Best Tracks Of 2015

While I realise it's already February, and there's various excuses I could reel off as to why this is late, you're not here to read them so here's my list. It's virtually impossible to rank such a diverse mix of genres but I've stretched myself to a highly contentious top five. The more inquisitive among you can even benefit from a handy key which shows the following:

Red = album worth listening to        Black = The song is either a single or one of the few good tracks

Mumford And Sons - Believe
This is perhaps the most interesting one for me. When the London folk rock outfit's third album: Wilder Mind was released, I -along with the critics- met it with some contempt. It wasn't that the ditching of the banjo (or 'Banjo Gate') and opting for a more mainstream sound and traditional line up that was the problem in my eyes. Instead it was that the songs didn't pack enough of a proverbial punch and didn't believe that they could reach that anthemic, crowd-chorusing standard that I've come to expect. Reading festival soon came along and it was time to put this depressing analysis to the test. The soaring vocals and echoing guitar solo of Believe changed my mind there and then; I am now a convert to the lyrically simplified, snare-smashing, bass-rumbling charm of this new sound. Teddy's uncontrollable swaying and gnashing can still be seen from 300 metres away, double bass or electric.

Other notable songs in the album: The Wolf, Tomkins Square Park, Wilder Mind

The Academic - Sometimes
A song from the easier-listening side of the indie world with the latest E.P from the emerging Irish quartet who are just a year into a record deal and set to release their first full album in 2016. The guitar is simply strummed and low-key, accompanied by softly sung vocals which contribute towards a generally mellow sound. This allows them to strike a nice balance between relaxing and captivating and avoids that characterless quality which affects many indie bands today.

The Offspring- Coming For You

2015 saw, after over 25 years since the release of their self-titled début, the return of these pop-punk giants with another single which, I think cements itself alongside some of their biggest tunes including You're Gonna Go Far Kid, Self Esteem and Want You Bad. The song deviates from the classically mundane lyric content that pop-punk boasts with Dexter Holland remarking that it is about 'the government keeping you down' prior to the single's release. Perhaps this signifies more of a potentially political edge to The Offspring's new material. The song certainly sports a heavier side to their sound with a more prominent bass line and a more traditional rock and roll guitar solo while retaining those 'hey's and 'hell yeah's beloved by their fans.

Dinosaur Pile-up - Eleven Eleven
The best intro of the year goes to this Leeds-originating heavy rock outfit. A blend of more classic rock riffs, the grumbling guitars of grunge and aggressively tuneful vocals of punk, Dinosaur Pile-up offer an impossibly rowdy song which can barely be confined to the constraints of it's 'alt-rock' labelling. The result of such a wide combination of styles produce a song which will have you on your feet and ready to smash something in no time. It's stop-start, reverberating guitar riff, thrashing drums and simplistic lyrics bring the spirit of the mosh pit to your (now throbbing) ears.

Slaves - Sugar Coated Bitter Truth

I've raved enough about this band during the year so if you'd like to read a more general review, you can do so here. This track is one of my favourites, simply because it shows off some of Slaves' versatility. Its paranoid, conspiracy theory-themed lyrics and slightly more intricate guitar melody seem like the perfect way to end what is a n enormous début. However, just as they've lulled you into a false sense of security with the song's relatively peaceful opening, in true Slaves fashion it builds to a roaring crescendo.

Stereophonics - Sunny
From alt rock newcomers to figureheads of the more mainstream genre, the Welsh four-piece released their ninth studio album Keep The Village Alive earlier this year. Packed with soothing ballads and careful guitar arrangements, Stereophonics haven't deviated too greatly from what is a proven winning formula. Kelly Jones' incredible voice, as usual, carries the album with this song an outstanding example of his true vocal range from low pitched gruffness to soaring falsettos. Sunny even features an extended guitar solo, something virtually unheard of in a Stereophonics record.

Other Notable Songs: C'est La Vie, Mr And Mrs Smith, I Want To Get Lost With You

Vant - Do You Know Me / Parasite
This band somehow manages to sound familiar and incomparable at the same time. The frantic tempo of the guitars and machine gun drums compliments the brash, care-free vocals of front man Mattie Vant giving their sound a lazy, casual quality despite the franticness of the backing instruments. Since all of their songs are under three minutes in duration (Parasite lasting just 1.26) you're treated to a short sharp burst of energy which draws to an abrupt standstill before you even know what's going on. The pace is so furious that the songs almost seem to be in fast forward which only acts to enhance the band's appeal in my eyes.


21 Pilots- Stressed Out
It would take a brave man to try and classify 21 Pilots with a genre. I'm not so I won't. The strange, quivering vocals of Tyler Joseph take on a variety of styles depending on the song: sometimes its emotional pop-punk, at others a more classic pop voice and occasionally you'll get a cheeky spoken word rap verse in there as well. The accompaniment is mostly synthetic with a rumbling bass line which, in this song, fits nicely with the deadpan vocals. Listening to the whole album, you're not likely to like every track but there really is something for virtually everyone and this song was a personal favourite for me.

