforementioned female vocal which comes in close to the end of the track is absolutely amazing. The vocals of Juliet Simms are extremely powerful and emerge out of nowhere in the track, starting off as dual vocals with those of Alexander Gaskarth, the vocals come into their own and are hugely passionate and incredibly heartfelt. The track is great to listen to and is one that I find myself going back to time after time.

Although I said before that the vocals do seem to be forefronted and the guitars and drums are more in the background; there is no denying that in many of the tracks here present, the guitars often explode into life and many a soaring riff emerge. The guitarists in the band are clearly in possession of great talent, something which comes across throughout the album and is greatly pleasing to hear. Bad guitarists can really spoil the sound of a band sometimes, so procuring talented guitarists is always vital I feel.

‘So Wrong, It’s Right’ is a great album from All Time Low. Although the lyrical content is not always the best of quality, the music always more than makes up for this fact and the band are always thoroughly enjoyable to listen to. Never do they show any signs of disappointing, and in each track here I feel that positives can be drawn. I feel that 2008 will be a big year for All Time Low in the UK, their fan base here will no doubt grow and they should find themselves on the receiving end of a great deal of praise from many as they bring their brilliant Pop Punk sound to these shores. It is not everyday that you discover a gem of a Pop Punk band, however the day that I discovered All Time Low I was grinning from ear to ear and couldn’t get their instantly infectious music dislodged from my mind. The music of All Time Low is hugely upbeat and ‘So Wrong, It’s Right’ is an album which will always have you smiling as the band embark on a forty minute musical journey of absolute aural gold.

Label: Hopeless Records
Release Date: 24th September 2007

Rating:
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Farewell – Isn’t This Supposed To Be Fun!?

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Hailing from North Carolina, Farewell are a Pop-Punk sextet currently making waves in their scene. Having had close to a million profile views on their MySpace page, the popularity of Farewell is clear for all to see and I feel that it is thoroughly deserved. The band first formed in 2004, releasing an EP in the form of ‘Poisoning the Lark’ in 2005 through Forsaken Recordings, and are now set to release their début album ‘Isn’t This Supposed To Be Fun!?’ on February 4th through Epitaph. Citing bands such as Green Day, Get Up Kids, and The Anniversary as influences; it seems that this is only the beginning for Farewell and they look dead set to have a huge career ahead of them.

Although their début album is as yet unreleased in the UK, the music press are already talking extremely fondly of Farewell, a band whom many believe to be the next big thing for 2008. If you’d consider yourself to be a fan of the likes of Fall Out Boy, Panic! At The Disco et al. – there is no doubt in my mind that you’ll be in for a treat with this album from Farewell. The album grips you right from the offset with the hooky ‘Start It Up’, a track that is instantly infectious and sets the mood for the album ahead perfectly. The band are young, full of zest for life, and are clearly not short of an idea or two; factors which should allow for their fan base to blossom over the coming months.

Farewell have been touring constantly since signing to Epitaph in early 2007, something which has obviously benefited them greatly through allowing the word to spread and enabling them to grow and mature as a unit. Farewell sound like a band who have been performing together for years, a quality which belies the fact that they have only been together since 2004 and to date have only recorded and officially released one EP and one album. All thirteen of the tracks from ‘Isn’t This Supposed to be Fun!?’ are incredibly catchy and well worth your while listening to, the band will no doubt impress you greatly with each and every one of their Pop Punk packages.

Tracks such as ‘Hey Heather’, ‘First One On The Blog’, and ‘Stay Pretty’ stand out massively so when listening to this release. There is such an addictive quality about the music of Farewell that stopping listening to them once you have started becomes an exceptionally difficult activity. Once they have drawn you in with their incredible sound, there is no turning back and you are compelled to listen to the album from start to finish. This can be a little difficult if you don’t really have a spare forty minutes, however I never have any regrets when finished listening to this magical music. In fact, most times when I come to the end of the album I go straight back and listen to it all over again.

