Category Archives: cd

Cold War Kids “Mine Is Yours” – Album Review

Review: Ben Connolly


Buy Album @ iTunes		   The Kings of Leon really do have a lot to answer for, don’t they? There’s the re-introduction of initially swampy Dixie-styled rock, and the tight jeans, the lank hair and the homely Southern drawl, to name just a few. Perhaps more worryingly was the eagerness with which they helped to re-introduce some seriously lol-worthy Spinal Tap moments back into the world of rawk (just follow one of the brothers Followill’s twitter-feed to get an idea on how little grasp they have on reality), and by how much their adoring young fan-base seemed to lap it up. There was also the the warp-speed with which they jumped from being a curious, intriguing pseudo-experimental rock band into a firmly entrenched MOR behemoth of blandness and pyrotechnics.

The result of this, and the greatest crime of all it must be seen, must be the fact they’ve shown this warp-speed blandification as a legitimate career-path with similar like-minded wanna-be acts.

The latest of these is California’s Cold War Kids, whose third album Mine Is Yours has just landed and has signalled quite clearly that the quartet has its eyes firmly on being the next revelation of arena-style rock. From start to finish the album is big and boxy and packs a serious bottom-end punch, which highlights a clear delineation between it and its predecessors (2006’s debut Robbers & Cowards and 2008 follow up Loyalty to Loyalty). It’s no suprise that KoL’s knob twirler Jacquire King had a big hand in this production. For all the bombast and pomp, however, there’s something not quite fitting in the equation and by album’s end, it’s all a little limp and contrived.
Continue reading Cold War Kids “Mine Is Yours” – Album Review →

cd, cd review, Music, Review

Alexisonfire – Aussie Tour 7inch [Album Review]

Review: Ben Hosking

  We all like to feel special sometimes. You know, when your loved one showers you with praise for looking more dapper than usual or those ever-rarer moments when the boss makes an example of you for a job well done. The art of releasing tour-specific singles, EPs or albums with bonus discs is certainly nothing new and there’s little better way to celebrate an impending tour of your favourite band than with a disc full of new or previously unreleased songs. Alexisonfire decided their recent Australian tour was just the kind of event that deserved such a release.

Continue reading Alexisonfire – Aussie Tour 7inch [Album Review] →

cd, cd review, Music, Review

The Little Stevies – ‘Feel It’ [Video Clip]


The official clip to The Little Stevies’ ‘Feel It’, which is the first single from the album Attention Shoppers, due for release March 4, 2011.

Buy ‘Feel It’ on iTunes – Feel It - The Little Stevies – Feel It – The Little Stevies

For more info visit: www.thelittlestevies.com

Related:
The Little Stevies ‘Love Your Band’ – [CD Review]

Catch The Little Stevies playing at:
* Port Fairy Folk Festival, Port Fairy, VIC | 11-14 March 2011
* Blue Mountains Music Festival, Katoomba, NSW | 19-20 March 2011

Leave a comment and tell us what you think of the clip!

cd, Flim Clip, Music, Quick Bits

Peter Frampton: 35th Anniversary of Frampton Comes Alive!

This week nationally syndicated Rock radio show InTheStudio celebrates the 35th Anniversary of Frampton Comes Alive! Show producer and Host Redbeard visits with Peter Frampton. Visit InTheStudio to listen to the show ONLINE!!

  “Peter Frampton’s double concert album Frampton Comes Alive! in January 1976 was so phenomenally successful,and his resultant fame so widespread,that it is hard to remember a time when he wasn’t. I remember clearly my disappointment when he left Humble Pie, but was impressed that he wasted no time launching a solo career with the tasty 1972 release Wind of Change. Shortly after the release of the follow-up Frampton’s Camel in 1973, I drove several hundred miles during the Arab Oil Embargo to see Peter Frampton open for the Edgar Winter Group in Massillon Ohio’s football stadium . Even with what looked to be about five feet of stage depth allotted and undoubtedly only half of the P.A. afforded to

the support band , Frampton’s smartly-rehearsed band exhibited the same energy, exuberance, and tightly-arranged hooky songs that would be hallmarks of his record-setting live album three years later.
Continue reading Peter Frampton: 35th Anniversary of Frampton Comes Alive! →