Wonder Years - Cardinals
Proof that pop-punk can be intelligent. The Wonder Years have always boasted poetic lyrics, a tendency to avoid overproduction and generally a darker, more genuinely emotional focus. It was always going to be tricky to follow up 2013's sensational 'The Greatest Generation'  with No Closer To Heaven released late last year. While not necessarily 'better' than the last record, it certainly dealt with much more sensitive lyric content and Cardinals is a prominent example of this. The Bridge: "We're no saviours if we can't save our brothers" sums up the overriding theme of the track yet the production team have still been able combine this with a more outreaching, catchy chorus. As a result, Cardinals is as impressive for its craft as it is for its lyrical content.

The Hunna - Bonfire
Despite a truly shocking name and frequent use of words like 'Squaaaaad' and 'turnt' on their social media posts, the London quartet are showing huge promise in the indie-pop scene. They were formed just this year with Bonfire the title of their début E.P. with label, High Time Records and an album set for release this year. I'm imagining that their use of those dreadful words is an attempt to tap into more of a 'pop' following yet the undeniable catchiness of those songs should be enough to see them through anyway. Unfortunately, the echoing, anthemic qualities seen in this song simply aren't there in any of their other tracks but it's still just early days for this group.


The Top 5

Highly Suspect - Lydia
Dubbed by many as America's answer to Royal Blood, Massachusetts' Highly Suspect are carving a name for themselves in their home country  but are yet to taste real success on our side of the Atlantic. Comparisons have already been made to some huge names in rock including Kings of Leon (thanks to Stevens' husky vocals) and even Queens Of The Stone Age for their outlandish, high pitched synthesised guitar solos. Their outstanding single Lydia has deservedly commanded a storm of critical recognition for its undeniable power but more importantly an intoxicating classic rock charm.

Other Notable Songs: Bath Salts, Bloodfeather, Mom

A$AP Rocky- Wavybone
It's incredibly rare for me to find a rap album in which I'd struggle to choose a favourite song; it was the case with Dr Dre's Chronic 2001 and Jay-Z/Kanye West's Watch The Throne to exemplify the calibre I'm looking for. Rocky's second album At Long Last A$AP easily sits alongside those massive names, a display of the brave experimentalism which is powering the current growth of hip-hop towards popular musical dominance. The record as a whole has a hypnotic feel to it (almost resembling an hour-long L$D trip) with the echoing vocals, artificially low-pitch grunts and strange instrumental melodies. It's also nice to see Rocky making use of more traditional instruments like acoustic and electric guitars in his backing samples which accompany his impeccable flow which hooks you in as a listener. Wavybone represents a short break from the acid trip giving us more of an insight to the inspiration behind his lyrics as well as some clever sampling for the chorus. The verses from Juicy J and UGK are also a nice inclusion.

Other notable songs: Jukebox Joints, Canal St, Electric Body, M'$

Nothing But Thieves - Ban All The Music

The second song in possibly the best indie rock album of the year from the incredibly talented and original Essex hailing quintet Nothing But Thieves. They have a versatility to their sound, with particular reference to singer Connor Mason who has, without doubt, one of the best rock voices in music today and will be a catalyst for their impending success. Mason's voice brings what can only be described as a fiery delicacy to their songs, blending soaring operatic falsettos with rawer, more familiar rock screams. The band have drawn comparisons to a range of massive names including The Arctic Monkeys, Catfish and the Bottlemen and Royal Blood if you like this song, be sure to check out their self-titled album  

Other Notable Songs: Honey Whiskey, Itch, Wake Up Call, Trip Switch

Neck Deep - Can't Kick Up The Roots

Overall, probably my favourite album of the year, Neck Deep's Life's Not Out To Get You is the emotionally perceptive, harmony-infested follow-up to début: Wishful Thinking. My full review of the whole album can be read here on Ultimateguitar.com  (the second one). This track, the opener to the record is a down to earth, fondly reminiscent ode to their home town of Wrexham and one of the most catchy songs the genre has to offer.

Other notable songs: Gold Steps, Threat Level Midnight, Kali Ma, December

Everything Everything - To The Blade
An entry from certainly one of the most original (a more polite way of saying strange) bands of the year, with a tendency to wear uniform and sing in incomprehensible English. Combining the electronic drum beats and electronic synthesisers more familiar in dance music with the intelligent lyrics and soft harmonies of an indie band, they create a distinctive sound which seems to fit perfectly with their peculiar dress sense. This song is "written as a letter to someone who is close a person who's done something terrible" and is testament to the politically-tuned, analytic lyrics which are my favourite feature about the album.

Other Notable Songs: Regret, Spring/Sun/Winter/Dread, Distant Past, No Reptiles

Live Review: Catfish And The Bottlemen @ O2 Academy Brixton 7.11.15

I didn't think they'd be able to top an incredible Reading performance but Catfish prove me wrong yet again

