Single Of The Week ~ Skinny Lister ~ Trouble On Oxford Street

This weeks 'Single Of The Week' comes from the band called Skinny Lister. These guys are an English folk infused punk/rock 6 piece band from London that are all about making a scene. They play wherever their hearts desire and they perform it in emphatic fashion. With the likes of double bass and accordion added into the mix of their sound, you're bound to love these guys. 

Having newly signed to Xtra Mile Recordings, (home to the likes of Frank Turner, To Kill A King and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah) their new single 'Trouble On Oxford Street' is a very bubbly, happy and good ol' fashioned all round dance folk record. With the vocalists unique blend of English come Londoner accent, it makes for a really interesting track. The song gets right into it from the off with the whole band singing part of the chorus. The verses are telling the tale of a guy who's been in a fight on Oxford Street where he's 'lost a little blood and a couple of teeth'. 

The words to the song could be quite dark, but because of the melody and energy of the track, it makes the whole thing seem like a lot of fun. A little bit like if you went out with your mates one night, things got a little bit out of hand and then the next day you all found it funny. 

The video (which I will leave a the bottom of this review) is again, lots of energy, fun-filled and involves London as a whole. The band play on the streets of what I presume is Oxford Street, playing their song on a bus and at a live venue. With double bass twirling, accordion throwing and lots of dancing between the six of them, its no wonder these guys are making a name for themselves. 

Skinny Lister have announced a massive Spring tour too which starts at the end of April and carries on into May. If their live shows are anything like the video, then you're all in for a treat and I may have to go buy myself a ticket too! 

Here's the tour dates:

22/04 Birmingham   The Rainbow 
23/04 Glasgow       Nice N Sleazy
24/04 Edinburgh     Voodoo Rooms
25/04 Newcastle     Cluny 2
28/04 Manchester   The Deaf Institute 
29/04 Leeds           Brudenell Social Club
30/04 Sheffield       The Leadmill
01/05 Nottingham   Bodega
02/05 Cambridge    J2 @ Cambridge Junction 
05/05 Bristol          The Exchange
06/05 Cardiff          Clwb Ifor Bach
07/05 London         O2 Islington Academy
08/05 Norwich        Waterfront Studio
09/05 Leicester       O2 Academy 2


So head on down to one of these dates next year for what is guaranteed a great night. Their new album lands next April 20th 2015 called 'Down On Deptford Broadway' which I personally cannot wait for! So go on... check out this very energetic and thrilling folk/punk band and have a good ol' dance in your house (or work if you're brave enough).

With thanks also to Partisan PR for introducing me to the band. Thanks for reading and until next time. 

Lewis 

'Trouble On Oxford Street'

Website: http://skinnylister.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/skinnylister

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skinnylister

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/skinnylister

Album Review ~ Honeyblood ~ Honeyblood

Hello!

Welcome to this weeks album review, today I have a glaswegan female duo that have been impressing the industry within their rock/alternative sound for the past two years. They go by the name of Honeyblood who are signed to Brighton indie label FatCat Records. 

The opening track "Fall Forever" gets things going with a bang, some really nice guitar rhythms and melodies being worked into this song along with very distinctive vocals from vocalist and guitarist Steena Tweedale. I really like the way the actual song is quite simple, but because the way they have produced it, the sheer noise just keeps reminding me that this is only a duo making this music.

The other half of Honeyblood is the drummer who goes by the name of Shona McVicar who really seems to have some solid beats laid down on this album. I really like the little breaks in "Killer Bangs". It could be something little like changing the drums onto the floor tom and snare, but it changes the whole complexity of the song. Some parts are just a second long like in the chorus where the lyrics are "I don't wanna go, go go go on". On the three 'go's' the duo come together and really accent those words which sounds great and keeps the energy throughout the track.

The track after the two very fast paced, but brilliant songs comes "Super Rat" which slows things down. Gives the listener a little break and is the song where you can really appreciate Tweedale's vocals that really stand out and are like nothing ive heard before. I can't think of an artist that sounds remotely like her. In some parts it sounds like she is talking the lyrics,  but still with some notes sung and I really like how she does this.

