The Kooks - Be Who You Are

1. Who are The Kooks?

The Kooks are a commercially successful indie pop rock band from Brighton, England. They started in 2004 and put down four long players. Be Who You Are (March'17) is a new single cut from their greatest hits album Best Of... So Far (May'17). 

2. Does Be Who You Are cut the mustard? 

Be Who You Are is a nostalgic reminder of what The Kooks used to do well; mawkish romance juxtaposed by a frisky, laddish, singalong. Nevermind that Be Who You Are has as much substance as cotton candy. With lyrics like, “Be who you are, baby you’re a star,” it's corny and it's supposed to be.

3. Who do The Kooks sound like? 

The Fratellis, Kasabian and Kaiser Chiefs. 

4. What have the rags said about Be Who You Are? 

“A fun, bright cut that is a pleasant blast from the past” – Baeble.

“As loveable as ever; all chanting chorus and feverish hook” – TMRW. 

“Upbeat and emits a positive vibe” – Wavebyte. 

5. Which bands have influenced The Kooks? 

Some of their influences are The Police, The Rolling Stones, Blur, The Strokes and The Libertines. 

6. Why should I listen to Be Who You Are? 

Because you like rollicking indie pop numbers with a little maudlin on the side. Because we all need a little frivolity. 

7. What are The Kooks best songs?

Naive obviously. It was the bands fourth single from their debut album and is The Kooks best selling single to date. Bad Habit from their last album, Listen (2014), is a good 'un and London Town is sound as a pound.

8. Any more words? 

Legs. 

“Never be a slave to your own name”

The Kaiser Chiefs are a successful indie rock band from Leeds, England. They have six albums on their roll of honor. Kaiser Chiefs are similar to Kasabian, The Kooks and Franz Ferdinand. They are influenced by The Clash, Blur and The Kinks. I Predict A Riot (2004) was the second single from Kaiser Chiefs' debut album Employment (2005). The poor bastards peaked early because it remains their best, and most well known, song. Drowned In Sound said this indie rock anthem has “a force not unlike a Boeing 747” that “makes you want to bounce up and down like a nutter.” I Predict A Riot is the musical essence of a horrible fucking menace.

“Girls scrabble around with no clothes on,

To borrow a pound for a condom,

If it wasn’t for chip fat they’d be frozen”

Kasabian - In Love With A Psycho

1. Who are Kasabian? 

Kasabian are an indie rock/dance band from Leicester, England, making music since 1997. The band are commercially successful with their last four albums making it to number one in the U.K. album charts. In Love With A Psycho (March’17) is the first single from their sixth album For Crying Out Loud (April’17). 


2. What have they got? 

In Love With A Psycho is radio-friendly meh that grows on you insidiously. A hummable chorus that becomes a bit of an earworm. Playlist filler.


3. Who do Kasabian sound like?

They are often compared to Primal Scream, The Stone Roses, and The Happy Mondays.

4. What have people said about In Love With A Psycho?  

“A sweet and hypnotic single” – 411 Mania.

“A naggingly catchy perfect pop tune” – Louder Than War.

“Amiable and still enjoyable” – The Edge.

5. Which bands have inspired Kasabian? 

Key influences on this album are Public Enemy, Bruce Springsteen and The Stooges. Elsewhere they have mentioned Oasis and Led Zeppelin as big influences.

6. Why should I listen to In Love With A Psycho? 

Because it's a good 'un. Because it's a gateway to better Kasabian songs.

7. What are Kasabian's best songs?

Comeback Kid, an album track from the new album, is a sublime retro-sixties banger. Bumblebee has swagger and a taint breaking chorus. From there it's "hey diddle diddle and straight down the middle" with two of their breakthrough hits from their debut album; Club Foot and Eez-Eh. 

8. Any more words?

Kasabian guitarist, Serge Pizzorno, wrote and produced For Crying Out Loud. 

Time To Change, a mental health organization in England, weren’t thrilled with Kasabian’s choice of lyrics saying they had used a “sad and tired” stereotype.

“Jibber, jabber, at the bargain booze,

And reciting Charles Bukowski, I got nothing to lose”

Shortstraw are a popular indie rock band from Johannesburg, South Africa. They have been making music since 2007 and have made three albums. Shortstraw sound like Good Charlotte, New Politics and Al Bairre. They are influenced by Foals, Paul Simon and Taking Back Sunday. Keep It In The Family (Nov'16) is the third single from the mini-album Those Meddling Kids (March'17). Keep It In The Family is mosh-pit filling, pop punk, with a stone to throw at absent fathers.