cd, international, Music, news

IGGY POP & JAMES WILLIAMSON – KILL CITY (2010 REMIX) – Album Review

By Maria Bailey
The year was 1975. The Stooges had split and Iggy Pop was at his worst. No record contract, depressed, suicidal and smacked of his tits on heroin. He spent most of his time confined within a mental home battling his demons and trying to get some sort of normality back into his famously abnormal life. Good medicine arrived when former Stooges guitarist James Williamson proposed the idea for a demo album to help get Iggy’s legendry vocals back into the studio, back on the radio and back within the hearts of punk rockers across the world. Two years passed and in 1977 former Stooges front-man teamed with musical genius David Bowie to produce Iggy’s first solo records “The Idiot” and “Lust for Life.” Riding on their success, Kill City finally found recognition from Los Angeles based label Bomp! Records.
Continue reading IGGY POP & JAMES WILLIAMSON – KILL CITY (2010 REMIX) – Album Review →

cd, cd review, Music, Review

JP, Chrissie & The Fairground Boys – “Fidelity” CD Review

Review: Victoria Nugent


Buy Album Here		   Fidelity is a very interesting and enjoyable collaboration between Chrissie Hyde of The Pretenders’ fame, and Welsh musician JP Jones. The first song on the album, “Perfect Lover” sums up the musical history of the group, with Hyde singing, “I found my perfect lover, but he’s only half my age.” To elaborate a bit further, Hyde and Jones had a brief relationship which fizzled because of the age difference. Rather than let their chemistry go to waste however, the pair formed a band, setting the story of their relationship to music. A theme of fairs and fairgrounds permeates the album, from the cover art to the conclusion of the word Fairground in several song titles.

“If You Let Me In” is straight forward rocky with hooky, repetitive lyrics and lots of vocal harmonising. “Fairground Luck” has an infectious melody that’s occasionally reminiscent of “Lean On Me” during the verses with strong riffs and Jones’ charismatic vocals carrying the choruses.
Continue reading JP, Chrissie & The Fairground Boys – “Fidelity” CD Review →

cd, cd review, Music, Review

Rise to Remain “Bridges will Burn” – EP Review

Review: Lana Harris

  Rise to Remain is proving to be a prophetic moniker for this five piece Metalcore band from London. Only a few years old, they’ve been awarded a Golden God award for Best New Band in 2010 and their EP release, Bridges will Burn, displays that the band are worthy of such accolades. The overall sound of Rise to Remain contains all the definitive elements expected in metal – shredding up and down the fretboard, melodic and scratchier vocals combined within tracks, heavy guitar and drum work, blended with the speed of hardcore.

Best track on the album is ‘Illusive Existence’. It contains cascading avalanches of relentless drumming that makes it the most brutal of the songs. Space is allocated within this to show off not just the talents of Pat Lundy (drums) but also a good chunk of solid guitar soloing. Guitar shred is prevalent throughout the EP, appearing on every track but only ever in shortish bursts.
Continue reading Rise to Remain “Bridges will Burn” – EP Review →

cd, cd review, Music, Review

Yann Tiersen “Dust Lane” – Album Review

By Maria Bailey

  After two years in the making, Yann Tiersen’s sixth studio album Dust Lane was well worth the wait. Known predominantly for creating the innovative soundtrack for the award winning film Amelie, Tiersen stays true to form. While staying faithful to his trusty harpsichord and mandolins, the French composer and musician demonstrates a movement in his avant-garde style, incorporating an array of vintage sythesises, various musical genres and defying typical song structures. Tiersen is first and foremostly guided by his vision and intuition in creating the eight tracks on Dust Lane and has created a dreamy masterpeice at that.

Continue reading Yann Tiersen “Dust Lane” – Album Review →

cd, cd review, Music, Review

Radio Birdman “Live in Texas” – LP Review

Review: Lana Harris


Buy This Album Here!		   Radio Birdman are Australian old school punk rock, around since the times of The Saints and inevitably compared to them. Their punk elements blend with a healthy dash of the pub rock feel that often comes from Australian acts. Radio Birdman are the group you can chuck it on at a party and no-one will text you at four in the morning asking ‘who was that playing when I downed the tenth shot of tequila?’ because its one line chorus has been stuck in their head ever since. Instead, partygoers will subtly begin to sway and bop their head (way before it could be attributed to intoxication) or be heard humming one of the hooky riffs as they exit the bathroom.