The new single that comes from the duo is a tune called "Biro". The middle of this album seems to have brought the energy down a peg or two, but that doesn't mean the power has gone. This song keeps the flow of loud alternative rock, but with more of a dynamic shift between the verses and chorus. Though having the dynamics still pretty high in the song can make the hi-hat really pierce the sound which can be a bit uncomfortable at times. Though on the flip side of things it gives their sound something to feel harsh about, its not all games and fun when listening to this record.

The song "Joey" brings out the best in the vocal harmonies from the duo. The song isn't the most energetic in the album, but it gives the listener a chance to hear both vocals without the guitar and drums taking charge of the song which happens on quite a few of the tracks. For a duo you need a lot of things happening at once otherwise it can sound quite empty, but for "Joey" it works well.

The song "Choker" is one of the strongest songs on the album and is the song that really defines who Honeyblood are compared to other bands of their genre. It was the first single that was put out from the duo and got a massive backing from BBC Radio 6 Music with the single being on the A list for a considerable amount of weeks. Its a very catchy tune that lets the backing vocals take the leading melody for the track. The main vocals lead with the melody line in the verses and breaks. I like the way the song is structured and doesn't seem to long winded.

By the time youve got to the track "No Spare Key" you've got a good idea of the Honeyblood sound. The next song "Fortune Cookie" is possibly the 'happiest' song on the record, using major chords and even a xylophone to keep things sweet. Though this sweetness doesn't get annoying because its different to the rest of the album, so it ads a nice texture to the record as a whole. I really enjoyed the guitar solo at the end of the track too and shows off how good Tweedale is on the guitar.

Honeyblood have just come off the back of the NME newbreed tour where they toured the country with the band Superfood and was a great success. I can only imagine there are a whole bunch of better things to come for the duo in 2015 and I look forward to following their journey for the coming year.

The tracks to check out are "Fall Forever", "Killer Bangs" and "Choker".

Thank you very much for reading and until next time. 

Lewis

'Fall Forever'

Website: www.honeyblood.co.uk

Facebook: www.facebook.com/honeybloodeatitup

Twitter: https://twitter.com/yumhoneyblood

Single Review ~ The Districts ~ 4th And Roebling

Hello, 

Welcome to this single review and today I have a band called The Districts. This four piece from Pennsylvania have been together since 2009 and got signed to Fat Possum Records in 2013 after their impressive style of indie/blues rock.

The single '4th And Roebling' is taken from their latest album 'A Flourish and A Spoil' and certainly caught my attention when I was sent this song for a review. The song starts off with some nice bass lines accompanied by some background beats and tambourine. 

When the guitar starts to enter the scene, its building up to something quite unique. This four piece are really taking your ears on a little rollercoaster. Building up the tension for a split second by cranking it up and then bringing it back down to a softer tone from the guitar. Rob Grote (vocals) has a great vocal range for the band and really gives this band an identity. 

The vocals are used with a nice tone on the microphone to not make it sound crystal clear, a little bit of distortion gives his voice that real grit. You can tell there's power in those vocals that is great to hear from an indie band as a lot tend to stay at one level, but its getting pushed to the limit. 

The chorus' are what make the song, a lot of noise, great guitar tones and getting everything turned up a notch from the verses. The band is really putting a distinct barrier between what is the verse and chorus. Though they come into each other very quickly, there is no warning when its being cranked up for those chorus'. There is a very nice instrumental/guitar solo building up to the eruption of the ending chorus to really end it on a high note.

All in all its a great track that you should go check out! I'll leave a link below for the track. "4th And Roebling" is out on the 9th/10th February on Fat Possum Records. If you can't wait till February then check out their EP they released at the beginning of this year. 


Thanks for reading and until next time. 

