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Razorlight – Somewhere Else

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Razorlight are currently in between albums, and after selling half a million copies of their debut album ‘Up All Night’ you’d expect the band to be taking a break, but not Razorlight – they are bridging the gap between albums with this awesome new single ‘Somewhere Else.’

This track, according to my player is 3 minutes and 17 seconds in length, and in my opinion these are some of the bands finest moments as this really is a great song and is certainly one of the best tracks that they have ever written. It is full of energy, excitement, and enthusiasm – and the band blast through it with intense passion, power and with immense confidence. They really sound like a band in their prime on this track and with tracks like this, their next album looks set to hold a lot of promise.

With this single, the band should reaffirm many peoples passion for the band and after this I am sure that Razorlight fans the world over will be much like I am – eagerly anticipating the bands forthcoming album. Well done to Razorlight and good on them I say because ‘Somewhere Else’ most certainly marks a change in direction, and in my opinion and probably in many others it is most certainly a change for the better. Razorlight are most definitely a force to be reckoned with, and clearly a band on the up.

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Glueball – The Good, The Band and The Ugly

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Glueball are UK Speed Punkers – and for what they are they are pretty good. They play fast Punk Rock, and do it with style. I really don’t see why they’ve been sharing the bill with [spunge] recently because they’re really miles apart in terms of sound, and I’m pretty sure that the majority of Ska Punk fans would not appreciate the music that Glueball make.

As I’ve already said, Glueball are pretty good at what they do, this album at just under 22 minutes in length though is almost too long as there’s only so much of the same fast Punk Rock that you can take at a time. I feel that if they had done any more and hadn’t chosen to close the album with a 37 second stormer of a finishing track then this album would soon get boring. Thankfully it wasn’t any longer and it doesn’t get boring, but I guess what I’m trying to say is – Glueball aren’t the kind of band that you could sit down admiring for hours because after a while there music would just start to piss you off.

If you are a fan of Speed Punk then you should probably check this out as Glueball are quite amazing and are definitely a good Hardcore outfit. Try checking this band out when they tour at the end of April with Phinius Gage and Streetlight Manifesto – that’s sure to be an awesome tour with such a great line up of varied, yet in their own rights equally enthralling bands.

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Pitch Black – This Is The Modern Sound

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I haven’t heard the bands first CD but this is apparently a new direction for the band seeing them take on a more mature sound laden with smashed guitars. Pitch Black are a San Francisco Bay Area Punk band, and there is definitely a hint of the AFI sound of old in their music – particularly in songs such as ‘The Screaming Song’ where vocalist Kevin Cross replicates Davey Havok’s vocal style down to a tee.

This album really isn’t going to change your life, or in fact get you in to this kind of thing if you’re not already a fan. In all fairness and in the albums defence – this isn’t at all a dull record; it’s just not really anything new or revolutionary. There are areas of great promise on this CD, like the albums opener ‘Tonopak’ or the aforementioned ‘The Screaming Song,’ but for the most part this album is in my opinion just a bit too average. The band are quite good at what they do and are a fairly credible Punk band, but the thing is there are already a million and one bands out there to choose from and in this sea of bands – Pitch Black will probably drift by unnoticed.

I’ll probably try and check out the bands debut at some stage to see how the band got to this stage as I’m interested to see what they progressed to this from, but their new sound just isn’t anything special. The lyrics have some great depth, and this is most certainly a redeeming feature of what is otherwise a fairly average record but then again this lyrical depth isn’t enough to make them anything particularly special.

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Review StarReview StarReview Half Star

Idlewild – Warnings/Promises

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I’ve read a few reviews where people have criticised this new album from Idlewild, saying that the band are devoid of what made them so great in the past, saying that they’ve now lost all their edge and are no longer the great band they once were. I would say that the people that say this are talking rubbish – sure the band have progressed from their old sound and are trying out new things on this record, but I’d say it feels like a natural progression from last album ‘The Remote Part.’