“Go tell your father in Santiago,
I got his daughter tied to my tree”

The Charlatans - Plastic Machinery

1. Who are The Charlatans? 

The Charlatans are an indie rock band from Northwich, England. They started in 1988 and were part of the Madchester scene of the late eighties and early nineties. Plastic Machinery is the first single from their thirteenth album Different Days (May'17). 

2. What kind of tune is Plastic Machinery? 

The guitar riffs keep Plastic Machinery grounded as the vocals float in the ether. A perfect throw back to a distant era. 

3. Who do The Charlatan's sound like? 

The Charlatans sound like The Stone Roses, The Happy Mondays, and The Courteeners. 

4. What have the press said about Plastic Machinery? 

“Crunching, soulful” – Clash. 

“The much loved outfit continue in their rich vein of form” – Tenement TV.

“Sounding as fresh as day one” – YouTube Comments.

5. Which bands influenced The Charlatans? 

The Charlatans main influences are Bob Dylan, The Happy Mondays, The Stone Roses, The Rolling Stones, and Joy Division. 

6. Why should I listen to Plastic Machinery? 

Because you like to pay your respects to English rock'n'roll royalty. Because the lads sound fresh as a daisy. 

7. What are the best Charlatan's songs? 

The Only One I Know is the classic, Stones Rosey, tune from their debut album. Come Home Baby has a joyous singalong chorus and is the stand out track from their last album. One To Another is a Happy Mondays-esque tune from the 1997 album Tellin' Stories. 

8. Any more words?

Johnny Marr (The Smiths, The The, The Cribs) and  Anton Newcombe (The Brian Jonestown Massacre) played guitar on Plastic Machinery. Pete Salisbury (The Verve) is on drums. 

Different Days is co-produced by Jim Spencer (Oasis, The Cribs, The Vaccines). 

Davey Dynamite is a punk/folk musician from Chicago, Illinois, playing since 2010. Old school punks love his latest album Holy Shit (2016). Davey Dynamite is similar to Against Me! and Frank Turner. He is influenced by Neil Young, Frank Turner and The Clash. Friends Not Fans (2012) is a heartfelt tribute to the punk scene and a stinging rebuke to bands who treat fans as consumers (and a catchy-as-chlamydia punk tune).

“Let’s make one thing fucking clear,

I wouldn’t be here if you weren’t here”

Dan Auerbach - Shine On Me

1. Who is Dan Auerbach? 

Dan Auerbach is the guitarist/singer for The Black Keys, a producer, a member of Arcs and a solo artist. He is from Akron, Ohio, and he has released two solo albums. Shine On Me (March'17) is the lead single from his second solo album Waiting On A Song (June'17). 

2. What kind of song is Shine On Me? 

Shine On Me is middle of the road, radio friendly, pop rock with a singalong chorus. Generic Americana a'la The Traveling Wilburys.

3. Who does Dan Auerbach sound like? 

The Traveling Wilburys, Pete Townsend and Cage The Elephant.

4. What have the press said about Shine On Me? 

“A jaunty tune” – Stereogum.

“Plucky, uptempo” – Rolling Stone. 

“Bright and sweet” – NPR.

5. Which bands have influenced Dan Auerbach? 

Some of The Black Keys influences include The Clash, T.Rex, Muddy Waters, Junior Kimbraugh and The Cramps.

6. Why should I give Shine On Me a listen? 

Because you like the easy going groove of populist Americana. Because you like Dire Straits.

7. What are Dan Auerbach's best songs? 

Check out the modern bluesy rock of I Want Some More and The Prowl.

8. Any more words? 

Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits) recorded the rhythm guitar for Shine On Me. 

“I’m like a four leaf clover,

Cause I hide from everyone”

The Black Keys are a commercially and critically successful blues rock band from Akron, Ohio. Their last album debuted at number one on the American Billboard Charts and was top 5 around the world. The Black Keys started making music in 2001 and have recorded eight albums. They sound like The White Stripes and Arctic Monkeys. The Black Keys are influenced by Howlin' Wolf and Robert Johnson. Gold On The Ceiling was one of three number one singles (Modern Alternative Rock Charts) for The Black Keys from their seventh album El Camino (2011).  Pitchfork thought Gold On The Ceiling sounds “just filthy, like George Thorogood scoring porn, all raunchy organ and licentious hand-claps.”