Lewis 


Soundcloud link: www.soundcloud.com/fatpossum/the-districts-4th-and-roebling

Fat Possum website: www.fatpossum.com

Single Of The Week ~ Joanne Shaw Taylor ~ Mud Honey

Hello and welcome to the new segment on my blog called "Single Of The Week". Where every Friday if a song has caught my eye (and it may not be every week) then I'll be writing about it. Doesn't have to be new, its just something I've been really getting into the past week.

Lets get started with the first single of the week that comes from a blues/rock guitarist Joanne Shaw Taylor and her single called "Mud Honey" from the new album "The Dirty Truth". She has been rising up through the blues scene since her debut album 'White Sugar' 5 years ago. 

The British blues guitarist's playing has caught the eye of many music giants such as Joe Bonamassa and Stevie Wonder as an impressive feat for an established musician. She has now become the forefront female guitarist in blues, her powerful solo's and grungy rhythm sections are some of the notable things you can find in her playing. The main melody for my single of the week is nice and catchy, but not pop catchy. Just a guitar blues riff that supports the rest of the song and that's how it should be.

Joanne's voice is really captured in this single, husky, yet with a real blues spirit. Its certainly not your average voice from a female vocalist, but this isn't a bad thing. The song has a real energy and vibe throughout the song, Taylor's clear cut guitar solo's are at the forefront of the song. She doesn't hold back incase she makes a mistake, taking a risk in something she does best. 

Check out her new album "The Dirty Truth" and if you like her sound she is also playing live in the UK this November! Here are the dates in a lovely picture form!

I will have a live review of the gig at the Shephards Bush Hall very soon! I hope you can all make it to one of her gigs. 

Thanks for reading and until next time. 

Lewis 

Website: www.joanneshawtaylor.com/

Album Review ~ Philip Sayce ~ Influence

Hello!

Welcome to this weeks main review! Today I have a Welsh born musician from Canada 
who goes by the name of Philip Sayce. Sayce is a blues/rock guitarist who has been rising up in the blues scene ever since his debut album 'Innerevolution'. His songwriting style and performance have had music critics singing his praises ever since.

I wanted to start off with a quote that Sayce said in his album trailer. " Music isn't about winning a spot on The Voice or American Idol, it's a life long commitment. It's paying respects to where this music came from". 

'Influence' is packed full of blues/rock that will have you listening to the album from top to bottom. The record displays genuine triumphs of songwriting from the roots of blues and Sayce is displaying the reasons why all music originated from the blues. The album seems to be teeming with guitar riffs with a helping of grunge on the side too. 

The high quality of the songwriting in the record comes down to being well thought out, crafted and countless amounts of hours spent on each song. Sayce and his producer are lovers of vintage instruments and sounds. For this album they managed to sit down and craft out a sound with every vintage piece of equipment they either owned or could get their hands on to get the right sound for the record. 

The overall sound to the album has all the technologies of today, but with that essence of the vintage sound they have been working on. Philip's sound isn't as clear as it could be, but this is definitely a positive point. It gives his voice that edge when he wants to belt some notes out in songs such as "Green Power" and "Sailin' Shoes".

His guitar tone provides a punch throughout and has definitely pulled out everything for this record. With solid beats and fills from the drums, each instrument used in this record keeps everything tight and exciting. The drums shine through on the song 'Evil Woman', as does Philips guitar skills. Powerfully struck chords and double bass work make this song one of the clear stand outs.

Sayce's guitar techniques and tone are thoroughly enjoyed in the instrumental song "Triumph". The amount of raw emotion and effort that has gone into playing that song reminds me a lot of when Hendrix played. You can sense a lot of passion in that song that gives you excitment and love towards the album. Sayce owes this album to many of the artists he grew up with such as Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Eric Clapton. All of which you need to check out urgently to understand the sound that Philip has created for the album that is very influenced by those artists.

The tracks I would recommend are "Out Of My Mind", "Sailin' Shoes" , "Evil Woman" and "Triumph". These are ones to check out to get a feel of what Sayce's sound and tone is within the album. 