The album kicks off inevitably with the bands debut single from the album, ‘Love Steals Us From Loneliness.’ This is a great way to kick the album off as it is a fabulous single and by putting it right at the very beginning of the album it is possible to get stuck right into this album right from the very beginning. The excitement certainly doesn’t stop here, and the band go through their 12 track strong album with immense style and with impeccable precision. This is most certainly a remarkable album and Idlewild show off perfectly their maturity and increased security about their direction as a band.

There is never a dull moment on ‘Warnings/Promises’ – the band fire through many tunes with immense precision, intense power and a high degree of emotion. ‘I Understand It’ is most certainly one of the best tracks that the band has ever written, and demonstrates perfectly the bands new levels of greatness and is a perfect representation of their maturity. The band seem untouchable on this album, and when softcore classic, and album finale ‘Goodnight’ begins you realise just how great this band has become. This really is a track of epic proportions and finishes the album spectacularly with a high level of dignity.

Some say that Idlewild are the new REM – this may be fair, but depending on your view as regards to REM this comparison could tip you either way. You may love REM and desperately seek to check this new Idlewild effort out, or hate REM and be put off listening to Idlewild for life. Don’t be put off, honestly – Idlewild really are a good band and with this album have produced an exuberating album of pure finesse. Idlewild really have come of age, and this coming of age is certainly for the better as it has brought out an Idlewild at the top of their game, rather than one verging on excellence but seemingly never quite making that final step upwards.

Please do yourself a favour and check this album out – if you don’t then you really are missing out on a truly remarkable album. While some may say that Idlewild have lost it, I would say that they are just starting to gain it. They have developed into a band far greater than I ever imagined they would. This album should really fire Idlewild into the limelight of the mass media and have them reach the levels of stardom they have always verged on but never quite reached.

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The Others – William

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From the bands name, you would have reason to believe that The Others are nothing but another pretentious Indie band. This my friends would be wrong. The Times say that The Others are ‘reminiscent of the Sex Pistols,’ but if this song is anything to go by then if anything I’d say that vocally they are much like NoFx.

With its spat out Punk Rock drawl, Fat Mike would be pleased to call the vocal duties his own. They really are very much like his, and in my opinion that is nothing at all to be ashamed of. Musically I guess their sound is reminiscent of such bands as The Libertines, or indeed Pete Doherty’s new band Babyshambles. Again, I’d say that this is nothing to be ashamed of as Pete Doherty; despite being a drug fuelled psycho is musically a genius. ‘William’ is a fast Punk/Funk/Rock mix of pure brilliance and with its raw edge will certainly excite the ears of many. The band convey a lot of excitement in this single, and I’m guessing that they are an extremely electric and energetic live band.

‘William’ is a cracking single, and when it is released on the 4th of April it should see the band sell a fair amount of copies and enjoy a certain stint of media popularity. Whether this band can maintain their popularity remains to be seen, and a band that could be yet another flash in the pan could just as easily be this years Franz Ferdinand in terms of success.

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Quartershade – Machines To Live In

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This band use to be Atticus, and I can definitely see why they have decided to change their name because like I said when I wrote the review of their demo – this moniker shares its name with the Blink 182 clothing company of Mark Hoppus and Tom Delonge and really gave the wrong impression about the band. Quartershade are far from being the Pop Punk band that their old name appeared to associate them with, and the new name definitely represents their Indie Rock sort of sound a lot better.

There is a definite Idlewild influence on this band and the energy and excitement of previous Idlewild albums really comes through in their sound. There are three amazing tracks here that the band glides through seemingly effortlessly with their awesome guitar work, strong bass lines, and truly inspirational vocals. This band they play their instruments with a passion, and the vocals are truly heartfelt – you can really tell that the band believes in what they are playing and the vocalist believes in what he is singing about. This CD is crammed full of raw, energetic, and exciting tracks that will never disappoint with their truly astounding sound. My favourite track on this CD is probably the final track ‘Swim’ as I feel that it is on this track that the band really comes through at their best. It is the perfect end to the EP and really ends the CD on a high leaving you craving for more. It’s one of the most exciting and inspiring tracks that I have heard for a long time now, and I would say that it is on a par, if not greater than some of Idlewild’s classics.