‘Stay Pretty’ is a track that stands out to me as a result of its magnificent use of synthesisers in the sound. The opening utilises the synthesiser supremely and has me gripped every time. The track is impeccably well crafted and every element of the sound here fits together fantastically. The vocals are spot on, the guitars never fail to impress, and the underlying synthesiser sound always goes down a treat. The vocals of Farewell are consistently excellent throughout this release and never do they become tiresome. With each listen the vocals seem to sound better every time, the harmonies always sounding sensational and the instrumental element of the music never sounding short of scintillating.

Farewell are an all in all excellent band, one who never fail to impress and always provide great entertainment and aural satisfaction. Whilst I am sure that the band have a better album in them yet, ‘Isn’t This Supposed to be Fun!?’ is not at all a bad starting point and is definitely one of the best début albums that I have heard in a long time. It is not often that bands can provide such creativity and catchiness in a first release, however Farewell have done so magnificently and recorded an album which I feel should be listened to by all. The music of Farewell is just so upbeat and captures your attention entirely, not letting you go until the music has come to a final close.

Although this album is yet to be released in the UK, you can listen to the album for free by simply going to http://www.last.fm/music/Farewell/Isn’t This Supposed to be Fun? and streaming the tracks from here. I would strongly suggest you do so, who knows; you may even find your new favourite band. Farewell are an excellent young Pop Punk band, and if they continue to churn out music such as is displayed on this release then they will no doubt go far in this industry. In recent years many bands of this sort have made a name for themselves who have been nowhere near as good as Farewell, so it is only right then that this band make it massive.

Label: Epitaph
Release Date: 4th February 2008

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Kaiser Chiefs – Yours Truly, Angry Mob

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When Kaiser Chiefs released their début album ‘Employment’, I found their music greatly enjoyable. When their second album ‘Yours Truly, Angry Mob’ was released on the other hand, I was actually dreading listening to it having heard and hated first single ‘Ruby’. I wanted to like the album, I truly did, but I just didn’t see it happening as you usually find it to be the case that the first single released from an album is more or less the strongest track. When ‘Yours Truly, Angry Mob’ was released I made sure I listened to it, forced myself to listen to it even; it came as no surprise to me however that I was not liking what I was hearing. The album actually begins with ‘Ruby’, the one track I was least looking forward to hearing having already established that it was not of any appeal to me. When first listening to the album I quickly skipped past ‘Ruby’ as listening to it again was really not something that I wanted to endure.

After first track ‘Ruby’ is out of the way, up next is ‘The Angry Mob’. As the track begins, it reminds me of ‘Bright Idea’ by Orson. The build up is almost identical in fact, and given that Orson’s ‘Bright Idea’ probably appeals to me even less than ‘Ruby’, a track that resembled it so heavily to begin with was never going to go down too well with me. Thankfully, the opening and the occasional guitar riff here and there is the only thing that resembles the Orson track however and for the most part the track is very much their own. Sadly however, the track is hideously tiresome and listening to Kaiser Chiefs front man Ricky Wilson’s droning voice here is not exactly what I would class as entertainment. Whilst in ‘Employment’, the vocals were always injected with a great deal of enthusiasm, there is no such energy at all here and this lacklustre offering is therefore not really worth listening to at all.

Third track ‘Heat Dies Down’ is the first moment where the album begins to show any real signs of being any good. Kaiser Chiefs are here far from their best, however nonetheless the track is interesting and most of all entertaining. I really like listening to this one, and with it’s bouncy edge and Pop appeal is definitely a track which is well worth listening to. Next track ‘Highroyds’ starts off promisingly also with a fun introduction which suggests it will be another energetic piece of music. The energy is sadly short lived and once more the band return to mid-paced mediocrity. ‘Mediocre’ and ‘Average’ are the words that spring to mind first and foremost when I think of this album as a whole in fact, something which makes me wonder if the band themselves are even well aware of given that they have named one of the tracks here ‘Everything Is Average Nowadays’.

