Author: Ben Davis
Martina Topley Bird - The Blue God
Martina Topley-Bird, The Blue God Album Review After her Mercury-nominated 2003 debut, Quixotic, expectations are high for Martina Topley-Bird's sophomore effort, The Blue God. Expectations which are bound to heighten thanks to the constant delays...
Review posted on 19th November 2007
The Wombats - Proudly Present A Guide to Love
The Wombats, Proudly Present A Guide to Love, Loss and Desperation Album ReviewThe Wombats have gone and done what many of us were expecting, and that's deliver an album that is often as insufferably 'wacky'...
Review posted on 19th November 2007
Film School - Hideout
Film SchoolHideout Album ReviewFilm School are a promising emerging band from San Francisco and convey the same paranoid, twitchy spirit that Radiohead did with OK Computer, more successfully than most bands have mustered. That's not...
Review posted on 19th November 2007
Midlake - Milkmaid Grand Army
MidlakeMilkmaid Grand Army E.P. EP ReviewReissued by Bella Union, presumably to capitalise on the new found popularity of the band, the Milkmaid Grand Army E.P. was originally released by Midlake in 2001, and should appeal...
Review posted on 19th November 2007
Maximo Park - Karaoke Plays
Maximo ParkKaraoke Plays Single ReviewKaraoke Plays is the fourth release from Maximo Park's second album, Our Velocity. More downbeat and less immediate than the previous two offerings, Karaoke Plays isn't the obvious choice of single...
Review posted on 19th November 2007
Stars - The Night Starts Here
StarsThe Night Starts Here Single Review Toronto's own Stars have gained considerable critical acclaim with their unique take on pop noir, and their latest single will see them continue to impress.As its name suggests, The...
Review posted on 19th November 2007
Bloc Party - Flux
Bloc PartyFlux Single Review Flux is a brand new non-album single from Bloc Party, and appropriately enough, could signal an exciting new chapter in their career.It's an exhilarating rush of a track that sees the...
Review posted on 19th November 2007
Ed Harcourt - Until Tomorrow Then
Ed HarcourtUntil Tomorrow ThenAlbum Review After five albums, the prolific Ed Harcourt has done enough to earn himself a wee retrospective. Of course, this isn't for the die-hards, the converted will already be familiar with...
Review posted on 7th November 2007
Kanye West - Graduation
Kanye WestGraduationAlbum ReviewHaving thoroughly whomped Fiddy in the not-at-all-for-publicity-even-though-they're-on-the-same-record-label retirement war, Kanye West will have every right to pat himself on the back for a job well done, because not only did this album sell...
Review posted on 7th November 2007
The Heavy - Great Vengeance and Furious Fire
The HeavyGreat Vengeance and Furious FireAlbum Review Bath’s The Heavy have emerged. After some considerable hype, with their rather ostentatiously-titled debut LP Great Vengeance and Furious Fire. While the title may lead one to expect...
Review posted on 7th November 2007
O Fracas - Factfinding
O FracasFactfinding EP Review Leeds' O Fracas are certainly an interesting prospect on the evidence of their first EP. Factfinding. While the angular guitars and arch vocals of the title track suggest a desperate lunge...
Review posted on 7th November 2007
Kid Harpoon - The First E.P
Kid HarpoonThe First E.PEP Review Kid Harpoon has been garnering praise both underground and mainstream, and is slowly gaining a sizeable fan base thanks to high profile support slots with Larrikin Love and Beirut...
Review posted on 1st October 2007
The Royal We - All the Rage
The Royal WeAll the Rage Single Review All the Rage is an exciting introduction to a potentially brilliant new band. Sounding like The Undertones partying with the B52's, The Royal We cook up a...
Review posted on 1st October 2007
Patrick Watson - Close to Paradise
Patrick WatsonClose to Paradise Album Review Close to Paradise is the second L.P. from the Canadian band Patrick Watson, and is a bold step in a new direction. While the album is arguably...
Review posted on 1st October 2007
Dykeenies - Nothing Means Everything
DykeeniesNothing Means Everything Album Review Glaswegian quintet the Dykeenies have been gaining some moderate hype from the music press for their lively gigs and catchy singles, and now they emerge with debut L.P. Nothing...
