Japandroids - Near To The Wild Heart Of Life

1.    Who are these rock demons? 

Japandroids are are a commercially and critically successful rock band from Vancouver, Canada. They combine equal parts classic rock and punk and started playing together in 2006. Near The Wild Heart Of Life (Nov'16) is the lead single, and title track, from their third album Near The Wild Heart Of Life (Jan'17). 

2. What have they got left in the tank?

Near The Wild Heart Of Life sounds like R.E.M. crossed with Death From Above 1979; heartland rock and hometown ennui versus the raging punk promise of realizing your greatest dreams with a little help from your friends. A somewhat low-key, but profound, banger. 

3. Who do Japandroids sound like? 

Death From Above 1979, Titus Andronicus and Cloud Nothings. 

4. What is the word from the cut and paste jackals in the press? 

“Letting their arena-rock DNA express itself” – Pitchfork. 

“Rollicking drums and punkish riffs” – Zumic.

“The soundtrack for dive bars and nights where nothing good happens” – Pretty Much Amazing.

5. Which bands have put the fire in Japandroids' music? 

The special influences on the new album are Townes Van Zandt and Tom Waits. The all-time influences are Husker Du, Constantines, The Stooges, The Gun Club and The Rolling Stones. 


6. Why should I give Near To The Wild Heart Of Life a lash? 

It's the kind of song that reminds you to break free and take a chance. Inspirational. 


7. Do Japandroids have any more good tunes?

The House That Heaven Built was the greatest fists-in-the-sky indie rock anthem of 2012. A classic until the end of days. The Nights Of Wine And Roses  and Continuous Thunder aren't too shabby. 


8. Any more words pal?

Near To The Wild Heart Of Life is about guitarist/singer Brian King's move from Vancouver to Toronto. 

“And it got me all fired up,

To go far away”

Titus Andronicus are a punk rock band from Glen Rock, New Jersey. Formed in 2005 they have been through a multitude of lineups with lead singer/guitarist Patrick Sickles the only constant. Patrick's main influences are Neutral Milk, Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones and The Pogues. Titus Andronicus have recorded four albums the latest being a rock opera The Most Lamentable Tragedy (2015). The second single was Fatal Flaw a song Stereogum called “truly badass” and Jonk Music “a fist pumping sing-along.”

“Waiting at the drugstore, oh yeah,

Waiting on the drug dealer all day”

Fake Laugh - Ice

1.    Who is he? 

Kamrhan Khan is a DIY indie pop musician from London. He has two E.P.'s and a handful of singles on the market. Ice (July'16) is from his first E.P. Ice (July'16). 

2. What's the tune up to? 

Ethereal vocals float above a perky rush of crunchy rhythm guitar overlaid with occasional flourishes from the keys. Ice is a simple bedroom indie pop melody that gently beguiles you after the initial sugar rush of punky guitar. 

3. Who do Fake Laugh sound like?

The Buzzcocks, Parquet Courts and PAWS. 

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

“More rock based than previous released songs” -  The Beat Juice.

“Indie pop perfection” – We All Want Someone. 

“Mixes rushed, fuzzed-up guitars with Khan’s distinctive coos” – NME. 

5. Which bands have influenced Fake Laugh?

There is talk of some love for The Beatles, The Everly Brothers and The Beach Boys, The Big Moon and Gengahr. 


6. Why should I give Ice a lash?

The rush of punky guitar at the start.


7. Do Fake Laugh have any more crackers?

Ice is top of the pile.

8. Any more words chief?

Kamrhan Khan plays in the band Oscar.  

“You’re gonna find out,

Why you’re so empty hearted”

The House Of Love are an indie rock band from London, England. They started making music in 1986, disbanded acrimoniously in 1993, and reformed in 2003. They have recorded six albums. The only album to find commercial success was their second album The Butterfly Album (1990) which made it top ten in England and sold over 400 000 copies. The single from it Shine On (1990) went top twenty U.K and top 5 American Alternative Rock charts. Shine On is an English indie anthem and a song Uncut called “a twisting, turning epic almost cast adrift in reverb…a rock behemoth trying to struggle out of an indie caste.”

“In a garden in the house of love, sitting on a plastic chair,

The sun is cruel when he hides away, I need a sister – I’ll just stay”

San Cisco - SloMo

1.    Who are they? 

San Cisco are an indie pop band from Perth, Australia. SloMo (Oct’16) is the second single from their as yet unnamed third album due in early 2017.

2. What have they got?

SloMo is a bouncy little effort of white boy funk with indie vocals. A party tune. 