Although not a lot stands out about this album, one thing I will say is that the single ‘Love’s Not A Competition (But I’m Winning)’ shows some great unfulfilled potential. The music is sadly devoid of any real sense of life, however the chorus is undeniably catchy and will no doubt have you singing along in no time. It is an interesting one how a band can have such an infectious chorus yet still be so deadly dull but there you go. One of the things I find most amusing about ‘Yours Truly, Angry Mob’ is the fact that the aforementioned track with the title ‘Everything Is Average Nowadays’ is probably one of the best from the album. Whilst ‘Average’ nicely sums up the album as a whole, the track itself is probably one of the only really slightly appealing songs present other than ‘Heat Dies Down’. Whilst the track I feel is still somewhat lacking in energy, this does not stop it from being amongst the best; it’s still average, just a little less so than the vast majority here.

Would I recommend this album to anyone? Not unless you have difficulties sleeping at night. The album has little use other than boring the listener and potentially sending them to sleep if they’re lucky. There are a few signs of promise during the albums thirteen track duration, but not nearly enough to keep a listener interested and intrigued as to what track will potentially come next. There is simply not enough variety here; the lyrics are poor, the vocals tiresome, and the instruments uninspired. Whilst I was a big fan of the first album from the Kaiser Chiefs, if they are ever to release another album the chances are that I shan’t be giving it a listen. ‘Yours Truly, Angry Mob’ is an album to avoid.

Label: B-Unique
Release Date: 26th February 2007

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Hanoi Rocks – Street Poetry

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Having formed in Finland way back in 1979 and split up in 1985 after the death of their drummer, Hanoi Rocks reformed in 2002 and are now very much making the most of their second wind. It is an interesting one that a band should reform nearly twenty years on, however I am very glad that they did as since returning they have released a further three albums of varying quality. ‘Street Poetry’ is the latest album from Hanoi Rocks and was given its release through Demolition Records in the UK in September 2007.

Although only two of the original band members remain in the band, those being vocalist Michael Monroe and guitarist Andy McCoy; you should not let this fact put you off as Hanoi Rocks are still making some great music. Featuring the single ‘Fashion’ which went straight to Number 1 when released in Finland, ‘Street Poetry’ is thirteen tracks strong and is definitely worth a listen.

‘Street Poetry’ is an album which will not be to everyone’s taste, however for those of you that enjoy a good bit of Rock music I am sure there will be something here to keep you entertained. Not all of the tracks are particularly pleasing, in fact there are some that left me wishing for the end to come sooner rather than later, however I would still say that it is an album which is well worth your while listening to. The aforementioned single ‘Fashion’ for instance is definitely a track which I’d advise you all listen to. With its highly memorable chorus, strong guitar riffs, and fine vocal styling it is simply unmissable. It is not hard to see why the track went straight to number 1 when it was released in Finland back in May 2007. Three minutes long and always exciting and highly appealing, ‘Fashion’ is definitely one of the highlights of ‘Street Poetry’.

Much of the album is made up of exciting Glam Rock, and when listening to it is obvious that the band had terrific fun when writing and recording this one. Hanoi Rocks are a band who seem to have a great love for what they do, and although in my opinion some of the tracks here are a little disappointing – for the most part the album is highly impressive and great to listen to. Tracks such as ‘Powertrip’ and ‘This One’s for Rock’n’roll’ stand out massively so when listening to this album as they are terrifically infectious slabs of Rock gold. Every track on ‘Street Poetry’ is extremely upbeat and this is a great thing to hear when listening to the album. The band are in a genre of music which is never going to bring them a great deal of success in this day and age, however seemingly they don’t really care about monetary gain and are making this music out of their love for it which is always refreshing to see.

Although not exactly my favourite album of 2007, ‘Street Poetry’ is still one that I have listened to a large number of times since receiving. The positive energy which exudes from much of this release is just so intense that even if this is not particularly a genre of music that you’re fond of, you’re bound to gain some sort of listening enjoyment from this album. Clocking in at around the 45 minute mark, it is easy to listen to this album in one sitting and so long as you’re in the right mood you’re bound to enjoy most if not all of the tracks that are present here. When the band reformed after so many years away I am sure there were many who were unhappy that the Hanoi Rocks name was still being used given that only two original members remain, however after listening to this album and hearing the quality which some of the tracks possess; the reforming of Hanoi Rocks must surely be viewed by most as an extremely good idea.

Label: Demolition Records
Release Date: 3rd September 2007

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