The Kooks - Pamela

1.    Who are they? 

The Kooks are one of England's most successful indie rock bands. They have been playing together since 2004 and rose to prominence with the hit single Naïve (2006) from their debut album Inside In/Inside Out .


2. What have they got?

Pamela (Nov'18) is the sixth single from their fifth album Let's Go Sunshine (Aug'18) and a favorite with the reviewers. 


3. Who do The Kooks sound like? 

The Kooks are similar to Kasabian, Kaiser Chiefs, and The Fratellis. 


4. What have the press said about Pamela?

“A classic, toothless, crowd pleaser” – Pop Matters. 

“Extremely fun to listen to” – Indie Is Not A Genre.

“Borderline pastiche punk sound” – Clash Music.

5. Which bands influenced The Kooks? 

Bob Dylan, The Everly Brothers, The Rolling Stones, Blur, and The Libertines. 

6. Why should I give Pamela a listen? 

Pamela is a high tempo throwaway piece of flimsy from a mature and popular rock'n'roll band that have rediscovered the popularity (and style) of their debut album.



7. What are The Kooks best songs?

Naïve, Be Who You Are, Down,  No Pressure, Forgive & Forget. 



8. Anything else? 

Zip.

Tokyo Police Club - DLTFWYH

1. Who are they? 

Tokyo Police Club are a popular indie rock band from New Market, Ontario, Canada. They started playing together in 2005. 


2. What?

DLTFWYH (Don’t Let Them Fuck With Your Heart) (July’18) is a single from their fourth album TPC (Oct’18). 


3. Who are Tokyo Police Club similar to? 

Arkells, Ra Ra Riot, and Said The Whale. 


4. What have the press said about DLTFWYH?

“Anticipatory verses and a crashing chorus” – Paste. 

“Essentially one long buildup to a boisterous explosion of guitars” – Consequence Of Sound. 

“A bit of alternative twang” – All Things Go Music. 

5. Which bands are Tokyo Police Club's influences? 

The Strokes, Weezer, Plastic Ono Band, Led Zeppelin, and Royal Headache. 

6. Why should I give DLTFWYH a listen? 

DLTFWYH has a structure that builds tension and releases it better than expensive Thai pussy. The influence of Led Zeppelin is evident in the song structure and the tune eschews the lighter pop of some of their previous efforts. DLTFWYH sounds like Tokyo Police Club got a new lease of life. It sounds electric. It sounds vital.

7. What are Tokyo Police Club's best songs? 

The House, Hot Tonight, and Toy Guns.

8. Anything else? 

TPC was produced by Rob Schnapf (The Vines, FIDLAR, Saves The Day).

The Frights - Over It

The Frights are a surf-punk/garage-rock band from San Diego, California. Over It (Nov'18) is the third single from their third album Hypochondriac (Aug'18) The Frights sound similar to SWMRS and FIDLAR. They are influenced by Rancid and Offspring. Zac Carper (FIDLAR) produced. Over It is the sound of a band that has hit it's stride.It sits on top of a fat, lazy riff and milks the loud/quiet dynamic until the cow is dry. Close to radio-friendly, while spiky enough not to alienate their punk fans, Over It is the best thing The Frights have done.

SWMRS - Berekely's On Fire

1.    Who are they? 

SWMRS are a pop punk band from Oakland, California. 


2. What have they got?

Berkeley’s On Fire (Aug’18) is a standalone single at the moment. SWMRS are three albums deep. 


3. Who are SWMRS similar to? 

The Frights, FIDLAR, and WAAVES. 


4. What have the press said? 

“Social commentary wrapped in churning guitars” – Paste Magazine. 

“Vibrant song” – Alt Press. 

“Thundering drums and wailing guitars” – We Are The Guard. 

5. Which bands influenced SWMRS?

Some of SWMRS main influences are The Ramones, The Beach Boys, The Clash, Public Enemy, and Weezer. 

6. Why should I give Berkeley's On Fire a listen?

The song has a word to say about far-right politics, the propaganda machine and outrage culture. They aren’t in favor of any of them! And vitriol is the best sauce for cooking pop punk songs in. Berkeley's On Fire is angry and catchy (in a Beastie Boys Fight For Your Right To Party kind of way) in equal measure. 