3. Who do San Cisco sound like? 

Passion Pit, Grouplove and Capital Cities. 

4. What have the illustrious members of the press said about SloMo?

“Infectiously groovy” – East Of The 8th.

“A slick, funky effort” – Music Feeds.

“It darts and swaggers” – Triple J.

5. Which bands have influenced San Cisco?

Their main influences are The Turtles, The Beatles, MGMT, Vampire Weekend and The Flaming Lips. 

6. Why should I give SloMo a lash?

Because it's funky, fun and forgettable. 

7. Do San Cisco have any other good songs?

Run is the really good one and sounds like something Gorillaz would be proud of. Bitter Winter and Too Much Time Together and the quirky indie pop side of things. Lovely. 

8.Any more words?

The bass player in the band shot himself in the foot while rabbit shooting.

“We get tied up in the moment”

Carl Barat and The Jackals released their debut album Let It Reign (2015) before Carl Barat went back to the circle jerk that is The Libertines. Carl has a fondness for bands like The Clash, The Velvet Underground and Nirvana. One of three singles off Let It Reign was Glory Days, a song The Guardian called “a guttural, Clash-like, homage” from an album NME felt “crackles with delinquent fervor.” Glory Days is an apocalyptic rocker with a ska undertone and a fucking belter to boot.

“You can say goodbye to the last gang in town”

The Orwells - They Put A Body In The Bayou

1.    Who are these lords of rock’n’roll? 

The Orwells are the real deal. A garage rock band from Chicago, Illinois. The Orwells have been kicking arse and taking no names since 2009. They Put A Body In The Bayou (Oct’16) is the second single release from The Orwells' third album Terrible Human Beings (Feb’17).

2. Is their powder still dry?

Still firing but not as explosive. They Put A Body In The Bayou is the sound of fat on the lamb; caustic but not furious, ripping and tearing but not breaking the bones to suck the marrow out. A garage rock song that rolls more than it rocks and has a solid stench of The Stooges while elements of English indie rock waft around the edges too.

3. Who do The Orwells sound like? 

Twin Peaks, The Stooges and FIDLAR. 

4. What have the goons in the press said about the tune?

“A pretty undeniable hook” – Consequence Of Sound.

“Hell-raisers” – Buzzbands LA. 

“Filthy, nasty guitar music” -  Ooyuz. 

5. Which bands would The Orwells not kick out of bed for farting?

Their main influences are The Strokes, The White Stripes, Tom Petty, Twin Peaks and Led Zeppelin. 


6. Why should I give They Put A Body In The Bayou a moment of my time? 

The singers phrasing in the pre-chorus harks back to English garage rock of the 60's. It's golden. 


7. Do these red-hot rebels have anymore blinders?

A trifecta. The tip-top triumvirate of absolute blinders is headed by Let It Burn, given body by Who Needs You and rounded off by Mallrats (La La La). 


8. Any more words chief?

The new album Terrible Human Beings is primarily influenced by The Pixies.

The album is produced by Jim Abbiss who has worked fro The Arctic Monkeys, Peace, The Kooks, Kasabian and The Family Rain. 

“Good boys come in last”

WATERS are an indie pop band from San Francisco, California. They started making music in 2011 and are influenced by Weezer and Grouplove. Grouplove drummer Ryan Rabin co-produced both their albums. WATERS have toured with bands like Cold War Kids and Smallpools. Whats Real (2015) is the title track from the second album and a song Salon called “a near-perfect blend of big power pop.” 

“Just blind and drunk,

 We can never see what’s real”

Schmutzki - Hey Haters

1.    Who are these sharp dressed men?

Schmutzki are a punk pop rock band from Stuttgart, Germany. They kicked shit into action in 2011. Hey Haters (July’16) is the lead single from their second long player Spackos Forever (Aug’16). 

2. What kind of treasure is this Hey Haters? 

Football singing, verse and chorus, set to a raucous punk tune. A fighting song with a drum and vocals breakdown. Fucking perfection. 

3. Who do Schmutzki sound like? 

Blink-182 (back in the day), Offspring and Brings. 

4. What have those panty sniffers in the press said about the album Spackos Forever?

“The spirit and power of the youth” – Mwie Metal Blog.   

“Powerful and upbeat punk rock” – Kalle Rock. 

“Fine fucking tunes” – YouTube Comments.

5. Which bands flew the flag for Schmutzki?

The bands Schmutzki like the best are The Clash, The Misfits, Kraftklub and Die Toten Hosen.

6. Why should I give Hey Haters a lash?

Hey Haters will get your back up, raise your fist in the air, sing and dance like you just don't care. A rabble-rouser. 