Catfish And The Bottlemen are one of the stand-out rock bands of the year, propelling themselves from leather-clad local boys playing in basements to seasoned rock stars in just over 365 days since the release of their début, The Balcony, in September last year. Many bands would quite happily content themselves with a sell-out spring tour, huge performances at some of the World's biggest and most prestigious festivals on top of the usual barrage of interviews that come hand in hand with a soaring album. Not this one. I was lucky enough to see their incredible performance at Reading festival this August but the sheer energy and raw passion I saw last Saturday seemed intensified even since then with the nuclear powered Van McCann bringing the crowd surging to life from his first bounding step onto the stage to The Beatles' Helter Skelter. This song choice in itself seemed significant, a statement of their intent and the expectations they set of themselves as a band. Or maybe they just like the song?  It is a constant source of disappointment for music fans worldwide to see their heroes fall short of the idyllic standards of excited expectation going round and round in their heads as they clutch their tickets in the queue but McCann once again shattered any doubts instantly with a note-perfect performance of Rango to start the show. Pacifier and Fallout -two of the more well known tracks- followed, sparking renewed roaring from the crowd... and a couple of flares as well. This shocked even the band themselves before it (along with the bloke holding it) were mercilessly extinguished by three burly bouncers. I was delighted to then hear the echoey guitar opening to Sidewinder, whose absence had been perhaps my only disappointment at their festival set. There was a brief dip in intensity as they played yet to be released single, 7 which struggled to strike home with the audience but always seems to be the case with new material.  One of the few criticisms I have of the band is the lack of influence that the bassist, lead guitarist and drummer actually have on the show. Their robotic performances, almost void of personality really understated the incredible talent they clearly have on stage and turned the concert into 'The Van McCann Show'... but what a show it was. What the others may have lacked in character or confidence, he more than made up for over the course of the night. Other than perhaps Billie-Joe Armstrong of Green Day, I have never seen a front man truly connect with audiences in the way McCann does, commanding, inviting and inspiring us in equal measure. Even his, often, clumsy efforts to captivate the baying crowd -at one point clambering onto Blakeway's drum platform, knocking over microphones and tangling wires in the process- only make him more personable. His polite, nearly apologetic call to anarchy: 'The security is here to control you, give 'em something to... erm... control...' is testament to their labelling by American critics as 'Oasis but with better manners'.  It was during Tyrants however, that the Welshmen demonstrated their true elegance as performers, holding the frankly already captivated audience with its simple yet delicate riff. Their ability to do so distinguishes them from many other rock bands I have seen, with the extended drum and guitar solos turning a regular album track into a ten-minute, larynx-busting finale. So when the last, piercing note of the song rang out across the hall and McCann retreated backstage with a final wave, no one even bothered to ask for an encore because there was simply nothing left to be given.

Top 5 Bands Who Followed Me On Twitter

I am referred to as one of two things: musical genius and master of the English language by myself and Indie pr*ck by my ever supporting friends. One thing I have always enjoyed writing about is finding those unsigned or unknown bands lurking just around the corner from success. There are those who have been unable to get their careers off the ground in our often image-driven musical culture or those who, for whatever reason, have so far missed out on the recent surges in their genre's popularity.
     While success and exposure often seem to dangle elusively at the top of a never-ending ladder for most artists, nowadays more than ever, the emergence of social networking giants like Facebook and Twitter give bands an opportunity. These networks allow bands to simply 'get their music out there' and grow a fan base one step at a time with relative ease which, for the majority of aspiring bands, is of paramount importance. More lucrative in this sense than Facebook, Twitter allows these artists to target potential fans individually by searching for keywords or trawling through the follower lists of bands in a similar genre. In the ego-driven social climate that Twitter has created in recent years, checking how many followers one has is a daily occurrence for many people and therefore, the ideal way to get your band noticed.

As a self-promoting music fan and writer, I've received a few of these myself so here's my run-down of the top four bands who have followed me in the past couple of months. Give them a listen if you can.

4. Friday Night Lites
    For fans of: Neck Deep, Hit The Lights, Real Friends, State Champs
I hate to say it but the name is pretty crap, fulfilling every cliché in the book, but let's just get past that and try to focus on the music. I'm making this one stretch a little because all of my judgements and comments are describing the two songs they have released. That said, they are two very decent tracks and I look forward to hearing more. With a sound centring around that energetic brand of pop-punk, popularised by groups like Neck Deep and Hit The Lights over the course of the past several years, it's nothing new but easily warmed to. The lead guitar is fast-paced, the drums furious and the harmonies on point. Simply put, it's characteristic of the genre: always nice to listen to and certainly downloadable but nothing gorundbreaking. Safe would be an apt word to describe it. If you're one of those people who will refuse to listen to something because it's 'not edgy enough' then it might not be for you but I for one listen to music for enjoyment above all and I certainly get that from these songs. What's more, you can download the two singles, Face The World and I'm A Sandra Bullock Kinda Guy for FREE at their website and nothing makes captures my heart quicker than some free stuff.


3. For All The Wrong Reasons
       For Fans Of: The Wonder Years, Man Overboard

The names really aren't getting any better are they... Nevertheless, Going slightly more old school in their increased use of melodies, FATWR (their self-given and somewhat convenient acronym) have a slightly rougher edge than the other members of this list with gruff vocals and rumbling guitars. The Lincoln-based musicians opt for less refined instrumentals and high pitched guitar melodies in the background which actually remind me of Sum 41 in that sense. At the same time I can see the ties with pop punk artists like The Wonder Years and Man Overboard; while not quite as anthemic, the similarities are definitely there in the emotionally charged, powerful vocals as well as the intelligent lyrics. Okay, singer Alex Statham may not be as prominent as TWY's Dan Campbell but that simply shift the emphasis towards the other areas of their sound. With two albums already under their belts since their formation in 2013, it's clear this group have a wealth of creativity and eagerness to write which will allow them to go much further than many bands. Nothing complimentary here though I'm afraid.

