The Crispies - Noose'N'Go

1.    Who are these try hards?

These ne'er-do-wells are The Crispies, a garage punk-pop band from Austria, Vienna. The Crispies have been whinging about how good they've got it since 2014 and have one album to their name. Noose'N'Go (Oct'16) is the second single off their debut album Death Row Kids (Oct'16).

2. Has the tune got the goods?

Oh fuck yeah. Noose'N'Go rolls along at a lackadaisical speed but the drums thump at heartbeat pace, a rusty riff rides point and the vocals wail along. A slow-burner but a primal, garagey, masterpiece emerges covered in welts and stinking of piss and blood.

3. Who do these rock lords sound like?

The Jesus and Mary Chain, Cloud Nothings and The Arctic Monkeys (if they had sand). 

4. What's the good word from the press? 

“Unrelenting” – The Gap. 

“Piercing vocals embody emotional desperation” – Music Export. 

“Another belting track from one of the greatest new bands in rock’n’roll” – YouTube Comments. 

5. Which bands have put the squeeze on The Crispies?

Two of the bands to inspire The Crispies are Bass Drum Of Death and Ezra Furman.

6. Why should I give Noose'N'Go a lash? 

The tune is primal. Nasty. Dark. 

7. Do these lads have any more bangers?

Bad Blood is the band's best. A skeezy, stripped down punk track that sashays through the door of the club with swagger and then proceeds to propel the heaving mass of humanity, one and all, to Valhalla.

8. Any more words chubby whacker?

This band of brothers all graduated from the same music school together and are all left-handed.

“She don’t know, where to go”

44^th Sunset are an indie pop band from Perth, Australia. They have recorded a few E.P.'s and sound a bit like New Politics, Youngblood Hawke or Young The Giant. 44th Sunset are influenced by Avril Lavigne, Linkin Park and Jay Z. In 2014 they had their debut single Caesar (2012) when they were 17 years old.  Caesar is a mainstream indie pop-rock cracker and a song ABC described as “super catchy indie pop.”

 

“Offer your body and soul,

I’m sure he’ll try it”

Ladybug and The Wolf - Have A Bite On Me

1.    Who are these mutts?

Ladybug and The Wolf are a deep folk rock band from Saint Etienne, France. They started playing together in 2013. Have A Bite On Me (Oct’16) is the second single from their debut album Mammatus (Oct’16).

2. What's Have A Bite On Me about then? 

Have A Bite On Me is a languid folk-pop song with sweet harmonies and a choral chorus.


3. Who do Ladybug and The Wolf sound like?

Great Lake Swimmers, The Avett Brothers and The Strumbellas.


4. What's the good word from the press? 

“A refreshing voice and sound” – YouTube Comments. 

“Awesome I just love it!” – YouTube Comments.

“A new work of art” – YouTube Comments.

5. Who put the sincere in Ladybug and The Wolf's music?

Ladybug and The Wolf were influenced by The Do and The Lumineers. 


6. Why should I give Have A Bite On Me a listen?

Have A Bite On Me is like missing a love from afar. Sweet sorrow. Earthy folk-pop without the cheesy insincerity that comes with the likes of The Strumbella's and the Avett Brothers. 


7. Do Ladybug and The Wolf have any more good songs?

Don't Pretend has a snappy shuffle. A good 'un.


8. Any more words mon amie?

Diddly squat. 

“Well I fell from my tree”

Christine and The Queens is Heloise Letissier from Nantes, France. She has been making electronic pop music since 2008 and has recorded one album and a string of E.P.’s. Her album Christine and The Queens (2014) was a top ten album around the world, reached number 2 on the U.K album charts, and was equally loved by critics rating a 85% on Metacritic. Spin Magazine described the album as, “brilliant in it’s quiet confidence, it’s willingness to intrigue rather than stun.” The most popular English single from the album wasTilted (2015) a sparse synth-pop tune with an emotive centre and a word to say about sexual identity. 

“I’m actually good,

Can’t help it if we’re tilted”

SWMRS- Hannah

1.    Who are the lads?

SWMRS are are a surf/pop/punk band from Oakland, California. Drive North (Feb'16) is their third album, albeit the first two came under the name Emily's Army. Hannah (Feb'16) is an album track that got a video in October.

