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”

Sundara Karma - She Said

     1.    Who are they?

      Sundara Karma are an indie pop rock band from Reading, England, growing quickly in popularity. They have a handful of singles under their belt and She Said (Aug’16) is a single from their debut album Youth Is Only Ever Fun In Retrospect (Jan’17). 

     2. What's the tune like?

     She Said is a pretty indie synth-pop song with jangly guitar assist and a motormouth pace. She Said has a clever word to say about English hook up culture. Just as instantly likeable as last nights conquest and just as contagious. You know you want it.

     3. Who do Sundara Karma sound like?

     The Amazons, Spring King, Blossoms or Lisbon. The Guardian were feeling Arcade Fire, Bruce Springsteen and U2.  Trippers.

     4. What have the cut and paste merchants said about She Said? 

“Will have listeners instantly hooked” – Euphoriazine. 

“Sundara Karma are rapidly becoming a phenomenon” – Clash Music. 

“The slickest indie pop to come out of England since The Vaccines” – Gig Wise. 

     5. Which bands have influenced Sundara Karma?

The main influences are The Cure, The Pixies, My Bloody Valentine, Fleetwood Mac and Pink Floyd. 


6. Why should I give She Said a lash? 

She Said is by one of the hottest up-and-coming bands in England right now and they have banged out a belter with something to say and as sticky as a plumbers crack in summer.


7. What are the other Sundara Karma corkers?

A Young Understanding and Flame are the rock solid treats.


8. Any more words? 

No.

“He taught his heart how to be cool,

Because everyone loves a criminal”

   

     

     The Perks are an indie pop rock band from Las Vegas, Nevada. They are influenced by bands like Imagine Dragons, The Killers, The Foo Fighters and Cold Play. Razorblades slides off their second E.P. At The Docks (2014) and is a tasty little melange of bouncy pop with guitar grunt. Should of been huge.

“I’m gonna do everything that I want to,

And you can’t stop me now”

Against Me! - Crash

     1.    Who are they?

      Against Me! are an iconic punk band from Gainesville, Florida. Telling shit how it is since 1997 they have seven legendary albums on their roll of honor. Crash (Aug'16) is the second single release from Shape Shift With Me (Sept'16). 

     2. What's banging? 

     Crash is a gentle punk tune packed to the gunnels with lashings of filthy guitar riffs and licks. A wistful tone dominates a classic rock song that is love at first listen. 

     3. Who do Against Me! sound like? 

     Early (great) Manic Street Preachers. Crash put Pop Matters in mind of Joan Jett, The Cars and Splitz Enz. 

     4. What have the press said about Crash? 

     “Infectious with a classic rock feel” – Pop Matters. 

     “A fuzzy, bouncy jaunt with a super catchy hook” – Stereogum.  

     “Extremely fun poppy track” – DIY. 

     
 5. Which bands lit the fire under Against Me!? 

Some of the Against Me! influences are Guns N Roses, The Doors, Crass, The Mountain Goats and The Clash. 


6. Why should I give the tune a lash? 

Crash sounds like punk coming down from the exhilaration of anger. Another dimension. 


7. What are the other Against Me! bangers? 

Don't Lose Touch is a slow-tempo charger with a heart of steal. Sink, Florida, Sink is a Pogues-esque singalong with muscle and Those Anarcho Punks Are Mysterious is more of the same. Just a few of the gems that have made Against Me! one of the finest bands to walk Gods green earth. 


8. Any more words chappy? 

Legendary producer Butch Vig (Nirvana Nevermind, Smashing Pumpkins Siamese Dreams, Green Day 21st Century Breakdown) produced two Against Me! albums; New Wave and White Crosses.


     

“Good times always getting older”

     Warrior Soul are a hard rock band from New York, New York. Started in 1987, and still going strong, the band have ten long players to their name. Warrior Soul's debut album Last Decade Dead Century (1990) was their post popular and contained their most popular single; this riff greedy special We Cry Out, a tune railing against oppression, poverty and politicians. 

“People hear what I say”

Whilk & Misky- All By Myself

     1.    Who are these bohemians? 

     Whilk & Misky are an indie electronic duo from London. The chaps have been releasing music since 2014 and have a short player and a handful of singles on their resume. All By Myself (July'16) is a standalone single.

     2. What is All By Myself about?

     All By Myself is an acoustic, foot tapping, clap-along tune with a brass assist that is all about getting your groove on with no fucks given. Just get your snout in the trough; this tune is more contagious than a cheap Thai hookers sausage smuggler at sun up.

     3. Who do Whilk & Misky sound like?

     Milky Chance and Vance Joy say the folk at Indie Shuffle. 

      4. What have the muppets in the press said about All By Myself?

“Anthem of the summer” – NME. 

     “Infectious groove” – Abduction Radiation.   

     “Uplifting and catchy” – Chrome Music. 

  5. Which bands have put the dance in Whilk & Misky's step? 

  Some of the Whilk & Misky influences are Bob Dylan, Grizzly Bear, Jon Hopkins and Shiba San. 


  6. Why should I give All By Myself a lash?

  All By Myself brings catchy indie pop to a dance beat. Impossible to dislike.


