James - Better Than That

James are an iconic indie pop/rock band from Manchester, England. They have sold over 25 millions albums worldwide. James are most famous for the songs Laid (1993), Sit Down (1991) and Come Home (1989). James are similar to The Smiths and Travis. 

James' main influences are Joy Division and The Fall. Better Than That (April'18) is from the E.P. of the same name and can be found on their fifteenth album Living In Extraordinary Times (August'18). Better Than That is the sound of a band that, not content to rest on it's laurels, is constantly striving to evolve their sound to sound relevant and exciting.

OK Go - Interesting Drug

1. Who are OK Go? 

OK Go are an indie rock band from Chicago, Illinois. Playing together since 1998 they have recorded four albums. Interesting Drug (Jan'17) is a stand alone single. 


2. What kind of tune is it? 

Interesting Drug is a Morrissey cover that's been funked up with OK Go's 80's pop vibe and a lilting ska-esque undertone. A laid back, gently bouncy, tune to accompany a stinging rebuke. 


3. Who do OK Go sound like?

The Smiths, Two Door Cinema and Modest Mouse.


4. What have the press said about Interesting Drug? 

“Eerily fitting to the current political climate” – Under The Radar.

“OK Go blast Trump” – Vanyaland. 

“A steady rocking anti-Trump anthem” – Rolling Stone.

5. Which bands influenced OK Go? 

Some of their biggest influences are Michael Jackson, Prince, Talking Heads, New Order and David Bowie. 


6. Why should I listen to Interesting Drug?

Because one of the greatest musician's to ever walk God's green earth wrote the song and this great band made it better. 


7. What are OK Go's best songs? 

There is a wealth to choose from. The synthy white boy funk of I Won't Let You Down is king. What an ass shaker. This Too Shall Pass is melancholic happiness. Get Over It rocks. 


8. Any more words? 

OK Go's singer Damian Kulash said, “No matter how anxious or angry you are, try to turn your passion into something good for the world. We’re in this together.”

“There are some bad people on the rise”

Young Romance are an indie pop rock band from London, England. They are a duo and started playing together in 2012. Young Romance sound like The Primitives, Best Coast or Bleached. Pale (2014) is from their debut album Another's Blood (2016). Pale is two minutes of achingly beautiful vocals laid over some gritty fucking guitar and crashing drums. It'll get you by the short and curlies.

“Oh there was a night, long ago,

When I fell from grace”

The Rifles - Groundhog Day

 

1. Who are these heroes? 

The Rifles are one of the finest indie rock bands England has ever produced. Hailing from London, England, they have been smashing it since 2004. Groundhog Day (April'16) is the third single from their fifth album Big Life (Aug'16). 

2. What kind of tune is Groundhog Day?

A chippy little indie rocker with a sticky riff, sweet harmonies and a melancholy story about people trapped in shit jobs in shit places. A bit English. Good but. 

3. Who do The Rifles sound like? 

The Jam, The Smiths and The Clash. 

4. What is the good word about Groundhog from our friends in the press?

“Showcases a band at the peak of their confidence” – Vents Magazine.

“Another catchy tune” – Read Junk.

“Lively opener” – Music OMH. 

5. Which bands put the bang in The Rifles' powder?

The Rifles main influences are The Clash, The Jam, The Libertines, Ash, Guns 'N Roses and Van Morrison. 

6. Why should I give Groundhog a lash? 

Because it's quintessentially English; stiff upper lip and all that. Great rhythm too; quirky.

7. Do The Rifles have any more lovely tunes? 

Sure as shit they do. Wall Around Your Heart and Heebie Jeebies both bang harder that a short time Bangkok hooker. 

8. Any more words muppet? 

Big Life was produced by The Rifles regular collaborator Charles Rees (Paul Weller, The Strypes, Albert Hammond).

“Gotta keep my chin up”

Tom Morello is a stone cold legend; the guitarist and singer for two of the best bands to ever walk gods green earth; Rage Against The Machine and Audioslave. These days he's playing with The Prophets Of Rage. He took time to collaborate with X Ambassadors on the song Collider (Aug'16). The song has a monster Rage Against The Machine riff and that's about it. That's enough. Tom Morello called the riff a "Valhalla-raising riff monster" and I Am High Voltage said it 'cuts a groove like a bansaw."