2. What's this Hannah like then?

Like an indulgent Ramones song on Valium, banged out on a lazy Sunday with Pro Tools. Sleepy but catchy. The lyrics hit the spot. About indulgence. 

3. Who do SWMRS sound like? 

FIDLAR, The Ramones, Wavves, The Frights and Twin Peaks. 

4. What have the press said about Hannah? 

“A slow, dreamy song” – Cryptic Rock.

“A very odd song” – Rattle Mag.

“More mellow” – Michigan Daily.

5. Which bands have influenced SWMRS?

The Ramones, The Clash, The Beach Boys, Public Enemy and Weezer are a few of their influences.


6. Why should I give Hannah a lash? 

Because the lyrics are vaguely amusing and the tune doesn't suck balls.


7. Do SWMRS have any other notable efforts?

Sure they do! Figuring It Out is top of the pops, rocks as hard as a prison rapist's hard-on and has gang vocals. Miley is punk rock done proper. Proper, proper.


8. Any more words Bozo?

Drive North was produced by FIDLAR singer Zac Carper. 

“My eyes look like diamonds, the boys all be trying,

But those boys don’t understand me”

Havana 3 am were a British/American rockabilly band with a heavy Latino influence formed by The Clash bass player Paul Simonon. They recorded two long players from 1986 - 1996. Havana 3am's first self-titled album Havana 3am (1991) was the essential album that All Music said, "has a tense pumping energy.” Reach The Rock was a minor radio hit and the best tune on the album. The initial spaghetti-Western sound settles into a lovely ska bounce before cracking into a straight rock song. It's worthy.

“One bad move leads to another”

Pop Cult - Sunday Mourning

1.    Who are these rock heroes? 

Behold the majesty of Pop Cult an indie rock-revivalist band from the Sunshine Coast, Australia. The champs have had their shoulder to the musical wheel since 2015 and Sunday Mourning (Sept'16) is their third nugget of gold. Sunday Mourning is the lead single from Pop Cult's debut E.P. Cult Classics (Nov’16). 

2. What kind of magic are they weaving this time around?

Sunday Mourning is gentle pop-rock comedown music that slides quietly along infecting your soul. Harks back to English indie of the 90's and grunge in equal measure.

3. Who do Pop Cult sound like? 

The Smashing Pumpkins, The Las, Primal Scream, Oasis, The Who and The Rolling Stones.

4. What have the freedom fighters in the press said about Sunday Mourning?

“Pretty and melodic on the surface but dealing with darker themes underneath” – The Music.

“Quirky indie music that gets stuck in your head” – UK Mix Forums.

“A great pop song with the catchiest of hooks” – Third Outing.

5. Which bands are Pop Cult followers of?

Some of the main Pop Cult influences are E.L.O. , T. Rex, The Velvet Underground, Big Star and Teenage Fanclub.  


6. Why should I give Sunday Mourning a whirl?

Because you love 90's indie and grunge and need a comedown melody.


7. Do Pop Cult have any other good tunes?

Fuck yes. Feels Right is a Primal Scream-esque, gospel tinged, retro-classic. Gotta Keep Lovin' is a cruisy indie rocker with a healthy lash of Madchester. 

8. Any more words chief?

Not a dilly.

“It’s Sunday morning and I feel so low” 

The Picturebooks are a German garage blues-rock duo. Playing together since 2005 they have five long players on the books. The Picturebooks mind of The Kills, The Black Keys or The White Stripes; but with grit. Your Kisses Burn Like Fire is the lead single from the album Imaginary Horse. Punk News called the album “vicious, modern rock and roll” and New Noise Magazine said the song, “oozes sensuality, starting slow and smooth before rising into a roaring climax, that levels off again into a wave of dirty blues rock.”

“Drunk and sunken pride”

We Are Z - Goldigaz

1.    Who are these rock’n’roll storm troopers?

We Are Z are an indie pop rock band with theatrical overtones. Flouncing out of London, England, but with four French members, they have been bringing joy to our lives since 2014 and have a handful of singles to their name. Goldigaz (Sept'16) is a stand-alone single at the minute but their is a debut album in the works.