I can really see this band being massive before long – I know I said this last time, and it still hasn’t happened for the band yet but I’m sure that if they carry on like they are at the moment, and continue to improve and progress at such a pace then they could even hit the mainstream before long. This band definitely has a lot of talent and if they can just get the push that they’re so obviously deserving of then they will be huge sooner rather than later.

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One Day Elliott, Say No More, Junkyard Eddie, + Gladsack – Maidstone Corn Exchange 18.3.05

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This was to be Tom of Say No More’s first gig that he had ever put on, and because of this he was nervous for weeks before the gig thinking that no one would turn up. Of course, a fair amount of people did in fact turn up to the gig, but by this stage the nerves were kicking in for Tom and his band Say No More as this was only one of their first gigs, and their biggest gig to date by far.

The first band on were Gladsack – a band that are currently in the sixth form at MGS. I really don’t know how to describe their sound as it truly is a bit of a mystery but there you go. If you go on to their PureVolume account you will find describe themselves as Jazz/Experimental/Pop so there you go. I cant really remember much about them to be honest – probably because at the time I was running around finding people I know/going outside to sell people tickets who I’d promised I’d save some for but never mind – if you want to know more about this band then check them out for yourselves at http://www.purevolume.com/gladsack

The second band on were Junkyard Eddie – this band were well suited to the gigs Punky line up and shot through some great songs at a fast pace and with a fair amount of style. It started off a bit weirdly I thought with the band kicking off their set with a cover of Celine Dion’s ‘My Heart Will Go On’ but there you go – it got the crowds attention I guess, even if it was for the wrong reasons. I think Junkyard Eddie had quite a tough job because they were the first band of the night to play Punk so it was quite hard for them to get the crowd going and get them moving. I think they did a fairly good job however and put in a solid set.

Next up were the band of the moment – Say No More, a band that I have been quite pleased with despite never seeing them live as with their first Demo they really did produce something special. The band got through their Demo tracks as well as some new songs that they’d been writing to save themselves the embarrassment of having one of the shortest sets ever. I really like their new stuff – it seems to be coming along nicely, and it was a great enjoyment to see the crowd’s positive reaction to Say No More. The band were really nervous when they first came on stage and you could tell that they weren’t too comfortable up there, which isn’t too surprising considering it was their biggest gig so far – but when the crowd were loving their music the band seemed to loosen up a bit and really got stuck into their set. They definitely made a lot of new fans at this gig, with many people requesting their Demo after they’d finished playing.

Headlining tonight were the Maidstone legends One Day Elliott – love them or hate them, there is no denying that in the last year or so the band have really come on strong and are quickly developing into something special. Long gone are the sloppy sets of old, and in their place is a really tight band that would look good on any line up. The band managed to get through a fair amount of material from their recently released ‘Rule Number One’ CD which was good to see as I really like it, and it is definitely the best record that the band have ever recorded. As well as this, the band also got through a few of their old classics and even managed to dedicate a track to their recently departed drummer Jamie who was in attendance at the gig. They are definitely at their best at the moment and it is only a matter of time before they get snapped up to some sort of label with amazing new songs like ‘01622’ and ‘Two Night Stand’ to boot. Hopefully One Day Elliott will be playing again locally some time in the not too distant future as I really enjoy their gigs now and they’ve definitely got a lot to offer.

So, all in all Tom and the rest of Say No More’s gig was a major success with everyone having a great time and getting really into all of the bands that played. Hopefully they will be putting on some more gigs in and around Maidstone – probably not at the Corn Exchange though because of its high cost and small chance of breaking even. There was a curfew at this gig and people weren’t allowed in the venue after 9:15 – so a fair amount of people that wanted to go couldn’t, which is a shame as if there hadn’t been a curfew then the gig could have been an even greater success than it was.