Overall, a blues/rock album that is high up on my list of the best albums of this decade. It displays unique songwriting abilities, the mentality of getting the vintage sounds and dedicating it to some of the best known artists in the business that would all be proud to hear. I was pleasantly surprised when I first heard the album and I hope you will too! Philip Sayce is fast becoming my new favourite guitarist and one that is bringing blues/rock back to the fore-front of music once again.

'Influence' is out now from all good record stores and online for digital download. 

A quick thank you message to Noble PR for hooking me up with Philip's album for this review. Thank you very much for reading and until next time. 

Lewis

Website: http://philipsayce.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhilipSayceMusic

Twitter: https://twitter.com/philipsayce

Album Review ~ Royal Blood ~ Royal Blood

Hello, 

Welcome to blog post 37, today I have a Brighton based two piece band that are rocking the music business to high hell and back! If you haven't heard of Royal Blood yet then you've clearly been cooped up in your room all summer. Their debut album took the summer music scene by a storm and I'm here to tell you why. 

Royal Blood are a two piece rock band formed in 2013 that have a rounded rock sound that is unusually distinctive compared to most rock bands out there. I heard a lot about Royal Blood before they released this album, I'm pretty sure they were practising at Brighton Electric Studios when I was there a few moths beforehand. Their name was floating round Brighton like a black rain cloud that was sure enough to turn into a storm.

Mike Kerr (Vocals, Bass Guitar) and Ben Thatcher (Drums) have released an album that is now at the forefront of rock music. These guys are now the new generation of the rock genre and I wouldn't want it to be any other band. 

The powerful might from "Out Of The Black" to introduce the album really gives you a flavour of what you're in store for. "Come On Over" uses a simple structure but really keeps the tempo going for the album to give listeners like myself a lot of hope for rock in the next few years. "Figure It Out" is the most popular track from the album that has been played a lot on BBC Radio 1 and 6 music. With the catchy riff line to work through and the double time section at the end, its no wonder its the most popular track. 

Once you get to "Blood Hands" you are already halfway through the album surprisingly. The time for the half way mark is 15 minutes and 50 seconds which to most bands is not even onto track 4. The total time for the album is 32 minutes and 42 seconds, very short for an album, but this could be the reason for its success. Brilliant short songs, keeping the listener entertained throughout with no messing around. The longest song is 4:12 and is possibly the weakest song. This could be because its the longest and isn't keeping to the way Royal Blood have recorded the rest of the album.

With the band only being a two piece band, I was worried about there not being enough within the sound to keep the album's momentum up. With the use of space between the guitar and vocals, catchy riffs and heavy drums the band have done a fantastic job. I cannot express how difficult it is to create such an emphatic sound with a 3 piece let alone with bass and drums. 

Mike uses distortion and other pedals alike to create a guitar tone on the bass. This then creates a tone that sounds like its coming from two different guitars.  Ben's hard hitting drums and tight fills compliment the overall sound. 

The one thing I was worried about with this album was that the songs would sound the same. Luckily this doesn't happen and each song has its own characteristics which really made this album for me. Each song doesn't follow the same structure as the last, but every song is still heavy and high tempo. I believe this is one of the reasons that this album has done extremely well this year. There are no sad or slow songs, its all go go go from the word off and its exactly what the rock industry has been needing for some time now.  

In conclusion this album is one to remember for some time and hopefully will be around for many years to come rocking out the industry. Even though it has not been long since their newest release, I look forward to what they hold in store for us next in a few years to come! 

Thanks for reading and until next time!

Lewis

Website: royalbloodband.com/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/RoyalBloodUK

Twitter: twitter.com/royalblooduk

Google+: plus.google.com/+royalblooduk/posts

Album Review ~ We The Kings ~ Somewhere Somehow

Hello!

Welcome to blog post 36! Today I have an album that I have been listening to since its release last year and a band that I've been following for a good 2/3 years. 