2. Wander
For Fans Of: Sum 41, ADTR, Neck Deep, 
Deaf Havana

Our journey now takes us across the Atlantic to a garage somewhere in Frederick; Maryland with the best pop punk act so far. A definite step up from the others, Wander are spawned from the same brand as the others but have taken a more original, measured approach to the genre and as a result have a much more diverse set of tracks. Vocally, I'm reminded immediately of the early days of A Day To Remember and vocalist Andy Cizek manages to be both powerful and delicate to fit the mood of each song. They combine this with melody orientated guitar tracks similar to Sum 41 to create a sound which is both pleasant to listen to and at the same time unpredictable. While they may lack some of the bite that ADTR and Sum 41 possess, they easily make up for this by employing the harmonies and echo effects in each song to perfection without overuse or running out of ideas. Not only this but No Rest, a recently released (mostly) acoustic E.P. displays a really nice versatility and a deviation from their usual style, not just thrashing out the electric guitar chords. If you don't think they sound like A Day To Remember upon first listening, this will undoubtedly change your mind. This band has a really prominent future ahead of them and I'll be watching it closely.


1. Silver Story
       For Fans Of: 3 Doors Down, Default, Her Bright Skies, Deaf Havana
This one was a really tough call for the top spot but they just about edged Wander as the best of a pretty decent bunch. What a difference a good solid name can make, and their sibilance-stocked title makes a fantastic first impression which matches the original, intriguing style that they've created. Loosely defining themselves as a 'rock' band, the Mancunian quartet have taken a wide range of influences on board to create something of a post-grunge, pop-punk hybrid. It's almost like the love child of 3 Doors Down and Green Day who's been brought up listening to A Day To Remember. We've got classic rock vocals, strongly reminiscent of Default's Dallas Smith and 3DD's Brad Arnold, the crunching guitar chords of bands like Green Day and The Offspring (in Bleed) and a few Jeremy Mckinnon-esque screamo verses interspersed between delicate vocals throughout their début album Cold Street Lights out last year. There's even a few extended guitar solos kicking about ,in songs like Run, which is basically unheard of in more modern rock music.
     The blending of all these styles means no song sounds the same and there is sufficient variation from track to track- an often underrated feature- so the Northerners have done a great job on that front. Silver Story are part of a seemingly dying breed of bands, particularly in Britain, who embrace a more classic rock and roll sound while still managing to be creative and organic which makes it all the more confusing as to why they aren't more popular already. They shouldn't have to be following random people like me on Twitter just to get their music heard. Give them a listen and if you like what you hear then spread the word about this up and coming band from Manchester.

Of course you can listen to all of these young bands on my Not Now Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/user/w-avery/playlist/4CAps4jqmlBK7LPOPFgi3T

Acts To Look Out For At Reading 2015

The festival season has opened it's sweaty doors for another summer of van-cooked meat, disgusting pranks and burning tents. They are the epitome of our musical culture and for the true festival experience, complete with people sellotaped to telegraph poles and some pretty unspeakable drug fuelled antics, you’ll want to head on over to Reading or Leeds this August. Believe it or not, there's also some pretty good music playing as well. Here are some acts you'll want to see at this year’s event whether it's live or on the telly.

Slaves
For Fans Of: Sex Pistols, Gallows, Cancer Bats, Dahlia

I’ve banged on about them enough recently so I’ll try to condense this one as much as possible. With their full début Sugar Coated Bitter Truth released earlier this year, the Kentish duo have burst on to the festival scene this summer with appearances at Big Weekend and Glastonbury providing them with vital experience on the world's biggest and most prestigious stages. Originally making their name from their raucous live performances, the punk revival outfit have a very simple stage set up: just two men, one guitar, a basic drum kit and enough shouting to leave the word 'oi' ringing in your half-deafened ears for hours after the gig. Despite the minimalist approach, the group command a huge stage presence which features dancing manta rays and crowdsurfing from the band and fans alike. For any grime fans, there also might be an appearance from London MC, Skepta to look forward to so if you want a lively show, you'll need to be in the NME tent on Saturday.

Run The Jewels

Another minimalist approach is favoured by American underground Hip-Hop act Run The Jewels fronted by rappers EL-P and Killer Mike. Just like Slaves, they are a duo, just like Slaves they are relatively young in the making and just like Slaves they possess the ability to bring crowds of any size to life. Debatably, RTJ perform with an even more stripped-back set up than their Transatlantic counterparts: just the pair and a DJ, which is a nice contrast to the often flamboyant shows put on by other Hip-Hop acts. Not only will their show be exciting, but the pair also emanate passion with every bar. It’s clear they seem to delight in the fact that they’re only getting started in the festival game in their early forties and seem genuinely grateful to their adoring audiences for giving them that opportunity. Whether you're well versed in their relatively small pool of songs or you're just up for an exhilarating set, head over to the NME tent on Friday night for a huge performance.