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Home Grown – When It All Comes Down EP

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Home Grown have been around for a while now, and this EP is their seventh release to date. Their ‘Kings Of Pop’ album has sold over 10 000 copies in the UK and the band seemingly have a universal appeal. I haven’t ever really been too keen on this band in the past – I’ve always found their sound a bit annoying and monotonous, however I was prepared to give this EP a try, and after listening to it I’m really glad I did.

The band have clearly progressed a long way since their last CD, and have definitely matured and grown as a band. On display here are six tracks that highlight perfectly the bands progressing maturity from the last CD they put out, and as a result they are now sounding better than ever, and my estimation of the band has thus been increased. I particularly like the second track ‘Cross My Heart.’ This is a really great track and has some superb guitar hooks, amazing bass lines, some fine drum beats, and truly incredible vocals. It is also lyrically astounding and again the band is showing their maturity by writing songs of increased meaningfulness and they are forever gaining in originality.

I really like this EP – it shows a great deal of improvement from the band, and I am now confident that the next full length from this band really will be something special. I will definitely be looking out for this band in the future now, rather than tending to avoid their material.

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Hidden In Plain View – Life In Dreaming

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I face a bit of a dilemma with this one – I really like the album, and its done really well but the problem is that this brand of Post Hardcore has been done so many times before that you just have to question a bands credibility when bands consistently keep churning out albums which could easily be by another artist of the same sort. Like I said before – I really like this album though, and I will definitely be playing it in the future.

Hidden In Plain View play that brand of Post Hardcore that a lot of people have come to hate, with the occasional burst of a scream, and deeply emotional lyrics and heartfelt vocals throughout the duration of the album. This band is extremely good at what they do, and their music really does work a treat. The vocals harmonies work explicitly well with the cracking drums, grilling guitars, and perfectly pounding bass lines. There isn’t a single song on display on this CD which makes me annoyed at the band, which is quite a surprise really because the majority of Post Hardcore makes me really annoyed with its lacklustre, dull, and generic approach. Hidden In Plain View, although touching on nothing new in this album hit all the right notes and in doing so have produced an extremely fine album which I am proud to call myself a fan of.

If Hidden In Plain View can rectify this sound in a live setting then I can guarantee that there gigs would be full of energy, and well worth going to. However, as I have yet to see this band live that remains to be seen as they could well be one of the many bands doing the circuit that fail to shine in a live situation. If you are a fan of Emo/Post Hardcore or whatever you want to call it, then make sure you check out this band and indeed this album as this band do the genre proud. Despite the bands unoriginal take, they still manage to make a fairly credible album here on the basis that they are at the top of their game at what they do, and as a result I found this CD to be really enjoyable.

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Suffocate Faster – Only Time Will Tell

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I was actually looking forward to playing this CD – being a fan of New Found Glory, I was excited to hear the first release from Chad Gilbert and Ian Grushka’s label Broken Sounds. When I read the press pack and saw that the first CD to be released on the label was an album of Hardcore I was even more excited as Hardcore is probably one of my favourite genres and I like the vast majority of Hardcore bands. Suffocate Faster however are another matter, and this album really was a great disappointment.

What I was expecting to be an exciting street-core record is in fact a dull, uninspirational hardcore CD where every song sounds exactly the same and if it wasn’t for short gaps between songs you wouldn’t know where one song ends and the next one begins. This really is one of the worst records that I have heard in a long time – it is quite short at only half hour long, but this half hour will be the longest half hour of your life as the band slowly drones on through their monotonous album of sheer tedium.

If you like Hardcore, then I suggest that you don’t check this album out as it may put you off Hardcore for life. It really is a useless album, after today the only use I may get out of this CD is as a coaster, or perhaps a Frisbee.

Rating:
Review Star