We The Kings are a pop-punk band from Florida, USA and have always been a band I can fall back on for some great music. Their previous albums were a fantastic listen, as it was some ace American pop-punk tunes. Catchy, grungy, rocky with that dose of pop sprinkled on it to make me not listen to them.

We The Kings members are:

Travis Clark - Vocals/Guitar
Hunter Thomsen - Guitar/ Backing Vocals
Charles Trippy - Bass
Coley O'Toole - Keys/Backing Vocals/Guitar
Danny Duncan - Drums/ Percussion

I originally got into the band through Youtuber and bassist of the band Charles Trippy (CTFxC) when he had just joined the band (along with Coley O'Toole). I checked them out and I loved their sound they were producing and was surprised they weren't as well known as they were back in 2011. Releasing albums such as "Sunshine State of Mind" and "Smile Kid" they have just been escalating in their fame which is great to see because these guys deserve it! 

I went to see them live at the beginning of 2013 at Scala in London. Its safe to say, these guys rock on stage. The amount of energy they put into their shows is insane. They even made Hunter disappear with the insane amounts of smoke they were churning out in that small venue. A fantastic night and I was lucky enough to meet the band afterwards (expect Travis). 

So when the announcement of "Somewhere Somehow" was being announced I was really looking forward to some more music from the band. My first impressions on the album was certainly that it was...different. They have definitely matured with their sound, but I can't help but feel its lost its 'punk' side to the other albums and the sound that I was so familiar with. 


Giving the album some time, I have grown to love the album personally. Yes it does sound a lot different to the older albums, but they have always had that 'pop' persona about their sound. Songs like "Feel Alive" and "See You In My Dreams" have great chorus' that you can still head bang to, but not with so much grunge or punk. That doesn't mean they've lost their rock taste or that their live performances have numbed down...oh no!

At points I do personally feel like its moved too far away from the punk sides in songs such as 'Live Young Die Forever'. Purely for the fact that its electronic drums being used and as a drummer myself, I personally think acoustic has such a more powerful effect on songs. This is just personal preference though. 

I think some bands need that change to really make it in the business. This album has given the biggest step forward so far for the 5 piece and its easy to see why. The band have produced a fantastic record full of catchy rhythms, powerful chorus' and an all round lovable record to listen to. 

If I could describe the album in one it would be 'Fun'. The reason for this is just because each song doesn't make me really focus on anything too seriously. Each song has a 'fun' tone and has this vibe throughout to reflects on the bands live performance too. 

I have to give some major credit to the vocalist Travis for his wicked voice and great songwriting. If you look up the lyrics for each of the songs on any album, they have been really thought about and fit with each song We The Kings have released. That isn't easy to do either, but he makes it look easy!

The songs you should go check out are "Find You There", "Feel Alive", "Just Keep Breathing" and "Art Of War". All the others are great, but these are the ones to check out if you don't have time. 

Somewhere Somehow is out now in all good record stores and let me know what you thought of the songs/album if you've heard it! 

Thanks for reading and until next time

Lewis 

Website: wethekingsmusic.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/wethekings

Twitter: www.twitter.com/wethekings

EP Review ~ Scribble Victory ~ Confidence

Hello!

Welcome to blog post 35 and happy 1st October too! Today I have a two piece from Derby called Scribble Victory. These guys have been going through the ranks of the business with numerous tours with some big artists and with the EP coming out next Friday, I'm expecting these boys to go to great heights. 

Recently the business has been overtaken with two piece bands such as Royal Blood and Honeyblood taking over BBC Radio 1 and 6 Music. It still baffles me how such an incredible sound can come from a duo and its the same with this band. 

Scribble Victory are:

Jamie Thompson - Vocals, Guitar
Tomas Ward - Vocals, Drums

Scribble Victory are an acoustic folk-rock duo that blend their harmonies with melodic rhythms and meandering guitar licks. For two people to create such an authentic sound is very impressive. In some stages of the EP it sounds quite minimalistic, but still keeps that aura about the band that they give throughout the EP. 

