Two Door Cinema Club - Bad Decisions

1.    Who are they? 

Two Door Cinema Club are an indie pop/funk band from Bangor, Northern Ireland. Bad Decisions (July’16) is the second single from their third album Gameshow (Oct’16). 

2. What have they served up? 

Bad Decisions is fat, funky, indie-pop dancefloor filler. Very 80's pop.

3. Who do Two Door Cinema sound like?

Prince, Scissor Sisters and The 1975. 

4. What have the muppets in the press said about Bad Decisions?

“80’s nostalgia fueled sound” – Your EDM. 

“Feel-good disco-tipped dancefloor peak” – Mix Mag.

“A groovy, disco track with a pulsating bass line” – Babble Music. 

 

5. Which bands have influenced Two Door Cinema Club? 

Some of the band's main influences are Prince, David Bowie, Daft Punk, Stevie Wonder and Death Cab For Cutie. 

6. Why should I give Bad Decisions a spin? 

It'll get you shaking your ass. 

7. What are the best Two Door Cinema songs? 

Beacon is the best. Something Good Can Work is chippy indie pop and nice. Sun has a killer chorus and a little assist from the horns and I Can Talk isn't too shabby. 

8. Any more words pal? 

The album Gameshow was produced by Jacknife Lee who has worked with Twin Atlantic, U2, Silversun Pickups, Bloc Party and Weezer.

“I’ve been drinking wine,

And I just made a big mistake”

Walking On Cars are an alternative rock band from Dingle, Ireland. Walking On Cars are similar to The Script, Kodaline, The Coronas and Bastille. They are influenced by The Lumineers, Ben Howard and Coldplay. Walking On Cars debut album Everything This Way (Jan'16) went to number one in Ireland and Speeding Cars (Oct'15) was an international hit single.  Fortitude Magazine described Speeding Cars as “a gorgeous track with stunningly deep lyrics backed by haunting piano work and perfected with a ridiculously catchy chorus.”

“So if I stand in front of a speeding car,

Would you tell me who  you are, what you like”

The Zolas - Swooner

1.    Who are the lads?

The Zolas are an indie prog rock band from Vancouver, Canada, and started in 2009. Swooner (Jan’16) is the title track from their third long player Swooner (March’16).
 

2. What’s the tune like?

Swooner has a riff reminiscent of Blur's Song 2, kooky pop trimmings from a bygone era and a simple but effective breakdown. Does the job.
 

3. Who do The Zolas sound like?

Ride The Tempo compared The Zolas to Jonas Brothers and Bedouin Soundclash. Throw in The 1975 for good measure.

 

4. What have the press said?

“Rocking dance-pop with driving synths” – Gray Owl Point.

“Catchy” – Exclaim.

“Deliver an effective hook when they need to” – Unrecorded.
 

5. Which bands are responsible for The Zola’s sound?

The Zolas influences are Said The Whale, We Are The City, Hannah Georgas, Mother Mother and other stuff.


6. Why should I give Swooner a whirl?

The guitar riff lends the tune a bit of swagger.


7. Do The Zolas have any more good ones?

Meh.


8. Any more words fool?

The band and press have called Swooner a feminist anthem.

“A swooner that’s what you are”

Bronze Radio Return are an indie roots rock band from Hartford, Connecticut. Making vital indie pop rock since 2007 they have four long players in the vault and Shake, Shake, Shake bounds off their second album of the same name, Shake, Shake, Shake (2011) an album Pop Matters said, “is hook laden modern rock meant to get souls moving.”
 

“Find a drink and drain the glass as fast as you can think to”

 

 

Lisbon - Vice

 

 

1.    Who are these whippersnappers?

Lisbon are an alternative pop band from Newcastle, England. Playing together since 2012. Lisbon have a short player in the bank and a handful of singles. Vice (Feb’16) is a stand alone single.


2. What's on offer? 

Vice is a slinky, funky, big pop number sure to shake arses and with bright lashes of noodling lead guitar.


3. Who do Lisbon sound like?

The 1975 and White.


4. What do the bandits in the press have to say about Vice?

“Upbeat indie pop, a proper bouncy gem” – It’s All Indie.

“Staggeringly catchy” – Wonky Sensitive.

“Follows the same anthemic path” – We Are Going Solo.

 

5. Which bands have put the sparkle into Lisbon’s pop?

Lisbon have big upped bands like Foals, Little Comets, Lionel Ritchie, Michael Jackson, Snake Hips, FKJ, Bon Iver, Bon Iver, Tame Impala, Bombay Bicycle Club and Wolf Alice.