Rebel Sound

This act demands a double negative of me: they simply cannot not be amazing. Some of the finest DJs the UK have to offer come together in an Electronica supergroup spanning multiple generations and more than a few genres including reggae, drum'n'bass and dance. Originally formed solely for Red Bull's culture clash last year, every member of Rebel Sound is a veteran live performer in their own right, Chase And Status themselves playing the main stage just two years ago. Showcasing songs from each DJ, Rebel Sound’s sets include the studio classics like End Credits, No Problem and Original Nuttah as well as never seen before live songs and remixes. The drum’n’bass dream team even have their own captain in the form of Radio 1 DJ David Rodigan who acts as what can only be described as a ‘Hype Man’ who still gets the crowd roaring at the age of 64. They are certainly one of the most talked-about acts of the year and whether or not they can meet the mountain of expectation facing them is yet to be seen.

Panic! At The Disco
For Fans Of: Fall Out Boy, We The Kings

An easy way to quantify the quality of a band's live performances is via 'Best Live Act' awards for which Panic have been nominated frequently throughout their career especially since the release of their last album Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die in 2013. Brendon Urie, the band's lead singer, guitarist and predominant creative force, is a truly gifted singer and that ability has sustained the group's success despite the whittling down of the remaining members. Therefore his essentially 'one man band' status in tandem with the lack of permanence of the live musicians accompanying him means the pressure really mounts on Urie to deliver with his performances and he has responded to the expectation admirably. Make no mistake if you're attending, it's for the Brendon Urie show so all eyes on that far too chiselled face of his because it'll be a show to remember.

Twin Atlantic
For Fans Of: Biffy Clyro, You Me At Six, Deaf Havana
One of the best features of Reading and Leeds is the real blend of artists and musical styles, rock bands squeezing seamlessly into the schedule alongside dance heavyweights. Many people will know the Royal Bloods and the Catfishes but Twin Atlantic seem to have just missed out on the wave of Indie rock bands who have burst onto the British scene over the past five years. I have been following the group fairly closely since their fantastic performance at the festival last year so to me it was no surprise to see them in an important slot this time around since they are yet to graduate from the NME tent to the main stage. As a straightforward post-hardcore band, the four Scotsmen combine the anthemic choruses of rock giants like Biffy Clyro with the more intricate guitar melodies and a younger fan base of the household pop-punk names like Blink 182 and Sum 41. While they tend to stick more towards the rockier side of the post-hardcore spectrum, I found their year-old album Great Divide was impressive for it's blend of intelligent tracks with perceptive lyrics with the more relatable anthems more well suited to the festival crowds. However, perhaps their biggest asset is their thick, inherent Glasgow accents which add a shade of originality to a genre in which bands often fall into the trap of becoming samey. 

And there finishes my Reading preview. Obviously I left out the headliners and other key acts so give these bands a chance and I'm sure you'll enjoy at least one of them.

No. 14 Slaves - A Punk Revival

There's nothing like a bit of loud noise to get you pumped for a dreary Tuesday morning. Monday officially marked the beginning of summer thus licencing Brits everywhere to scoff  "Some summer eh!" as they peer through the windscreen at the spitting raindrops on their way to work. The release of Slaves' eagerly anticipated second album: Are You Satisfied? perfectly coincides with this very moment and, for the half hour or so I spent listening to the it, I was transported to a grim, grey industrial estate somewhere in Kent to immerse myself in a performance filled with attitude and anger.

With a stripped back sound consisting of only gravelly electric guitar, drums bashed to within an inch of their lives and vocals even more aggressive than the forefathers of punk like the Sex Pistols or The Ramones themselves, the band are really making a statement with their music. What that statement is, I'm still not entirely sure but if you shout it loud enough like they do it doesn't even matter. If there is something more quintessentially British than punk music and the word 'Oi' then I have yet to hear it with Slaves making use of both in their revitalisation of a genre which has struggled to find it's feet in British culture since Johhny Rotten started doing those Countryfile adverts. Maidstone's own dynamic duo of lead shoutist/drummer Isaac Holden and guitarist/co-shouter Laurie Vincent are bringing back the roots of punk rock to a younger generation in a music industry which is almost unrecognisable from the time when the genre's greats were clashing, protesting and offending monarchs.
     They have done so with integrity fully intact. Contrary to what their name suggests, they have not sold-out or become slaves to the overproduced, industrialised machine of today's musical environment. Each song feels like a live performance meaning the record as a whole feels like a raucous concert from wherever it is you are listening. Opening with stand out single and my favourite: The Hunter, the words are chanted while the instrumental builds in intensity as the song really comes to life. The same effect is used in the following track Cheer Up London which get the record roaring into life. These songs have everything you need to make a classic punk hit; the choruses are anthemic, the instrumental is rough not refined and each one captures the, at times, hidden British passion for 'getting rowdy'.