Continue reading Radio Birdman “Live in Texas” – LP Review →

cd, cd review, Music, Review

The Boat People – Dance to My Pain/ Antidote Double A-side Remix Package – CD Review

Review: Lana Harris


Buy Album Here		   This double a-side release features tracks from the recently released Dear Darkly, creating a target audience of people who love The Boat people singles but who won’t commit to buying a full album, and fans who love The Boat People so much they’ll buy this just for the remixes of the two title tracks.

The CD opens with ‘Antidote’, which is a very sweet love song, a well crafted pop tune, and the last time on this CD that guitars are able to take the front of stage. From ‘Dance to My Pain’ and onwards through the remixes, synthesisation and beats take over. C’mon, Boat People, just admit it: you want to be a dance act. Sure, sure, not a traditional dance act,

but a revitalised, fresh, Aussie pop influenced electro outfit who, every so often, get to wear a furry animal costume on stage – even if it’s done in the spirit of irony.
Continue reading The Boat People – Dance to My Pain/ Antidote Double A-side Remix Package – CD Review →

cd, cd review, Music, Review

Montpelier ‘Last Boat’ Single Review

Review: Lana Harris

  With a surreal seascape cover and references to a great songster, Montpelier capture interest with their new release before a single note has been played. The song is ‘Last Boat’ and it’s a taste of the four piece indie pop rockers’ upcoming EP due out in April 2011. With one EP under their belt, local touring and a feature on Triple J’s unearthed program, Montpelier have set out to catch some new fans with this ode based on the drowning of musician Jeff Buckley in 1997.

Continue reading Montpelier ‘Last Boat’ Single Review →

Brisbane, cd, cd review, Music, Review

Transvaal Diamond Syndicate – Diamonds and Dust

  A Black Muscle car careens down a desert highway. Mountains, Rattlesnakes and cacti are a blur as a man swigs a bottle of whisky and accelerates. A scantily‐clad woman shifts in the passenger seat and runs her hand down the man’s chest as he grips the wheel. The sun goes down and the night creeps in ‐ they are one mile closer to Home…

Continue reading Transvaal Diamond Syndicate – Diamonds and Dust →

Brisbane, cd, Music, Quick Bits

Gareth Liddiard “Strange Tourist” Album Review

Review: Ben Connolly

  It’s an almost shameful admission, but I just didn’t get into The Drones. I don’t know why; their mix of growling guitars, flat-tonal Australian vocals and aggressive, charged lyrics ticked all the boxes for qualities I generally seek out in bands to obsess over. I guess by the time I’d cottoned on to their charms, however, the boat had well and truly sailed and was now somewhat overburdened by eager fan-boys keen to wring the band’s name out for as much street cred as possible. Truth be told, the fan-boy’s fervour (and the self-assured scoff of the object of their adoration) scared me just a little. That said, The Drones’cover of Kevin Carmody’s River Of Tears at

the Cannot Buy My Soul gig remains one of my highlights of recent years (check the clip out on Youtube if you’ve never seen it).
Continue reading Gareth Liddiard “Strange Tourist” Album Review →

cd, cd review, Music, Review

Parkway Drive – “Deep Blue” LP Review

Review: Lana Harris


Buy the CD here 		  There are lots of surprises in the musical world. Who would’ve thought that Billy Ray Cyrus would still be making money, that Ozzy Osbourne would still be alive, or that Parkway Drive – who mix hardcore and metal styles into brutal barrages of songs – could have emerged from the womb of hippiedom, Byron Bay? But it happens, and the success of Parkway Drive has recently been confirmed with their third album Deep Blue acknowledged at the Australian Music Industry Awards with the honour of ‘best hard rock/ punk album’.

The award for the album is not one of the music world’s surprises. Deep Blue is a masterpiece of jack hammering ear assault.

Continue reading Parkway Drive – “Deep Blue” LP Review →

cd, cd review, Music, Review