 
6. Why should I give Vice a taste?

The lead guitar kicks off Vice and the melody has more hook and addiction than a Thai fishing trawler. Vice is addictive indie pop with funky spangles.


7. Do Lisbon have any more bangers?

Vice is the one that crushes it.


8. More words?

Lisbon said that, “‘Vice’ is about being young, drunk, in love, troubled, and crazy all at the same time. Lyrically I wanted the song to sound like a diary entry, like some sort of confession. When you’re under pressure and you start juggling all these vices, it makes a recipe for an incredibly fun disaster.”

Vice is produced by Dan Austin who has done nine to five for Doves, The Pixies and The Enemy.

Lisbon have been on the road in 2015 fluffing for Little Comets and Eliza and the Bear.

“You got me drinking ‘till I’m sober”

Cheers Elephant are a now defunct indie pop rock band from Philadephia who fought out of Southern California and played together from 2007 to 2016. Cheers Elephant have three magnum opuses. Airliner (2015) was a stand alone single and Indie Shuffle called it, “tight, clean, feel-good indie rock.” Pop Rock Record were sure it should be Cheers Elephant’s “break through single.” Airliner is an indie anthem.

“I’ve got no silver in my silver lining”

White - Living Fiction



1. Who are they?

White are a Scottish indie disco pop band from Glascow. Living Fiction is a 2014 song re-released in January 2016 as a stand alone single.

2. What does Living Fiction sound like?

Middle of the road indie pop rock with a fat slice of funkiness. Modest ska guitar with short lead guitar lines add a modicum of bite and precedes a big 80's pop chorus that is as sticky as a slaughterhouse floor. Smooth and accomplished and ultimately with as much nutritional value as sugar.

3. Who do White sound like?

Living Fiction sounds like Bryan Ferry backed by The Police with a side dish of 70's disco. Contemporarily, here's looking at you The 1975 and Love Me.  For something left field I was minded of the indie disco of San Cisco  and the synth pop of Harriet's Irish Magaritas.

Generally the band have said they make a link between 70's to early 80's music with today and their music has evoked comparisons with David Bowie, Spandau Ballet, ABC, Franz Ferdinand, The Rakes, Hard Fi and Associate. 

4. What have the cut and paste jackals got to say?

They are falling over themselves in love and White are considered a 'buzz band'. The Daily Record hailed the “...incredible fusion of arty 80s pop and pummelling punk-funk dance groove” of Living Fiction and summarised that they are “...about to blow up big with this hit.” Scottish Fiction said Living Fiction is “a fantastically catchy song”. The Guardian made White band of the week saying Living Fiction has “... a real chance of success...” and Crack In The Road called White, “Scotland’s most exciting band right now.” Poor old Scotland, still you've suffered worse I imagine.

5. Who do White get their groove from?

In short Roxy Music, David Bowie, Chic, Franz Ferdinand and LCD Soundsystem. They have mentioned liking Talking Heads, loving David Bowie and seeking to emulate LCD Soundsystem.

6. Why should I listen to Living Fiction?

Listen for pure hedonistic pleasure. The chorus is so contagious as Hollywood should be looking to make a disappointing movie out of it.

7. Do White have any more good tunes?

Future Pleasures doesn't suck donkey dick and Blush isn't mingin.

8. Anything else I should know about White?

They were all in prior bands and have manufactured their emergence to the maximum.

The song Living In Fiction is about perfection through fakeness. Nailed it lads.

Stirring the custard is a palate cleanser, the Scottish indie rock legends The Jesus and Mary Chain and the monster groove that is Side Walking (1988).

“Got ice in my fire, got the heat in my wire
Inject a little heat, I'm burning up the tires”



The Best Indie Songs of 2014 - CRUISR

CRUISR have been touring with The 1975 and it’s not hard to see why. They are reading from a similar script without any danger of CRUISR out shining the other.

 

All Over (Aug’14) prances along without a care in the world in the verses but has more dash in the choruses. Positively noisy in the choruses in fact. It’s new indie pop rock standard but being as how it’s their first bite of the apple they throw crisp punches.

 
CRUISR are from Philadelphia and began creating happy vibes in 2012. All Over springs off their second E.P. of the same name (Sept’14).

What tunes keep the guys so upbeat? I don’t fucking know. I’m thinking they might not hate some of what The 1975, Young Rising Suns, Cage The Elephant or Walk The Moon have to offer but that’s pure speculation me old mucker.

Looking to keep cruising? Try these bubbles of joy Kidnap Me or Go For It.

 

 

Silly seconds goes to Len and Steal My Sunshine (1999) just cos listening to CRUISR’s big bubbly joy put me in mind of it…