Nothing But Thieves - Excuse Me

1.    Who are these happening people?

Nothing But Thieves are an alternative rock band from Southend-On-Sea, England. Started in 2012 they hit mainstream popularity in the UK with their debut album Nothing But Thieves(Oct'15) being a number one vinyl hit in the UK and top 20 on the US Billboard Rock Charts. Excuse Me is track one from the album.


2. What’s on the platter?

Excuse Me is the proof in the pudding. The first minute is just atmospheric buildup and then the tune explodes into the chorus. Fine alternative rock with spaced out backup vocals.


3. Who are Nothing But Thieves similar to?

Foals and Civil Twilight. Excuse Me has hints of Muse and Radiohead.

4. What have the rags said about Excuse Me?

“A perfect introduction to the band and their unmistakable sound” – Bring The Noise.

“One of the records most destinctive songs” – Pop Matters.

“It’s epic” – Renowned For Sound.

 

 

5. Which bands are the muse for Nothing But Thieves?

The band picked out Led Zeppelin, Arcade Fire, Radiohead, Jeff Buckley, Pink Floyd, Pixies, The Foo Fighters, Kings Of Leon, TV On The Radio, Kendrick Lamar and My Bloody Valentine as the important inspirations.

6. Why should I give Excuse Me a lash?

To see what the hype is about at the least. Massive monolith of a chorus for second.
 

7. Have Nothing But Thieves got the goods?

Trip Switch isn't too shabby.
 

8. Any more words pal?

Julien Emery produced the album and he has punched in for bands like Lower Than Atlantis, Simple Plan and Halestorm.

Nothing But Thieves picked up a support slot for Muse's UK shows in April.

“Under the gun”

 

 

 

It would be rude to go past Muse for seconds. Muse are an alternative rock band from Teignmouth, England. Letting loose with their space rock flights of fancy since 1997 they have sold over twenty million albums. Psycho came storming off the band's seventh album Drones (2015). Psycho is a fiery serve at militarism on both an individual and social level, as well as a personalinventory ,and came flinging riffs like a pissed off Greek God letting rip with the lightning. NME said Psycho “sounds like three men in a room bashing thunderously at their instruments, wringing the most eviscerating noise they can from them.”

“Your mind is just a program,

And I am the virus”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Johnny Lloyd - Hello Death

1.    Who is this rocker?

Johnny Lloyd is an indie rocker from South London. He used to front for the successful London indie rock band Tribes (2010-13). Hello Death (Feb’16) charges off his solo E.P. Dreamland (May’16). Mr Lloyd has already contributed a short player Pilgrims (2014) to muscial posterity.

 

2.    What flavor of brilliance is Hello Death?

A haunting indie rocker on the acoustic that rocks out at the end. Hello Death rewards a few repeat listens. Not instantly catchy, a slowburner and the sexy part of the song is right at the end. It takes a few listens to fully appreciate the magic, enjoying the verses with the knowledge that even better is to follow. The dividends are there for the patient.


3.    Who does Johnny Lloyd sound like?

Johnny Lloyd has been compared to Bruce Springsteen.

Hello Death recalls the indie rock anthem by Live Lightning Crashes.


4. What have the cut and paste bandits got to say about Hello Death?


“An introspective offering that features Lloyd’s signature hush, melancholic sound” – Pigeons and Planes.

“Raw new solo track” – Focus Wales.

“Introspective, honest and personal” – CDNX.

5. Which bands is Johnny Lloyd influenced by?

The bands that put the lustere in Johnny’s leather jacket are Led Zeppelin, Motown, The Velvet Underground, The Horrors and The Vaccines.


6. Why should I give Hello Death a listen?

Hello Death is a prime example of indie rock dealing with the topic of death with aplomb and the rock out at the end raises the hair on the back of your neck.


7. Does Johnny Lloyd have any more bangers?

Happy Humans (2014) is excellent.


8. Any more words about Johnny Lloyd dear scribe?


Jamie T and Hugo White of The Maccabees produced the new E.P. Dreamland.

Johnny Lloyd has been on fluffer duties for The Mystery Jets, Jamie T and The Maccabees.

“I'm taking back the old me,
Pulling him out of the dark”

Slippery seconds is from Lime Cordiale an indie pop rock band from Sydney, Australia that started in 2009. Lime Cordiale have been called a “roots infused electronic pop band” and Not That Easy (Oct’15) described as “a perfect summer jam” and “refined strong and deliberate.” Not That Easy is a stand alone single and great indie rock.

“I'm taking back the old me,
Pulling him out of the dark”

 

The Best Indie Songs of 2015 - Tiny Little Rocks

One of the best indie songs of 2015 is Tiny Little Rock’s Again (Aug ’14). Yes, it’s outside the box, but that don’t mean it don’t fucking belong there. This tune reminds me of Flying Nun songs for putting the best parts at the end, but others will be thinking of Radiohead. Either way it’s infuriating. But this is better than either of those examples.

 

Again is cool, sparse and haunting in the first three minutes but then it heats up like the rock in your pipe and makes it well worth the wait. This will be going on your repeat playlist. A car driving, house cleaning song. Or one you put on in the background of a conversation, unnoticed until people start foot-tapping and ask “Who’s this?” You only need told once. This is magic, this is Tiny Little Rocks.

 

 

 

Tiny Little Rocks is solo artist Pierre Guillaume.

He comes soulfully sauntering out of Brussels, Belgium. Again is the first release from four singles, all released in 2014.

Shit you didn't need to know:

Tiny Little Rocks have been compared with Thom Yorke/Radiohead and Muse.

Pierre Guillaume has a new Fender Stratocaster. It’s a nice guitar.

Next on is David Bowie's Tin Machine and the hard rocking wild thing that is Crack City (1989).

Your man had a big swinging pair back in the day, don’t you know?