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Review: DEADLETTER – Hysterical Strength
If you’ve stumbled upon this review wondering casually to yourself, ‘Hmmm, I’ve never heard of DEADLETTER, all caps is a bold move, I wonder what they’re like?’ Then that was pretty much what I was thinking around three hours ago and I’m here to congratulate you, you very lucky and noble music website review wanderer. You are just about to have your eyes and ears opened to something really very special. I have just listened to 'Hysterical Strength' twice on the bounce due to it being just so fucking great. You could in fact stop reading here and go and stick it on, go on, I dare you, I double dare you moth...(stop that, no need for two f-bombs in such close proximity, it cheapens us all).
Review: Snow Patrol – The Forest Is The Path
With seven albums to their name, over 20 years as a band, and a significant lineup change last year, Snow Patrol have certainly faced some challenging times. However, they have emerged stronger, firmly establishing their place in the music industry. Their evolution is evident with each release, and their new album, 'The Forest Is The Path’, may very well be their finest work yet.
Review: Boston Manor – Sundiver
Boston Manor, today, release their fifth album ‘Sundiver', a record which continues to carve out their unique niche in the post-hardcore and alternative scenes. The band, known for merging intense instrumentation with introspective lyrics, expands their sonic palette on this record.
Review: Los Bitchos – Talkie Talkie
Running in hot with their second album, Talkie Talkie on City Slang Records, Los Bitchos sprinkle their joyful global sounds that…
Review: Beabadoobee – This Is How Tomorrow Moves
Beabadoobee marks her return to the indie music scene with a memory-ridden, personal sentiment: This is How Tomorrow Moves. It's an authentic and unfiltered body of material, with all fourteen tracks proving there is no ceiling for her songwriting ability.
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.
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.