7. What are SWMRS best songs? 

Figuring It Out and Miley are the best SWMRS bangers. 

8. Any more words? 

The drummer is Billie Joe Armstrong's (Green Day) son.

Mother Mother - Get Up

Mother Mother are a popular indie rock band from Vancouver, Canada. Get Up (Sept'18) is the first single from their seventh album Dance Cry (Nov'18). Mother Mother have a radio-friendly indie pop/rock sound similar to Grouplove and WATERS. Mother Mother's influences are The Pixies and Dirty Projectors. Get Up is a fierce, seize-the-day song, that walks a perfect line between their pop sensibilities, indie quirkiness, and rock rage. Another vital installment from a band that brought us classics like Love Stuck and Get Out Of The Way.

Hey Geronimo - Working For Google

1.    Who are they? 

Hey Geronimo are an indie rock band from Brisbane, Australia. Working For Google (Aug'18) is the lead single from their third album CONTENT  (Sept'18). 


2. What's the song like? 

Working For Google rocks the hardest of the tunes on the generally synth heavy album CONTENT. It has the easy rocking likeability of early Weezer mixed with the humor of dance rock Aussie bands like TISM and Bluejuice. Working For Google is a banger with a sticky chorus that is better than anything else this band have ever produced. 


3. Who do Hey Geronimo sound like? 

Bands similar to Hey Geronimo include Animal House, Ball Park Music, and Kasabian. 


4. What have the press said about Working For Google?

“A memorable few minutes of edgy alternative rock” – Two Story Melody. 

“The riff is heavy as a hammer to the head” – Last Day Leaf 

“Opts to launch in with a wall of sound” – Savage Thrills. 

5. Which bands influenced Hey Geronimo? 

Generally Custard, The Beach Boys, and Weezer influenced Hey Geronimo. Although T.Rex, Dandy Warhols and Blur were direct influences on Working For Google. 

6. Why should I give Working For Google a spin?

Because you like a little nasty with your melodies; a tune with something pointed to say. 

7. What are Hey Geronimo's best songs? 

Bake A Cake, Dreamboat Jack and I'll Be There are just a few of their tasty tunes.

8. Any more words? 

CONTENT is a theme album based on a dark dystopian view of technologies influence on society.

TOUTS - Can't Blame Me

TOUTS are a punk/indie rock band from Derry, Ireland. Can't Blame Me (Oct'18) is the lead single from their third E.P. Analysis Paralysis (Nov'18). TOUTS sound like Stiff Little Fingers and The Clash. TOUTS influences are The Clash and Stiff Little Fingers! Can't Blame Me has more of a sixties sound like The Who though while despairing against the cynical tactics of modern politicians. The best TOUTS song is Political People. 

Pretty Vicious - Are You Entertained

1. Who are these fresh faced buccaneers come to save the sinking ship of rock’n’roll?

 Pretty Vicious are an indie rock/punk band from Wales. They have been playing together since 2014. Are You Entertained (Oct’18) is a cynical re-release made in the hopes of drumming up interest in the band’s debut album due in 2019.

2. What kind of tune is Are You Entertained? 

Are You Entertained strives for urgent and angry punk rock and almost lands there. It's a day late and a dollar short in every department but worthy of a golf clap.

3. Who do Pretty Vicious sound like? 

Pretty Vicious are similar to The Manic Street Preachers, VANT, and The Struts. 


4. What have the cut and paste merchants said about Are You Entertained?

“Unapologetic, raw sound” – Born Music Online.

“A primal howl of a single, crackling with electrifying energy” – It’s All Indie.

“Another new anthem” – Discovered Magazine. 

5. Which bands influenced Pretty Vicious? 

Pretty Vicious are influenced by the Sex Pistols, Iggy and The Stooges, and The Bananas.

6. Why should I give Are You Entertained a listen? 

Because it hits an amusing sweet spot lying between the god-honest anger of punk bands like (early) Manic Street Preachers and the theatrics of cock-rockers like The Struts. 

7. What are Pretty Vicious' best songs? 

National Plastics and Cave Song.