Review posted on 1st October 2007
The Dirty Projectors - Rise Above
The Dirty ProjectorsRise Above Album Review The Dirty Projectors are essentially one man, Dave Longstreth, and a revolving door of backing musicians. This album sees Longstreth further his deconstructive take on rock music, and...
Review posted on 1st October 2007
mia - Kala
M.I.A.KalaAlbum Review Since the release of her Mercury-nominated debut, Arular in 2005, M.I.A. has been courting praise and controversy on both sides of the Atlantic; even snagging the attention of prolific super-producer Timbaland.Kala is...
Review posted on 1st October 2007
Kid Acne - Romance Ain't Dead
Kid AcneRomance Ain't Dead Album Review Following the spate of bands taking pride in their regional accents, even (shudder) The Twang's brummy whining making it big; Kid Acne's emergence from the underground hip-hop scene...
Review posted on 1st October 2007
Beirut - The Flying Club Cup
BeirutThe Flying Club CupAlbum Review Like The Arcade Fire before them, Beirut are one of those special bands. Essentially the vision of 21 year old, Zach Condon, they create music utterly unlike anything else...
Review posted on 1st October 2007
Jose Gonzalez - In Your Nature
Jose GonzalezIn Your Nature Album Review In your Nature is Jose Gonzalez's first LP since 2003's Veneer, which only achieved mainstream popularity in 2005, thanks to Mr Gonzalez taking the high road and shilling...
Review posted on 1st October 2007
David Ford - Songs For The Road
David FordSongs For The Road Album Review Following high profile support slots for the likes of Richard Ashcroft and Suzanne Vega, David Ford has gained quite a cult following which could see him join the...
Review posted on 16th August 2007
Fireworks Night - As Fools We Are
Fireworks NightAs Fools We Are Album Review As Fools We Are is a wonderfully accomplished collection of skewed, dark folk songs, as ambitious as any album of its genre. Yes, Fireworks Night's second LP is...
Review posted on 16th August 2007
Akira the Don - Stunners 130
Akira the Don and Wade CrescentStunners 130 Album Review A mixtape can be a wonderful thing, personal, full of obscure gems, but get it wrong and the results could be disastrous. Luckily, Akira the Don...
Review posted on 16th August 2007
The Chemical Brothers - We Are The Night
The Chemical BrothersWe Are The Night Album Review The Chemical Brothers are as inextricably linked to the 90s as bucket hats, Noel Gallagher's eyebrow and ridiculous affluence, and on the evidence of We Are The...
Review posted on 16th August 2007
The Kissaway Trail - La La Song
The Kissaway TrailLa La Song Single Review Danish quintet, The Kissaway Trail have been garnering some small but significant airplay of late, since the release of their self-titled debut LP. The La La Song is...
Review posted on 16th August 2007
Little Dragon - Twice/Test
Little DragonTwice/Test Single Review Over the past few years, Sweden has nurtured a good line in lovely alt-pop with Peter Bjorn and John, The Concretes and Jose Gonzales gaining international acclaim. The latest act to...
Review posted on 16th August 2007
Smashing Pumpkins - Zeitgeist
Smashing PumpkinsZeitgeistAlbum ReviewIn the year of the comebacks, it was the Pumpkins one which got any self-respecting alternative rocker really excited. It's different to most of the others, like The Police, and The Eagles (CASH...
Review posted on 23rd July 2007
Air Traffic - Fractured Life
Air Traffic Fractured LifeAlbum ReviewBournemouth quartet Air Traffic have garnered some serious airplay on Radio 1 of late, thanks in so small part to being a favourite of the likes of Steve Lamacq and Zane...
Review posted on 23rd July 2007
The Rumble Strips - Girls and Weather
The Rumble Strips Girls and WeatherAlbum ReviewIt's a pity that an album as made for summer as this has to come out in 2007, a summer that will be remembered for its biblical downpours rather...
Review posted on 23rd July 2007
Prinzhorn Dance School - Prinzhorn Dance School
Prinzhorn Dance SchoolPrinzhorn Dance SchoolAlbum ReviewIt's a shame Prinzhorn Dance School decided to have a self-titled debut album, because I think something like 'Prinzhorn Dance School: We Make Listening to Music an Interminable Ordeal!' would...
Review posted on 23rd July 2007
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