“Feel the devils, approaching, approaching, approaching me”

The Spitfires - On My Mind

1.    Who are these likely lads then? 

Behold the majesty of The Spitfires, an indie rock band flying out of Watford, England. These brave few have been playing together since 2012 and On My Mind (April'16) is the second single from The Spitfires' second album A Thousand Times (August'16). 

2. What calibre of tune is So Long?

Of the first order. Elements of English indie rock that stretch back from the Arctic Monkeys to the golden years of English punk to the British invasion all combine to make a racy little number out of melancholic material. Comes with keys and and a little side of brass. Grows on you.

3. Who do these indie rock champions sound like? 

The Clash, The Jam and The Smiths. 

4. What have the press said about Always On My Mind? 

“A powerful modern rock anthem” – Never Enough Notes.

“A quality slice of guitar driven sounds” – Merc London.

“The tracks exceptional standard is maintained throughout it’s entirety” – Gig Slutz.

5. Which bands have provided ammunition for The Spitfires?

Some of The Spitfires' influences are The Kinks, The Jam, The Smiths, The Clash, The Who, Billy Bragg, 2 Tone, soul and reggae.

6. Why should I give On My Mind a whirl? 

On My Mind is a crystal clear product of the finest English indie rock influences.

7. Do The Spitfires have any more spankers?

Aye aye Popeye. Wrap your ears around So Long a tune that found it's way to the top of the U.K. vinyl singles charts.

8. Anything else?

The bird. 

“I’m not trying to be brave”

The Cat Empire are an Australian ska, jazz, funk, rock fusion band with Latin influences. From Melbourne, Australia, and formed in 1999 they have seven records to pin on their battle honors. So Many Nights (2007) was the second single from their third album of the same name which debuted at number 2 on the Australian album charts. So Many Nights is a funky, nu-soul, ska number that Music Review praised for “the addictive catchiness of the chorus and the danceable rhythm that is hard to resist.”

“It’s inappropriate that I should present like a

Retired matador with unpaid rent”

Kissing Is A Crime - Crown Royal

     

     1.    Who are they?

Kissing Is A Crime are a post-punk band from Brooklyn, New York. Started in 2012, Crown Royal is the lead single from their debut E.P. Your Secrets Are Safe With Me (Sept'16 Re-issue). 

2. Is the tune up to snuff?

    

           Yeah it is. A low-fi song that twinkles along charmingly, telling a story of young lust, and letting the melodies do the heavy lifting. 

     

     

     3. Who do Kissing Is A Crime sound like?

         The Chills, The Smiths, Interpol.

      4. What is the good word in the press about Crown Royal?

“Shimmers as it grooves along” – Stereogum. 

“Their emotive sound is irresistibly catchy” – Nylon. 

“A concise, head swaying piece of post-whatever” – Speakimge. 

       5. Which bands influenced Kissing Is A Crime? 

The Smiths, The Stone Roses, The Vaselines and The Violent Femmes are some of the bands that have had an influence on the band and Crown Royal in particular. 


6. Why should I give Crown Royal a whip past the ears? 

Crown Royal is fine songwriting writ large. It perfectly evokes the moment of all enveloping desire. 


7. Do Kissing Is A Crime have any more of these jewels? 

Your Secrets Are Safe With Me is fantastic. 


8. Any more words muppet? 

Not a dilly.

“I’d sell my soul for a taste of you”

The La’s were an indie rock band from Liverpool, England, that seemed destined for greatness. They played from 1987 to 1992 releasing only one studio album which garnered widespread critical acclaim. They reformed and re-released music a few times thereafter. There She Goes (1990) was the bands moment in the sun; charting in the English top 20 and included by NME as one of the top 50 indie anthems of all time. There She Goes is about love unattained and is a cherished song by many.

“And I just can’t contain,

This feelin’ that remains”

The Courteeners - The 17th

     1.    Who are these indie rock heroes? 

     The Courteeners are an indie rock band from Manchester, England, and have the finest band name in the world. The band have described themselves as the biggest underground rock band in the world. The 17th (Aug'16) is the lead song from The Courteeners' fifth album Mapping The Rendezvous (Oct'16).  