One of the stand out tracks to me is "Stalemate", its just such a catchy tune from just a few instruments. The acoustic guitar brings a lot to the table with the rhythm that you could hum along to easily. This track is a great example of the harmonising between Jamie and Tomas. Both blend together to make a really nice tone. 

The song writing for each song has been well thought out. I give credit to both members of the band for creating rhythms and tones that keep each song flowing. Give this EP a few listens and you'll start to really listen to the acoustic guitar especially. I think after about 4 runs through the EP I really got to know the songs so I could appreciate and take in the great guitar skills. 

Scribble Victory have been touring with a lot of names to shout about such as Johnny Foreigner, Tall Ships and Laura Stevenson. If they are securing fantastic opportunities such as this before this EP has been released then I am looking forward to following the band in their new adventures. 

The songs I would recommend to you if you haven't got time to listen to all 6 tracks are "You Wouldn't Change A Thing" and "Stalemate". The others are just as good, but these are the clear stand out tracks on this EP. 

In conclusion I really like this EP, I haven't heard a duo sound quite like this before. Its something I can't quite explain apart from saying the acoustic tones and strong drums keep the energy throughout with the distinctive vocals keeping the drive. I hope you all take the time to listen to the EP when it comes out on October 10th because these guys deserve a lot of support!

To get a flavour of the band, I'll leave the bandcamp link which has their last self-titled EP on there. This too is a fantastic edition to their overall music collection. Also a quick special thanks to Angela from Muddy Paw PR who introduced me to the band and asked me to review them. 

Thank you for reading and until next time.

Lewis

This is a song from their last self-titled EP called "Baby Steps"

Website -  www.scribblevictory.com

Bandcamp - http://scribblevictory.bandcamp.com/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/ScribbleVictory

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/scribblevictory (Warning! Profile picture may contain Chuckle Brothers)

Soundcloud - soundcloud.com/scribblevictory

Album Review ~ Joe Bonamassa ~ Different Shades Of Blue

Hello, 

Welcome to blog post 34! Today I will be looking at the blues/rock giant that is Joe Bonamassa and his brand new album 'Different Shades Of Blue'. If anyone knows me personally, I am a huge Bonamassa fan of all his work and his side projects with the likes of Beth Hart and Rock Candy Funk Party (see link below for both reviews on this blog).

The main band for this album is:

Joe Bonamassa - Vocals/Guitar
Carmine Rojas - Bass
Resse Wynans - Keys
Anton Fig - Drums 

The album came out on the 22nd September and has had a range of raving reviews about the record. This has got me massively excited, especially when he was on the Paul Jones show last week on BBC Radio 2 and mentioned that all the songs were originals. In previous records, Joe has done mostly originals, but always put in 2 or 3 covers. This album is all originals which he has never done before and to me seemed a risky move to take, but seems to have paid off. 

There was a lot of speculation around the album as to whether it would be another hit album following the likes of "Driving Towards The Daylight", "Blues Deluxe" and "Had To Cry Today". One reason for this is because he teamed up with writers from Nashville who write hit songs for country singers instead of blues singers.

This didn't seem like the perfect combination, but from the interview with Paul Jones, Joe explained that it was a breath of fresh air for them. The writers had freedom because Joe didn't know what to write. Whereas the writers were used to artists coming in saying "write me a hit"! Although I wouldn't of assumed his producer (who Joe has worked with since his early albums) would let anything slip under his belt that is anything but Joe's sound. 

The beginning of this album is just a short 1 minute and 20 second instrumental to get everyone in the mood for what's to come. The song "Oh Beautiful" reminds me of Led Zeppelin's Black Dog, but obviously a lot more atmospheric and bluesy. Its very different to a lot of things he has done before, in a good way. In the interview with Paul Jones he mentions that the solo in the song was all one take with no edits, very impressive. 