     However the distinguishing detail in Are You Satisfied? is the lyrics. What they may lack in anti-establishment outcry or political messages in relation to traditional punk artists, they more than make up for with the delivery. The words come at a furious pace, bellowed or chanted and I can see the potential influences of modern UK grime and garage rap creeping in in the rhythmic way each line is belted out. In any case, politics isn't their main concern with the main focus of the lyrics centring around social commentaries and personal encounters. Holden himself urged fans at a recent show to “Leave politics out of this, I'm fed up of hearing about it.” when greeted with "We hate the Tories" chants reverberating around the venue. Making their name on the live circuit for their vigorous performances, it is no surprise that the best songs capture the excitement and insanity of the concerts. One of the few shortcomings in the album is that some songs struggle to make this transition yet they have been much more successful in doing so than they were with Sugar Coated Bitter Truth. One thing that really impresses me is that the album is never pretentious and some songs like Sockets and notably Feed The Mantaray seem to be just simple calculated silliness (or as Holden likes to call it "an aquatic ballad"). As is the case with many breakthrough albums, there are several songs which blend together in the middle of the record but the three opening and closing tracks are very strong, leaving any listener with an acute overall memory of a quality album in my opinion.

It appears to me that, on the whole, Slaves have produced a style of punk which may differ from the originals but is actually very well suited to the modern listener. Essentially it is the roadman, slang-using, trackie-wearing teenage son of classic punk who can relate to the modern day audience. It is a classless genre, which can be appreciated by Jordan in Hackney as well as Gerald in Windsor. Unfortunately, acts as original as this are something of rarity nowadays but when one like Slaves comes around, it cannot be overlooked.

As usual you can find Slaves' Are You Satisfied? and more on the Not Now Playlist on spotify.

Until next time...

Albums I Missed

Those of you who read my previous round-up of the finest 2014's alternative world had to offer unfortunately may have missed out on fantastic breakthrough artists which I have since discovered. This time, however, we are delving even deeper into Spotify's murky depths, far beyond the likes of Catfish and Ludacris. Presently, we find ourselves intrepidly venturing within somewhat unmapped territory, like Victorian explorers embarking on hazardous expeditions in Sub-Saharan Africa. Only this time, there is a lot less khaki. We search not for the source of the Nile but for that enigmatic '<1000 plays' symbol where the world seemingly fears to tread. Nevertheless, at times it can be pleasing to find sanctuary in the calm oasis on the page of an artist with 39 followers, seemingly untouched by the image orientated musical world. These are four artists which I missed out from last year.

Ocasan - Elixir
For fans of: Panic! At The Disco, Fall Out Boy

A band which perfectly illustrates that rather confusing description above. Their follower count sitting at a mere 149 upon my last inspection, Ocasan are a three-piece alternative rock band originating from that cultural capital of the world: Milton Keynes. This band have enjoyed a very colourful history according to the limited information I've gleaned from their Facebook page, including "skinny dipping with Bulgarians" and "partying with Russian Oligarchs". In amongst this rather hectic schedule, they've managed to craft new album Elixir, which is interestingly divided into three bafflingly titled EPs which almost act as chapters. The album in itself certainly has me hooked, combining punchy electric guitar, ear-pleasing harmonies and more melodic hooks than Paul McCartney on a fishing holiday; so much so that you seem to recognise the songs even when hearing them for the fist time. However, for me the most impressive aspect of Ocasan are their astute lyrics, offering a perceptive commentary of British society (like all rock bands should), touching on themes like the 2011 riots in London Town in way reminiscent to me of Panic! At The Disco, although thankfully with shorter titles. While I would like to see a little more variation in their songs, it is certainly a fresh style which I like, particularly encapsulated in The River, Invincible and my personal favourite: The Wizard Man. Here especially, I see very strong ties with Panic! At The Disco and even Fall Out Boy but with that typically British attitude creeping in there. Definitely worth a listen in my opinion.

Light You Up - All We've Ever Known

For fans of: Deaf Havana, Mallory Knox, Don Broco

Moving North to Birmingham now with a slightly heavier outfit in Light You Up with their brand new album released last year. This début album demonstrates an interesting take on the post-hardcore punk genre but, like Ocasan, with that original British accent, a welcome deviation from the typically whiny Americanised vocals. My first impression was that this is effectively Deaf Havana on steroids and with more attitude. Particularly in terms of the vocals which are rough yet satisfyingly tuneful, the Brummy quintet seem able to avoid falling in to that lack of variation trap so often suffered by artists within the genre and there is a sufficient quantity of guitar melodies and intricate lyrics, This can be seen especially within Monsters, Haven't You Heard and Breathe which have all those catchy elements of a pop song but with the anthemic choruses and bridges of a stadium-filling rock band complete with chanted vocals and that thing where everyone shouts the words back. Admittedly, apart from those three songs and All We've Ever Known, for me there are few other stand out ones, perhaps making the album more suited to shuffling a playlist rather than listening to the whole record outright. At the same time, there is not a single song I'd be tempted to skip.

