It’s got it all. It has everything that their more successful counterparts like Franz Ferdinand have to offer but with a darker and more rock ‘n’ roll edge. It leaves a very pleasant aftertaste in the ears thanks to its guitar wank-less, harmonious, synth-ridden sound and is a great proper introduction to a band who everyone should know. “That modern feeling will get you in the end” they sing…well it’s certainly got me.
Review by Jason Edwards
The Others follow up their straight edge punk classic “This is For The Poor” with this; a song about QPR legend Stan Bowles. Songs about footballers don’t normally evolve past stadium chants about either how they should go back to their own countries or about how god-like they are. This however contains genuinely witty lyrics, an all out mosh worthy tune and immense passion. It’s hard not to like it really. It might not be the defining song of the band’s career so far but it shows them becoming more and more primed for commercial success and shows their potential for shining bright and representing Britain’s working classes for a long time yet. I have a sudden urge for a pie and some Bovril….hmmmmm.
Review by Jason Edwards
I always associated Biffy with hardcore/screamo but this single smashes this theory as they have managed to sound like the younger brothers of Idlewild, and convincingly so. It’s not a typical sound that they have managed to produce on this album. They’ve produced a genre hopping song that will appeal to a wide audience and is already creeping up my list of “Favorite Songs of the Moment”. Why do I need the sweet harmonious sounds of Rooney when I can, in a rather paradoxical fashion, have the sweet harmonious sounds of Biffy Clyro…innnnnnteresting.
Review by Jason Edwards
I don’t know whether it’s a call to fat people to lose some weight with its constant shouts telling us to “Burn it off” or whether we should be burning up the dance floor with its gloriously catchy rhythm and distorted, lively, chaotic guitars. They may have gospel keyboards and might not be the most attractive of folk, but they are OK to like. With one of their B-sides having been edited by DJ Shadow, these guys have definite street cred. So whip out that chequered shirt, pull on those tight jeans and get yourself a nice pair of “proper” shoes and enjoy this…the old version of the new rock revolution. Wonderful!
Review by Jason Edwards
Well why hold back a band with tunes like this? It’s Placebo with northern accents. It’s Bloc Party going through a troubling mid-life crisis. It’s Morrissey with less grey hair. They’ve managed to produce yet another single that is further proof to the media that their sudden rise to fame is not simply due to their record company pushing them too hard, but because they are genuinely talented enough to carry such a burden on their shoulders. The Departure…are only just arriving.
Review by Jason Edwards
Could Dedalus possibly be more Irish? There they are in leprechaun suits, gleefully strumming their little aieelhr banjoes (registered trademark of Real, Non-Made Up Oirish Instrument Names Inc.) and handing out pots of gold..... No I'm sorry, I must stop doing this. It's not big, and nor is it clever. While their lyrical stylings are unmistakably of The Green Isle; due to an admirable refusal to tone down their singer's strong native accent à la The Futureheads; they are in fact fantastic, and officially the best thing since Guiness and soda bread. Shimmery, summery, guitar use, uncannily like that of Dave Keuning and Mark Stoermer in parts, is blended with driving percussion and lyrics which actually tell a story. Almost Parallel, come to think of it, reminds me of Midnight Show by the lovely Mr. Flowers et al. I'd even go as far as to say that these young people were the Irish Killers, were their songs not a breath of fresh air and in no way a fashionable cop-out. And also because track two makes me think of some unspecified Razorlight song for some reason. Which is a good thing. Buy it buy it buy it!
Politik, on the other hand, are not so good, and could make you ponder the wisdom of rushing out to buy the CD for its first half. To be honest, they are extremely lucky to be sharing this issue with Dedalus, in an ingenious marketing ploy that would make Richard Branson proud. However, I must admit that in their own way they are good - if you like that sort of thing - they just aren't my personal cup of tea. But if your cup of tea happens to be a bit punky, a bit emo - then go for it, this band are the way forward, and you get four whole tracks for your listening pleasure.
Review by Anne-Marie Pattenden
B-sides: more of the same, except that this time I can no longer be bothered to listen to the words.