A small handful of the songs on the album aren't exactly what you would call blues/rock, but still have a great sound. Though when you hear songs such as "I Gave Everything Up For You, 'Cept The Blues", that's when you know Joe in his comfort zone. Songs like this stand out from the crowd, easily. Any blues singer would naturally be comfortable with the shuffle groove or 6/8 time signature for that matter.

Songs like "Get My Back Tomorrow", "Never Give All Your Heart" and "Oh Beautiful" are real blues/rock chord based songs, perfect for his live shows which are all about the power. Where as the song "So, What Should I Do" seems a lot more personal and emotional to him and the listener.

The horns are a fantastic edition to the album, they add a new dynamic to Joe's overall sound and just makes the record become bigger and better. The album demonstrates how mature Joe's singing and guitar playing has become since his last album. Its a lot cleaner and easier to hear what he is singing about, but with the same tonalities he posses that make him 'Joe Bonamassa'. Though still with a rifling roar from his solo's on quite a few of the tracks, which most people wanted to hear (including myself).

Overall, this album is worth checking out if you're an fan like myself or want an introduction to his work. Joe's sound has improved over the years, obviously you can't get away from the classics, but there are some in the making on this album. I wouldn't say its his best work, but its a great album none the less with guitar solo's, shuffles and real blues beating throughout.

Different Shades Of Blue is out now and from all good record stores and Itunes etc. If you have the album then let me know what you thought of it! 

Thank you for reading and until next time

Lewis

Rock Candy Funk Party Review - http://justanothermuso.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/rock-candy-funk-party-we-want-grooove.html

Beth Hart Review - http://justanothermuso.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/my-favourite-artists-beth-hart.html


Website: http://jbonamassa.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoeBonamassa

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JBonamassa

Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/JoeBonamassaTV

*BONUS* Discussion ~ Rock Vs Pop

Hello, 

Welcome to blog post 30. Today I want to expand on my review I published on Wednesday about the new Twin Atlantic album and how they have moved from a real rock band to purposefully writing 'pop' songs for more publicity.

Personally, I feel this is becoming more of a trend than just a one off thing for bands to do. Now, this is just my opinion, I am entitled to it and if you think I am wrong then that's okay, but I just hope you understand my points I will be making in this post. 

So... when I was around 16/17 I was going through a phase of listening to a lot of rock/punk and sometimes metal. The bands that I would listen to constantly would be Paramore, Fall Out Boy, Good Charlotte, 30 Seconds To Mars and Alter Bridge. This to me was how people should rock on their albums. Keeping up high tempo most of the time with a lots of guitar rhythms and catchy lines. 

So after listening to albums such as "Riot" and "Brand New Eyes" from Paramore. When it came around to their new album I was pretty excited to hear what they had to offer considering they were now down to 3 members and the singles "Monster" and "Renegade" before the album 'Paramore' got me pumped. 

When the first single from the album came along called "Now", I was disappointed in the sound. I couldn't hear that driving guitar that was so precious in the albums before. I was hoping the second single would provide more promise. Again, I was let down, another 'pop' sound. There were no rock elements to the album at all and I was so disappointed. Especially when Hayley Williams was saying "this is the album we've always wanted to make". 

This example of Paramore isn't the first time that I have been disappointed with new albums from bands that I absolutely adored in my teens. This is starting to become a regular appearance. Its ruining my excitement for new albums if bands just keep producing pop for the larger audiences. I can understand why they want to do it, but people like myself are just getting fed up with every poxy band churning some pop crap out. 

This happened with the new Twin Atlantic album and personally I didn't think it was possible for them because their album 'Free' was insane and I thought building on the foundations of that album, you couldn't go wrong! Oh how wrong I was...

I don't know if I'm the only one that is noticing so many bands lately with a rock 'nature' about them are just producing songs for the charts, for Radio 1 and nothing for the audiences like myself. Its all about getting coverage these days, getting known, but in completely the wrong way. The only way to do this at the moment is create a happy - go - lucky song with some major chords, some kind of trumpet or saxophone playing a catchy riff and the band shouting "YEAAHH, YEAAAHH" or "WOOAAHH", "WOAAAH"...so creative... 