     2. What's The 17th like then? 

     A slow brooding song with an 80's synth pop feel and melancholic Morrisey-esque vocals cranks into life in the third minute and hits an expansive, joyful crescendo, with a guitar assist at the three and a half mark and a jubilant, scream-it-to-the-heavens, chorus. Special. An absolute belter.

    3. Who do The Courteeners sound like? 

     The Smiths. Catfish and The Bottlemen. Euphoriazine compared The 17^th to The 1975. The Guardian found general similarities with The Enemy and Hard-Fi. 

    4. What have the lords and ladies of the fourth estate said about The 17th? 

“A seductively cool night-stalker” – Vanya Land. 

“Sleek and sexy pop vibes” – Euphoriazine.

“Absolutely fucking sensational” – Gig Slutz. 

    5. Which bands have added to The Courteeners' magic? 

     The major influences on The Courteeners are Oasis, The Smiths and The Kinks. They have some love for M People, Simply Red and The Killers too.

    6. Why should I give The 17th a lash? 

    It's an epic tune. The Smiths for a new century. You can't help but love it; despite trying.

   

   

    7. Do The Courteeners have any more rousing fare?

     Sure they do. Has He Told You That He Loves You Yet, How Good It Was and Are You In Love With A Notion? to name but a few. 

    8. Any more words?

     The new album Mapping The Rendezvous was recorded by long-time Courteeners' producer Joe Cross (Kid Astray, Prides and Hurts).

“Everybody can hear you but nobodies listening”

    

   

    

     AWOLNATION are an electronic rock band from Los Angeles, California. The band started in 2009 and have two albums on their roll of honor. AWOLNATION’s debut long player, Megalithic Symphony (2011) went platinum and the hit single from it Sail sold five and a half million copies.  THISKIDSNOTALRIGHT (2012) was released on a video game soundtrack. The tune is a rip snorter that reminded Ear Milk of Nine Inch Nails and The Black Keys. Wrap up tight, shits about to get real...

“You can follow them to hell”

The Hubbards - Cold Cut



 

 

 

1.    Who are these loose gooses?

They would be The Hubbards, an English guitar pop indie band from Hull, England. Cold Cut (Feb’16)  is from the E.P. of the same name Cold Cut (March’16). The Hubbards cranked up the melody in 2012 and have a handfull of singles in their catalogue.


2. What kind of tune is Cold Cuts?

A beautiful slice of English indie guitar rock with sweet vocals married to meandering guitars and a tight rhythm section.


3. Who do The Hubbards sound like?

The Hubbards were compared to Placebo by Leeds Music Scene.


4. What have the press to say about Cold Cuts?

“Lurches and sways along to tight rhythms and intertwining melodies” – Indie Is Not A Genre.
 
“Well-rounded bubbling masterpiece” – SOS Music.

“I just love the melodies that coalesce” – Abduction Radiation.

5. Who put the sparkle in The Hubbards?

No knowledge. The Hubbards mentioned loving Rage Against The Machine and The Libertines in concert to BBC News.


6. Why should I give Cold Cuts a whip past the ear holes?

Cold Cuts is proof of The Hubbards arrriving as a band. Mellow guitar pop on the outside but a noisy little concoction as you chew through the layers.


7. Do The Hubbards have any more pearlers?

Stick with Cold Cuts.

 
8. Any more words?

The Hubbards are the biggest band in Hull now, a city that brought us bands like The Beautiful South, The Housemartins, Fat Boy Slim, Fine Young Cannibals and The Paddingtons.

The Hubbards have been fluffers for The 1975, Foals, Dog Is Dead and Little Comets.

The Hubbards are heading out on a headline tour of the UK in March and April.

“I’m a sucker for you”

 

 

 

 

In between singing in The Housemartins and going out on his tod as Fat Boy Slim, Norman Cook formed the short lived (1989-1991) indie electronic band Beats International. Their debut album Let Them Eat Bingo (1990) had the UK number one hit Dub Be Good To Me a re-working of The SOS Band’s Just Be Good To Me with the bass line from The Clash’s Guns Of Brixton.

 

“Tank fly boss walk jam nitty-gritty
You're listening to the boy from the big bad city”