8. Any more words?

Are You Entertained is produced by Dan Austin (Twin Atlantic, Maximo Park, You Me At Six).

Salad Boys - Psych Slasher

Salad Boys are an indie rock band from Christchurch, New Zealand. Psych Slasher (Nov’17) is from their second album This Is Glue (Jan’18). They sound like R.E.M, The Bats or The Clean. Some of their influences include Blink-182 and Yo La Tengo. Psych Slasher is reminiscent of the lo-fi alternative pop of early Flying Nun; but with punk urgency and more sophistication. It might not be love at first sight but this song is worthy of a meaningful relationship.

RAT BOY - Internationally Unknown

1.    Who is RAT BOY? 

RAT BOY is Jordan Cardy from Chelmsford, England. He has been making music since 2012. Internationally Unknown (Oct’18) is the title track from RAT BOY's second album Internationally Unknown (Jan’19). 


2. What's he got? 

A commercially pleasing song that mixes hip-hop beats and radio-friendly production with faux-angsty punk. And a sticky chorus. Standard issue wank but its done well. 


3. Who does RAT BOY sound like? 

Jamie T (to a t). The Streets or Beastie Boys at a stretch. 


4. What have the copy and paste cunts said?

“Rabble-rousing riot act” – Discover Music. 

“Pure punk with LA sunshine drenched production” – Nest HQ.

“Upbeat and angsty, infectious tune” – It's Not Records.

5. Who is RAT BOY influenced by? 

The Clash, Beatie Boys, The Streets, Blur and Rancid.

6. Why should I give the tune a listen? 

Unknown Internationally is pure pop stupidity with enough of the musical trappings of angry rock (read: punk) that it just might tickle your tail feather. RAT BOY is one of the genuinely most interesting cross-genre artists England has at the moment and his (second going on third) album has some straight up punk credibility. 

7. What other tunes does RAT BOY have worth a listen? 

Revolution is genius. And No Peace No Justice with Tim Armstrong (from Rancid) has got to be done. On principle. It isn't too shabby either. 


8. Any more words? 

Unknown Internationally (the album) was knocked up in a couple of weeks after a bromance between RAT BOY and Tim Armstrong (singer from Rancid). Armstrong produced the album and at different times members of The Interrupters and Rancid lent a hand.

Team Picture - I Want Your Life Hack

Team Picture are an indie pop/rock band from Leeds. They sound like Ed The Dog, The Blinders or Clean Cut Kid.Team Picture have been playing together since 2016. (I Want Your) Life Hack (March’18) is off the mini-album Recital (June’18). (I Want Your) Life Hack was inspired by the Talking Heads but the band have six members with wildly differing tastes in music. Life Hack features fuzzy guitars and a stomping beat.

Ed The Dog - Yes Men

1.    Who is Ed The Dog?  

Ed The Dog are an indie pop/rock band from High Wycombe, England. They are fronted by Ed Wetenhall and have been at it since 2018. Yes Men (May’18) is the second single from their debut album Shame (July’18). 


2. What kind of tune is Yes Men? 

Yes Men is catchy indie pop with a quintessentially English bent. Bass heavy, self-deprecating and quirky fun. Reminiscent of Blur's better moments and Rat Boy's more recent ones while bursting from the packet with freshness.


3. Who do Ed The Dog sound like?  

Blur, Marsicans, and Team Picture.  

4. What have the press said about Yes Men?

“Ed The Dog’s signature alt-pop sound has us all tied up in knots” – Sound Sphere.

“A fervent, bass heavy track that is cram full of soul” – One Stop Record Shop.

“Analog fuzz and warm melodies” – The Line Of Best Fit.  

5. Which bands have influenced Ed The Dog?

The Strokes, Dirty Projectors, Darwin Deez, Randy Newman, The Beatles, and LCD Soundsystem. 

6. Why should I give Yes Men a spin? 

For the bass fat fucking bass and the rock outs.

7. Do Ed The Dog have any more bangers? 

Television Era is on the mark. 

8. Any more guff? 

Ed Wetenhall was the front man for Fish Tank from 2011 – 2016.