JJ And The Pillars - Wolves

For fans of: Mumford And Sons, Dry The River, Ben Howard

Becoming more Indie by the minute, we now travel across the Atlantic to Canada with alternative folk rock quartet JJ And The Pillars and their début album: Wolves, released just two months ago. Usually, it would simply be the easy way out to compare them to Mumford And Sons but the murmuring, radio-friendly vocals, soft guitars and stomping crescendos are certainly reminiscent of the bearded Brits. The Canadians' answer to the banjo: a bluesy harmonica. It appears to me that their sound is what the aforementioned London outfit were trying to achieve with Wilder Mind. This is where the similarity ends however since, unlike their British counterparts, JJ And The Pillars have succeeded in their endeavours and the electric sound blends seamlessly with the more traditional folk style to produce an easy listening yet eagerly appreciated album. Acoustic meets electric, just like ebony and ivory, in a perfect harmony (forgive me for that). This is evident particularly in the songs  Burning Leaves, The Bench and my stand-out favourite: The Wolves to which the record owes it's name. Admittedly, the folk genre is not to everyone's taste but this album excels, in my opinion, where Mumford And Sons failed . Yes this is a huge claim but that simply shows how impressed I am with it. At only eight songs in length, the album is relatively short so it flies by if it is listened to in one go yet there is sufficient variety between songs so they don't blend together monotonously like some albums. While to the outsider, it could be accused of being a little bland, I ,along with Canada's music-loving population, would beg to differ with the group, winning a nationwide competition hosted by the country's biggest rock radio station which has thus lead to the subsequent success. I'm sure there will be more to come.



The Temperance Movement - The Temperance Movement
For Fans of: Lynyrd Skynyrd, Black Stone Cherry, The Faces

Now, after our long journey, exhausted from the alt-rock labyrinth within which we have lost ourselves, the holy grail of our arduous voyage finally creeps into our vision; our source of the Nile is upon us. Except for the the fact that ours is adorned in lairy checked shirts, covered in facial hair and contains an ex-member of Jamiroquai. Essentially, then, The Temperance Movement complete our undiscovered line-up with the deluxe version of their self-titled album, (another début) released just last year. Their style strays greatly from previous artist in the list, opting for a more blues-rock orientated sound, suitably fitting with their hairy demeanour. Upon first listening, I was immediately transported to an Alabama gospel church along a dusty road, surrounding me the scent of barbecued red meat and an overly casual attitude towards guns. While their squealing guitar melodies and gruff vocals seemingly emulate world renowned Southern rock outfits like Lynyrd Skynyrd or Black Stone Cherry, it comes as a big surprise to find out that the group actually hail from Glasgow and London. The Jamiroquai bit is also true with the 90s funk band's ex-bassist Nick Fyffe completing the line up alongside Scottish vocalist Phil Campbell. They are equally capable at producing roaring rock'n'roll songs like Ain't No Telling and Midnight Black as they are in the production of smoother numbers like Pride and Chinese Lanterns. The first two captivated my attention as a listener considerably more than the others and Ain't No Telling is by far the stand out song of the CD for me. Okay, it may not be a band to put on at a party, unless of course it's a party with my dad, but The Temperance Movement offer a stripped back, floor-thumping style of rock unseen in the image obsessed exterior of today's music industry. Not only does this album display more of a guitar-focussed approach, there is the sense that their songs genuinely do tell a story with the best example being Only Friend,  This makes them, in many ways, a symbol of hope for a return to roots which has been a long time coming in popular rock music. Refuse to believe me? The Rolling Stones clearly don't, appointing them as a support act on their last European tour which is a monumental achievement in itself. Don't get me wrong, this isn't the best album ever written but it is definitely one that people should be made aware of and one that deserves huge amounts of credit.

Seeing as few others seem willing to spread this message, it just looks like I'll have to persist on my quest to inform you of the music industry's hidden talents and rising stars.

As usual you can find all of these artists and more on the Not Now Playlist on spotify.

Until next time...

Freshest New Albums 2015

Spotify have been up to some serious snakery in the latest update to their desktop client, getting rid of all internal applications (yep that's about as technical as it gets) which disastrously includes the beloved Last FM and it's similar track playlist maker. The loss of this means that music fans worldwide will now actually have to search for new music THEMSELVES to add that extra wing to their music library or diversify those cringe-inducing playlists entitled 'Summer Vibes' or 'Phat Tunes'.
     Let's face it, we're all far too busy to be dealing with that  and other media like radio, to most people, seem so much a foreign concept, it's almost laughable. As I write this I'm becoming increasingly aware that perhaps I am indeed the only one that still searches for music in this way. On my voyage to indie-music enlightenment I've traversed cliffs of disappointment, and waves of unparalleled elation all to find that single artist or album which allows me to bask smugly in the warm knowledge that no one else I know listens to them. It's also fair to say I have trawled through far more than my fair share of sh**t, searching bleary eyed through the darkest reaches of the musical world in search of Spotify's hidden artists. There was also a couple of familiar names along the way too.
     These are the newest, freshest albums the musical world has to offer:

Plain White T's - American Nights

Yes...Hey There Delilah to cut that head scratching short. No one else knows any of their other songs so why should you? Well let's put an end to that with the fourth and latest release from America's soft-singing, girl-loving, Nickelodeon-appearing sweethearts. The sort of band who were always regarded as 'nice boys' throughout childhood by cooing friends' mums and I bet they never refuse an autograph, Previously a more easily defined alternative rock band, the Plain White T's have moved steadily away from mainstream pop-punk over the course of their nearly 10 year career. Since the last album Wonders Of The Younger, they have favoured a more acoustic, I would even dare to say country and folk influenced style which in my opinion is a welcomed change. The impeccable harmonies remain, but now are used in a folk-like way (evident in Heavy Rotation) while still maintaining their teenage heart throb status and soppy, wounded lyrics. Rejoicing and heartbroken are the only types of song they're comfortable doing. I also like to see more singing from Tim Lopez whose voice compliments that of the natural front man Tom Higgenson. My favourite songs are Pause, Heavy Rotation and Here Come That Sunrise which are really testament to the versatile band they've become.