Review by Anne-Marie Pattenden
Mansun are no more, they decided to call it a day earlier on this year. As a farewell they are releasing a greatest hits collection and lots of unreleased material. Included in that is two new songs “Slipping Away” and “Getting Away” which are being released as their last single. Established in the mid-nineties and sounding a world away from Brit Pop they had a hit with one of the anthems of that decade with “Wide Open Space”. Having not really bothered with them after that and now coming back to them nearly 10 years later their sound has not changed and their epic sound feels dated now. “Slipping Away” offers nothing new, it just reminds us of past truimphs, which is maybe their point. Their farewell might slip away unnoticed by the masses but I’m sure they will be hugely missed by their fans.
Review by Sonia Pagliari
'Note to self- be erect by half past ten' so begins this lovely lovely love song, a better opening line not heard since 'All of your friends are cunts, your mother is a ballpoint pen thief' on this band's previous album. Here, mclusky drop the whole *ugh* act- that is, Tourettes-y vocals, radio unfriendly rhythms- to make a wondrously humble and hummable story of sexpectations. Imagine Sum 41 serenading Avril Lavigne reading Keats' poetry as a combine harvester mows them all down. In essence, it's clasic mclusky through and through- concise, crisp and far too clever for risible radio playlists.
Review by Chris Field
Watch the video for 'She Will Only Bring You Happiness' here
Review by Ian Viggars
Review by Ian Viggars
Review by Ian Viggars
The second the title track starts, with it's intertwining guitar tones and shimmering drums, you just know you're in the presence of something slightly special.
Sure, the lyrics may sound a little amateur, but rest assured. The beauty of this band lies in the deceptively intricate melodies, counter-acting the simple words. It's all elementary, my dear music listener.
Y'see, The Departure are one of these bands who will produce you a hit song like this (went top 30 in the charts), then will not only stay indie, but will keep on churning out song after song of the same quality, but with a different shade of darkness to each one.
They will haunt you, make you shake your arse like it's grown it's own sub-woofer and make you jive like James Brown on Viagra all at once. Everybody, I introduce to you, the mighty, the amazing, The Departure (and I didn't mention Joy Division once).
Review by Jon Fisher
The press release with this CD carries the quote "Best new band in the country!" courtesy of a Mister John Peel. Which means that, A) they'll never have any commercial success, whatsoever. And B) this could go either way. They could be a gem that Peel has unleashed to a baying public, eager to be even more underground than the kid next door, or they could be shit.
They tiptoe that line quite finely, drawing comparisons to The Darkness. That's all I'll say about that.
With that in mind, the first track manages to avoid the cliched lyrics about love and whatnot, and just concentrates on being a hard-rocking, foot-stomping anthem with expertly-crafted harmonies and luscious tones right across the board. John Peel-approved or not, this is a stand-alone wonderful track.
The others groove to a lesser extent, but really try and check out 'Straight-face' if you can. You'll be squealing the chorus for days.
Review by Jon Fisher
Think, Alanis Morissette, a backing band too polite to swear, let alone make good music, and a lengthy stay in a second-rate studio with only one half-baked idea to last you a whole E.P..
This is truly the most bland CD I have ever had the displeasure of listening to and one listen was quite enough to come up with this anti-appraisal. I've been informed that they are a wonderful live band and come off very well in the gig circuit. The charisma needed for that to be true is sadly lacking here.
Every second epitomises everything that is wrong about Dido and music, then doesn't rise above that.
Dire.
Review by Jon Fisher
The hardest working and most commercially viable patron of the current Grime scene to date comes back with his second album in just over a year, putting paid to the long-standing theory that Mercury-winning acts just...die.
This single precedes 'Showtime',
this East Londoner's hotly-tipped sophomore release. It can only be described
as a sign of things to come, with the whole album following the new preferred
style of dirtier tunes, grinding
grooves and biting lyrics.
He addresses himself as 'young star Dizzee Rascal', less as a move of an overwhelming change in ego and more as a sideways swipe at the music industry trying so hard to put him on a pedestal.
He is part of London's evolving scene as much as anyone and Dizzee knows this. And it's nice to see someone who hasn't risen far above his station the minute fame strokes his young face. Long may it continue.
Review by Jon Fisher