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Review: Been Stellar – Scream from New York, NY
The debut album from Been Stellar of New York is a swirling pressure pot of post-punk and shoe-gaze, no surprise with producer Dan Carey who has previously worked with Fontaines D.C. and black midi. Kicking off the track list is ‘Start Again’, introducing us to the enthralling drumbeat which continues through the entire release, reminding me of late 90s Radiohead and enticing me to listen further.
Review: Seasick Steve – ‘A Trip, A Stumble, A Fall Down On Your Knees’
Man, I really love Seasick Steve! I remember almost twenty years ago now when he seemed to fall, fully formed and full of gnarly, moonshine swigging cool, onto our screens on Later…It looked like he was playing a guitar that he’d accidentally reversed his truck over and was pounding his foot on a stomp box which might as well of had alligator teeth marks carved into the side. He plays it all loose and growling with heart, authenticity and rough-round-the-edges rawness that is infectious. He’s great when playing alone with his stomp box but when accompanied by the wild man that is Dan Magnusson on the drums, they are on another level.
Liam Gallagher – The O2
Biblical, Godlike, Celestial, RnR Star, Majestical, Rasta, Lover, Lasagne, Sunshiiiiiine, C’mon – just some of the words used to describe himself and words that adorned the billboards leading up to The O2 from the tube (shoutout to Brian at Microdot for the original scribe!). I think tonight it could be said that Liam was a mixture of all these!
Review: Richard Hawley – In This City They Call You Love
Fans of the sometime Pulp guitarist who have followed his solo career in the twenty ten years or so will find a Richard Hawley they are very familiar with on his new album, his ninth, In This City They Call You Love. He lays down dollops of reverb on both his voice and his guitar, sounding at times like a lower-pitched Roy Orbison or a less twangy Duane Eddy. Hawley loves his 50s and 60s ballads and he reworks a well-worn song structure, without really adding anything modern.
Review: La Luz – News of the Universe
In an overwhelming moment in history, there is a lot to be said for bands that can perfectly encapsulate not so much direct social commentary, but sonically, embellish both the bedlam and the bliss in one go. Step forward La Luz and their 5th album, News of the Universe; their first offering on Sub Pop records.
Review: Lip Critic – Hex Dealer
I’ve longingly read about (but sadly not yet experienced) Lip Critic and their wildly frenetic live shows. The two, yes, count them…two drummers – Danny Eberle and Ilan Natter – play facing each other with vocalist Bret Kaser and Connor Kleitz on samplers in the middle. Their intense electro-punk/metal sound with a bit of dance thrown in has deservedly got them a fast army of fans and they are already the band to see before the venues get any bigger.
Review: Big Special – Postindustrial Hometown Blues
On occasion there comes an album that speaks to the times, resembles the present moment and captures the emotions of a generation. ‘Post Industrial Hometown Blues’ does exactly that, it gives the words to describe the shared malaise, the perils of precarity, daily drudgery and pharmacological escapism.
Review: The Lemon Twigs – A Dream Is All We Know
A very quick follow up to last year’s ‘Everything Harmony’, The Lemon Twigs return with yet more perfectly pleasant do-wop pop rock harmonies on ‘A Dream Is All We Know’ on Captured Track Records.
Review: Porij – Teething
The indie dance sound, once a well worn crumpled leather jacket on top of a pile of stranger’s coats on a dance floor of a club that’s probably become a Co-op, now makes a striking and very fashionable return with the release of Porij’s debut album 'Teething' on Play it Again Sam Records.
Review: Pillow Queens – Name Your Sorrow
Pillow Queens, the Dublin based four piece, haven’t been short of accolades since forming in 2016 and certainly since their 2020 debut ‘In Waiting’. Their previous two albums have seen this indie rock, all-female quartet nominated twice for Irish album of the year and they’ve performed twice on The Late Late Show with James Corden. No pressure then for the release of their third, ‘Name Your Sorrow’, especially when they’ve decided to massively change their sound from something quieter and introspective to one that growls and bares its teeth.