7. Do Schmutzki have anymore of these fine fucking treasures?

Sauflied is the best song Schmutzki have to offer. Pure party in a can.


8. Any more words?

Jog on. 

Brings are a carnival rock band from Cologne, Germany. Started in 1990 they have fourteen albums under their wings. Man Musste Noch Mal 20 Sein (2005) is from their tenth album Su Lang Mer Noch Am Laave Sin. The song has more than a hint of the Scottish bagpipes to it from the guitars and is the kind of tune you'd march along singing to. Half a million views for a non-video track can't be all wrong.

The So So Glos - Dancing Industry

1.    Who are these hard chargers?

The So So Glos are a punk band from Brooklyn, New York, started in 2007. Dancing Industry (Feb’16) is the second single from their third album Kamikaze (Sept’16).

2. What's the low down on Dancing Industry? 

The tune comes bouncing out of the traps at heartbeat pace, with a fire truck siren sense of urgency and an anthemic gang chorus. Light, upbeat, passionate and joyous.

3. Who do The So So Glos sound like? 

A mix of The Clash, The Ramones and The Strokes. 

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

“Brilliantly uplifting tune” – Kerrang.

“Giddy and scuzzy” – Stereogum.

 

“Charged up” – Consequence Of Sound. 

5. Which bands ignited The So So Glos' fire?

Some of the bands that have influenced The So So Glos are The Clash, The Sex Pistols, Nirvana, Green Day and The Kinks.

6. Why should I give Dancing Industry a crack?

There is a fresh energy to Dancing Industry, with it's combination of frenetic punk rhythms and garage band, that equals the best new thing at the minute.

7. Do The So So Glos have any more bangers?

Missionary bangs a bit harder.

8. Any more words?

Kamikaze was recorded with John Reis (Rocket From The Crypt) and Mike Mogis (Rilo Kiley).

 “If you’re gonna keep up you’re gonna have to dance,

And drive an ambulance at the same time”

Larrikin Love were a London indie rock band that played music with elements of punk, reggae, folk and calypso. They lasted from 2005 - 2007 and were most often compared to The Clash, The Libertines and The Pogues. The bands biggest inspiration was The Waterboys. The band only released one album The Freedom Spark (2006) and it had the band's most popular song Happy Annie which broadens out from the reckless speed of the start into a swinging Dexy's Midnight Runners' Come On Eileen-esque barn burner.

“Children please beware,

I’m choked with fear”

Royal Canoe - Walk Out On The Water

1.    Who are the lads?

Royal Canoe are an indie pop band from Winnipeg, Canada. They have been making tunes to get down to since 2010. Walk Out On The Water (Sept'16) is a single from their third album Something Got Lost Between Here And The Orbit (Sept'16). 

2. What have they got to shout about?

Walk Out On The Water burbles along saturated in saccharine-sweet pop and unremarkable until the gospel chorus arrives. And it's a beauty. Like a fat rail; instant gratification and you'll be coming back for more far too soon.

3. Who do Royal Canoe sound like? 

The tune minds of Strangers You Know, The Young Wild or even Yeasayer.  Indie Shuffle were feeling tUnE-yArDs, Mura Masa and Hozier. Opinions. Everyone's got one.

4. What have the pricks in the press said about Walk Out On The Water?

“Fun, experimental surprises” – Ride The Tempo. 

“The chorus provides a hook that runs through your mind for hours” – The Nu World. 

“A pretty unique sound” – Indie Shuffle.

5. Which bands have put the soul into Royal Canoe?

The big influences on Royal Canoe are Beck, The Knife and Outkast. Dr Dre and Snoop Dog are thereabouts too. 

6. Why should I give Walk Out On The Water a moment of my precious time?

Indie pop. Gospel. That's the good stuff right there. A song with emotional haft and to get you on the good foot too. The chorus is a treasure.

7. Do Royal Canoe have any more good songs?

Not for my money.

8. Any more words muppet?

The album Something Lost Between Here And There was co-produced between the band and Ben H Allen who has done nine to five for Cee Lo Green, Bombay Bicycle Club. M.I.A. and Deerhunter among others. 

“I’m strong enough to bleed”

Only Real is Niall Galvin, an indie pop rock musician with a fat wedge of hip hop elements in his music. His music is similar to Beck and he has mad love for Kanye West, Dangermouse and Grimes as well as guitar music. Only Real have released one album, Jerk At The End Of The Line (2015). On that album is You Can't Get Happy, one of two hit songs off the album and a song that Stereogum described as “melodic rap sung lyrics while riding a dreamy pop groove.”

“Do you think of me at all?”