The Sonics - This Is The Sonics

From a modern branch of punk to the genre's predecessors with a brand new album from The Sonics: founding fathers of garage rock and pioneers of punk. The self-titled record is the first in 40 years bringing the spirit of the '60s to the grim today. Actually, you know what, I'm pretty sure the 60s was just as bleak as it is today, just without the internet and marijuana which "wasn't half as strong as the stuff you kids smoke these days". Oh, and some pretty horrific hairstyles.
     Honestly, if someone were to have asked me some six years previously I would have been as likely to listen to it with an open mind as I would trade my phone for a packet of Quavers but it's more about the appreciation than the cleanliness of the sound itself.
     Before, and if you can muster up enough effort to give it a try, have a listen to Have Love, Will Travel, who knows, you may even recognise it. I'm glad to see that on this record there seems to be barely any deviation from their classic style; that style being some loud heavy vocals and a lot of blues guitar chords. This, I must say grows repetitive after a while but if you find any you like, you can arm any playlist with some classic early garage rock. Essentially, while this may be a band for your dad and, if you're willing to appreciate it for what it is, then it could be for you as well. Well... that was rather deep wasn't it.

The Sonics here releasing their new album after an unsuccessful inbetweeners spin-off 

We Are Harlot - We are harlot

It's never good news to hear a band breaking up. Just ask Blink 182 fans who had the experience for about the 17th time during the latter stages of last year. Most of the time you can expect to see arguments on twitter sporting various bitter hash tags as well as several snooty solo albums from the contemptuous front man who believes that he's 'expressing himself'' in a way he never could do before and whose 'found himself ' as a musician. We may as well name names now: Brandon Flowers and Tom Delonge. Usually (and of course gratefully), these albums tend to be awful and the artist promptly realises he's not bigger than said mother group and comes crawling back. Now that's if it goes badly and of course we forget the number of people who defy this model like your man Charlie Simpson.
     And also brand new English outfit We Are Harlot who consist of band members from multiple previous bands including Danny Worsnop of Asking Alexandria. While I was never keen on the latter, this brand new hard rock amalgamation brings out the best in them all with a much more traditional, retro sound than any of the previous groups. We Are Harlot in their self-titled record released last month see a return to their roots (aware of the cliché) with a lot of elements from more classic metal bands such as AC/DC and Kiss as well as influences of proper old school rock and roll. This is apparent especially in Dancing On Nails, Denial and The One which are easily my favourite songs since they bring out a new side of Worsnop's vocals which far exceeds the more hardcore nature of Asking Alexandria. The album is almost split in half in terms of the metal sounding and classic sounding tracks, the latter of which are far more enjoyable and original while the others become repetitive at times.

Ludacris - Ludaversal

I originally listened to this album as a joke. Ludacris?! Come on, the guy surely lost any artistic credibility when he collaborated with Justin Bieber, let alone the Fast And Furious films. A choice between a collaboration with Ludacris or a desecrated corpse? It's safe to say I would have gone with the corpse because he'd have had a less dead career. Way too excessive an example. Anyway, the fact of the matter is I didn't take this guy seriously.

     So you can imagine my surprise when I clicked play on Ludaversal Intro, a smirk plastered across my face, and the first thing I hear was, what I think, a fantastic song. He has flow, dumbed down instrumentals with a real focus on the words, all you can ask for. Unfortunately, we still have plenty, probably too much, of the posturing and boasting of pimpin', 'whips' and 'bitches' which really detracts from any lyrical meaning apart from in Good Lovin and Ocean Skies which are actually very deep. The former is what spurned my disillusion with rap as a genre, however if you take a step back and perhaps ignore the meaning of the words themselves, the albums is a very enjoyable experience. Never thought I'd say that.

Hit the lights - Summer Bones

With all this neo, retro and experimental genre merging it's a relief that this band are about as straight forwards a pop punk band as you'll ever see. In essence, yes, they are a boy band of sorts and you may get called a 12 year old girl for listening by those self-righteous, integrity obsessed, too cool for such safe music metaphorical bullies in the playground. However, I think it can be a welcome change not choosing your music based on its edginess and throw in a few of those safe, easy listening harmonies and rough electric guitar chords. In any case, Hit The Lights are about as edgy a pop punk boy band as you'll find even to those who see the word pop as some kind of vile infection on a genre. The band themselves certainly seem to be aware of this with an album defying the chronology of their career in that it is almost a carbon copy of its predecessors. One dimensional indeed yet enjoyable all the same with particular attention to Fucked Up Kids and Blasphemy, myself and I. I have to say it is very difficult to distinguish any of the others in the album but there you go, that's pop punk for you.

To hear these songs, albums from the other posts and other music which I find, follow my blog on Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/user/w-avery/playlist/4CAps4jqmlBK7LPOPFgi3T