  7. Do Whilk & Misky have any more of these treasures?

  Babe I'm Yours is the one you want.


  8. Any more words Chief?

   Nah. Jog on.

“All by myself I came to party”

Krrum is a music producer from Leeds, England, and an electronic pop musician. Evil Twin is from the man's debut E.P. Evil Twin (Jan'16). Krrum has smooth soulful vocals and with a sticky loop courtesy of the lady, and some slamming brass, Evil Twin is a knockout tune. Clash Music called Krrum “an avant pop prodigy” and Stereogum praised Evil Twin's  “absurdly catchy beat.” Get in to it.

“Looking like a Hitchcock scene,

I’ve been sleeping under trampolines”

Grouplove - Do You Love Someone

     1.    Who are these happy few?

Grouplove are an indie rock band from Los Angeles. They formed in 2009 and have released three albums. They have found popular success; the song Tongue Tied has sold over a million copies in the U.S, two other tunes sold half a million each, and their songs have been featured on TV, movies and video games. Do You Love Someone (Aug’16)  is the second single from Grouplove’s third album Big Mess (Sept’16). 

2. What kind of product are Grouplove pushing?

Do You Love Someone is typical west coast sunshine, bubble and pop.  Pretty vacuous; but with a bit more tits from the guitar and thump from the drums than the usual limp wrist west coast indie wank. The tune grows on you.

3. Who do Grouplove sound like? 

WATERS, The Mowglis and The Royal Concept. 

4. What have the cut and paste brigade said about Do You Love Someone?

“Has the anthemic qualities that will please their fans” – Pure Volume.

“Creative, upbeat” – Earmilk. 

“Melodic hooks, a catchy scream along chorus and indie alt guitars” – Jam Spreader.

5. Which bands put the love in the group?

The main Grouplove influences are Nirvana, The Pixies, Radiohead,  Michael Jackson and Paul Simon. 

6. Why should I give Do You Love Someone a lash?

Do You Love Someone is emblematic of Grouplove's music. Sweet pop with a rock undercurrent and with a stadium sized chorus. The band's powers may be waning but they can still knock out a popular and catchy tune. 


7. What are Grouplove's other bangers? 

Tongue Tied obviously. Ways To Go is vital. Shark Attack  (with it's Paul Simon-esque guitar) and Borderlines and Aliens have the magic. Don't neglect No Drama Queen. 

8. Any more words Cyril?

Big Mess was produced by the Grouplove’s drummer and Phil Elk (Fleet Foxes, Band Of Horses and The Shins). 

Grouplove's drummer, Ryan Rabin, is the son of Yes guitarist Trevor Rabin.

“I can never seem to get all of my words across”

Simple Kid is Ciaran McFeely from Ireland; an indie electronic pop rock musician who made music from the early 2000's to 2012. His music never met with the success it deserved. Influenced by The Beatles, glam rock and country, his music was often compared to Beck and his production to Fat Boy Slim. Lil' King Kong (2006) was one of his few successes making it onto American TV appearances and TV advertisements. Get into it.

“Shoutin’ at the passers down in ol’ Soho”

Hey Geronimo - Bake A Cake

     1.    Who are this rough and tumble lot?

Hey Geronimo are an indie rock band from Brisbane, Australia. Bake A Cake (July'16) bounces off their second album Crashing Into The Sun (July'16). 

2.    What have they got that’s hot to trot?

Bake A Cake is a feel good pop rock tune, with a retro sixties 'down at the dance' vibe a fuzzy guitar lick and a take home message. 

  

3. Who do Hey Geronimo sound like?

Animal House. Bronze Radio Return. Hey Geronimo reminded The AU Review of The Byrds, The Beatles and The Beach Boys. 

4. What have the plastic punchers said about Bake A Cake?

“Left hand turns into hook after hook after hook” – Triple J. 

“A stupidly cheery song” – AAA Backstage. 

“Catchy number” – Mosh Cam. 

5. Which bands have given Hey Geronimo their devil may care attitude? 

Hey Geronimo’s main influences are Weezer, Custard and The Beach Boys.

6. Why should I give Bake A Cake a swish past the ears? 

Bake A Cake is an upbeat number with more sweet innocence than others would have you suppose. 

7. Do Hey Geronimo have any more good tunes?

Stacks. Dreamboat Jack is a top class cracker. I'll Be There is a  sweet beauty that works itself up into a riot, Why Don't We Do Something and The Dan Kelly Song are all just tasters of Hey Geronimo's sunny brilliance.

8. Any more words kemosabe? 

Get on with ya.

“You’ve got to bake a cake from the mistakes you make”

Jim Adkins is the frontman for punk legends Jimmy Eat World. Going through his 'gee I’m just so sure the fans would just love to hear only me and my acoustic; hell no it’s not narcissism, it's for the fans' wank phase, he has actually put together a tune that doesn’t blow donkey balls. I Will Go (2015) is one of six tunes he dropped on an E.P. of the same name and is a Roy Orbison or Travelling Wilburys sounding number. Not total shite.

“The paralyzing truth, I am what I will choose”