2. What's this Goldigaz about then?

A bit of social commentary y'know? About the endless search for scratch. The tune has a carnival, vaudeville, sound, and bounces harder that a Thai teens tits at a Bangkok Coyote bar. 

3. Who do We Are Z sound like?

Felix Hagan and The Family. Brings. Devo.

4. What have the capitalist lapdogs in the press said about Goldigaz?

“Undeniably unique” – Gig Wise. 

“Ecstatic dizzy joy with darkened eerie and mysterious undertones” – Indie Buddie. 

“Oozing with instrumental flair” – Press Party.

5. Which bands have put the flash into We Are Z?

Some of the bands that have inspired We Are Z are Devo, The Talking Heads, Vampire Weekend, Metronomy and James Brown.

6. Why should I give Goldigaz a geez?

One of these tunes is not like the others. It's Goldigaz.

7. Do We Are Z have any more of these lush treasures?

Sure as shit they do. Airbrush has a word about vanity and beauty obsession while bringing a thin rock wedge to play. Knucklehead has a 80's Duran Duran-esque bombast to it. Fucking gems. No word of a lie.

8. Any more words kind sir?

The bass and keyboard player, Archie, is a seasoned session musician who has put in the hard yards for Beyonce and Pharell Williams among others.

“Listen up monsters to the tale I tell,

Every lost souls on the road to hell”

Dreamers are an alternative rock band from Brooklyn, New York, by way of Seattle. Belting out the tunes since 2014 they have one long player under their belts. Dreamers are similar to Young The Giant, New Politics or Imagine Dragons. They are influenced by The Smiths, Arctic Monkeys, Weezer and Iggy Pop. Wolves (You Got Me) (2014) was their debut single and, as is so often the case, the cream of the crop. Wolves (You Got Me) is a catchy tune without too much polish that Pop Matters said“is able to rise above the masses.”

“You got me brainwashed, you got me so lost,

You got me fucked up like you”

STRFKR - Never Ever

1.    Who are these grips? 

STRFKR or Starfucker are an indie synth/pop/rock band from Portland, Oregon. Formed in 2007 they have recorded five albums. Never Ever (Feb'16) is the first single to slide off their fifth album Being None, Going Nowhere (Nov'16).  

2. What kind of tune have they rustled up? 

Never Ever is a smooth slip of toe-tapping synth-pop that slinks along without piercing your consciousness. Head-nodding, bum-bouncing, bubblegum.

3. Who do STRFKR sound like?

MGMT. Indie Shuffle  compared Never Ever to Of Montreal, Discovery and Van She.

4. What is the good word from the press? 

“An infectious sing-along melody” – Hypetrak. 

“Bursting with their signature danceablity” – Transversomedia.

“Warm, gooey, synth-heavy indie-pop” – W Week.

5. Who put the bounce into STRFKR? 

Some of the band's influences are hip-hop (Gucci Mane, BigBoi), punk (Fugazi, Nirvana) and pop (Michael Jackson, Cyndi Lauper) and synth-pop (Giorgio Moroder and New Order).

6. Why should I give Never Ever a spin on the jukebox?

Never Ever has a cerebral, body-moving, groove.

7. Do STRFKR have any more good songs?

Boy Toy is the one you want. Chaotic, spacey and concise synth-pop.

8. Anything else muppet?

No sir.

“Soft velvet and candle light,

Little fears that you keep inside”

Vance Joy is Australian indie folk pop musician James Keogh. His debut album Dream Your Life Away (2014) was an immediate success topping the charts in Australian and making it into the top ten in many other countries. Vance Joy sounds like Mumford & Sons, Ed Sheeran and Boy & Bear. Some of his influences are Paul Kelly, The Pogues and The Whitlams. The second single off Dream Your Life Away was the hugely successful single Riptide (2013). The tune made it to number one on the U.S alternative charts, top 10 in the U.K and became the longest charting single in Australian history. Riptide has sold a million copies worldwide and has 140 million YouTube plays. It's an intimate, acoustic song and catchy as chlamydia. 

“I was scared of dentists and the dark,

 I was scared of pretty girls and starting conversations”