“Down in the waves,

She screams again”

3108 - The Shining

1.    Who are 3108? 

3108 are a lo-fi, garage pop band from London, England.  The Shining is from their second album BLU (Feb’17). 

2. What kind of song is The Shining? 

An eclectic, melodic, garage-pop tune with organ and a sense of humor. Great phrasing, a choppy, dancefloor-filling, rhythm, and God honest, hard cranking, garage guitar elevate The Shining into a sparkling pop gem. 

3. Who do 3108 sound like? 

BRONCHO, The Clean and Kissing Is A Crime.

4. What have the press said about 3108? 

“Thrilling homemade pop” – All Music.

     “The work of a lo-fi master” – All Music. 

      “Brilliant future pop” – All Music.

 5. Who are 3108's influences?

The main influences are Joy Division, The Velvet Underground, The Ramones, Pere Ubu and Monks. There's also love for The Stone Roses, The Happy Mondays, The Charlatans, James and The Wedding Present too.


6. Why should I give The Shining a listen? 

Because you appreciate under-appreciated indie pop rock gems. Because you need to feel the rush of discovering music with a genuine heart. Because of the spectacular sound of the relentless guitaring in the background.


7. What are 3108's best songs? 

One Of The Ceased is sweet garage pop with guitar cranking hard in the background. Ease Up does anything but; careening forward at breakneck pace, barely lasting two furious minutes. Neon Crush is bubbling synth and bouncy frenetic rhythms.


8. Any more words?  

Kyle Hill writes and records all the music on his albums.

 The Shining was featured on Jonathan Hunt and Cloudy Sc's Indie Rock Playlist (March'17). 

“Breaking plates, kicking through doors,

Effing, blinding, shaking the floor”

The Growlers are a surf-garage rock band from Dana Point, California. They have been playing since 2006 and have six long players. The Growlers sound like together PANGEA, The Night Beats and The Allah La's. They are influenced by The Beach Boys, Lee Scratch Perry and Johnny Cash. Humdrum Blues is a song from their E.P. Not. Psych! (2013). Humdrum Blues is an off-kilter sixties pop song with a genuine heart.

“She wants something tangible, like a ring on her hand”

Otherkin - Bad Advice

1. Who are Otherkin? 

Otherkin are a punk band from Dublin, Ireland. They have been the life and soul of the party since 2013 and have two E.P's to their name. Bad Advice (March'17) is a standalone single. 


2. What kind of noise are they touting? 

Bad Advice channel old school punk influences like The Clash, marry it with new century indie like The Strokes, to create a sprightly little foot-tapper. 


3. Who do Otherkin sound like? 

The Strokes, The Vaccines,  and Jamie T.  


4. What have the sycophantic press said about Bad Advice?

“Ferociously energetic” – With Guitars.

“Furious, old-fashioned, punk rock” – Old Mackerel.  

“A ferocious two minute twenty second assault” – Even The Stars.

5. Which bands have inspired Otherkin?

Some of their main influences are The Clash, The Ramones, The Strokes, Weezer and Thee Oh Sees.

6. Why should Iisten to Bad Advice? 

Because it mangles punk, garage and new century indie rock rather well.

7. What are Otherkin's best songs? 

Ay Ay is anthemic; and I Was Born and I Feel It aren't too shabby. 

8. Any more words?

Doc Martens sponsor the group. 

“It was about 20 to 10,

When you took a pinch of my bad advice”

Jamie T is a popular English indie rock/alternative hip hop musician from London, England. He has been hammering out tunes since 2005 and has three albums in the vaults. Jamie T sounds similar to The Clash, RAT BOY and The Kooks. He is influenced by Oasis, Wu-Tang Clan and The Clash. Robin Hood is an album track from Jamie T's third album Trick (2016).  NME called Robin Hood “insanely fun” and said it is “essentially a full-on tribute to his idols Mick Jones and Joe Strummer c. 1980.”J

“Brought up in the backstreets,

Wouldn’t change if he could”