The day that a rock band makes a solid rock album after their successful first one will be the day I can jump in the air and be happy. Right now though, rock is dying out and pop is taking over badly. I have hope and promise still for a few bands such as The Cape Race (check their review out on my blog) and Mallory Knox who are rocking the Radio 1 playlists right now. 

The Cape Race - 'Home,Truths'

I hope everyone now understands my views and points where I am coming from about this issue. Its been playing on my mind for a while now and I thought this was the perfect time to say something especially with the new Twin Atlantic album being a real shocker. 

Thanks for reading and until next time

Lewis

Album Review ~ Twin Atlantic, 'Great Divide'

*Disclaimer* - So this review, isn't going to be the my usual "yeah this albums great" review. I have got negative outlooks on this review, so if you DO like the new Twin Atlantic album then I would advise you to not read if you don't want to hear anything negative. Its not all negative, but I hope you'll understand my points about the album.

Hello!

Welcome to blog post 29! Today I shall be talking about the new album from Twin Atlantic. Their second album was an absolute masterpiece. A great step forward into the business and I was highly anticipating this album to be just as rocky and fulfilling as the last.

Twin Atlantic are a Scottish rock band from Glasgow, who in their last album 'Free', got a lot of success and radio play from Radio 1 and other stations alike. One of the songs was even featured on the video for the highest sky fall that was watched by over 36 million people! Not bad for your second album and now their new album has come around called 'Great Divide'. 

Although the two singles were not winning me over to buy the album, I thought I needed to check out the full album in case I was wrong about their new sound for this album. When I first heard their first single 'Heart and Soul', my immediate reaction was "oh no...another rock band going pop, please no!". Their second single wasn't much help either with quite a simple structure and happy chords although the song itself wasn't too bad. 

So...let me sum up the first three songs to you in three words. Waste. Of. Time. The first three songs nearly put me off listening to the rest of the album. The use of electronic pads and keys is just plain wrong for this band. Wrong. They use the same producer as the other record too, what was the guy thinking!? This to me just seems like a stunt for popularity which nearly cost them the album to me. Just skip to the song 'Fall Into The Party'...

If you listen to the second album 'Free', you'll notice its hard-driving, heavy and fantastic for the boys to perform. You just know from top to bottom on the album 'Free' that these guys pack a punch. Though this 'punch' seems to have been left behind from this album.

There are some flickers of promise at the start of songs, but they don't follow through for the whole song. For example in 'The Ghost of Eddie' you hear the structure twice and think that's everything they have to give, but then the section where he whispers "everybody scream" into quite possibly the heaviest part of the album is a real treat to the ears of the shear noise. This doesn't happen in the new album.

Don't get me wrong some of the songs on this album are good, but its nothing compared to the previous album. That was their second album...one to work from...one to keep moving forward from. Instead it seems like they have moved backwards, there isn't as much creativity or passion in this album. To me the aim was to get as much coverage on Radio 1 as possible and leave old fans to leave them alone.

When I'm listening to the album, I feel like Sam McTrusty's lyrics are trying to get us to learn life lessons. He talks about how "the youth of today have lost their voices" and that to him"music is my therapy"!? He even has the cheek (in a sense) in the song "It's Not Dead" that according to him, 'rock and roll is apart of me'. Go back and listen to "Hold On" and see how 'Rock and Roll' that track is...

Apart from everything else I have mentioned above, I just hope Twin Atlantic can learn from their mistakes from this flop of an album and crank the gears up for album number four to impress all us rockers again.

The tracks I recommend (and could be the only ones) are "Cell Mate", "Fall Into The Party" and "Actions That Echo". Keep to these three and you have a pretty decent EP, how about that!? 

I promise the next review will be back to my jolly self! I might do a little discussion post again on Sunday about how a lot of rock bands are turning to mainstream and leaving their whole 'rock persona' behind just for more coverage.

Until next time and thanks for reading

Lewis

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