Tag Archives: cd

Melvins “The Bride Screamed Murder” LP Review

Review: Lana Harris

  More than 25 years making music, the Melvins are credited with influencing scores of bands (including Nirvana and Soundgarden) but no one sounds just like them. Their creations are grungy, often slow but still powerful and slide into sludgy metal territory occasionally. They have two drummers in what is currently a four member outfit (got to expect a few line up changes in two and a half decades) who have been together for three albums now.

On The Bride Screamed Murder the Melvins are, if not experimental, at the very least non traditional in their music arrangements. There’s never a sense of

bowing to any kind of convention in the music. When voice is used, it’s as an instrument itself, not as a way of conveying opinion or an observation set to music, and they don’t stick to one time signature or tempo. If you’re unprepared for this, the way the songs play out is disorienting. My first listen of The Bride Screamed Murder, particularly the first two tracks, left me wondering what was going on. ‘Evil New War God’ comes to an almost dead stop before changing direction. I thought it had skipped to track three but it was still the same song. Continue reading Melvins “The Bride Screamed Murder” LP Review →

cd, cd review, Review

Grinderman – New Single ‘Heathen Child’ Out August 27

  Heathen Child, the new single from the band Grinderman, will be released on 27th August. The premiere offering from their new studio album Grinderman 2, Heathen Child will be released through Mute with the complete album following on 10th September.

The song Heathen Child cuts a deep seductively heavy groove interjected with dazzling squalls of saw-tooth distortion. It abounds in lyrical imagery at turns lascivious, paranoid, philosophic, absurd and flat out abusive.

The video, vividly directed by long-time collaborator John Hillcoat, brings the ominous sensuality and surreal malevolence of the lyrics to life; but it also demonstrates clear evidence of the fun and imagination Grinderman have working together.
Continue reading Grinderman – New Single ‘Heathen Child’ Out August 27 →

cd, Music, Quick Bits

Dan Parsons – “Firestarter” LP Review

1 Comment

Review: Lana Harris


Dan – Dan Parsons		   When writing about music, there’s a variety of words to use in order to avoid saying ‘song’ over and over again. For the most part, these words are interchangeable – the exact meaning matters little. Dan Parsons’ music took exception to this and the word ‘ditty’ just kept springing to mind. The exact meaning of ‘ditty’ is a short simple song, a poem intended to be sung, and this description fits his musical style like a ripped pair of skinny jeans fits indie pop.

The tracks on Firestarter are all short pop numbers, hanging around the three minute mark and taking inspiration from the catalogue of relationship

experiences that pop loves to work with. Parsons’uses a reflective, ruminative style to shape his words, which invoke images from the time of life found in the space after school, drifting past innocence but having not yet arrived anywhere else.
Continue reading Dan Parsons – “Firestarter” LP Review →

cd, cd review, Music, Review

Rolo Tomassi – “Cosmology” [CD Review]

  Review: Ben Hosking

For the uninitiated, young UK group Rolo Tomassi (named after a character from the movie LA Confidential) is a scary listening experience. Hell, they’re still a scary listen even after a few rotations of their 2008 debut album ‘Hysterics’.

Fronted by diminutive blonde ingénue Eva Spence, the group play what has been affectionately termed as punk-jazz, whilst on occasion thrown in with the mathcore crowds.

Continue reading Rolo Tomassi – “Cosmology” [CD Review] →

cd, cd review, Music, Review

Blame Ringo – “At The In-Between” [Single Review]

1 Comment

Review by: Victoria Nugent

  Blame Ringo’s new single At The In-Between is one of those songs that sneaks into your head, and has you singing along before you know it. The energetic track is a tantalising glimpse of things to come on the band’s second album, due out later this year.

At The In-Between is an upbeat slice of indie rock with harmonious, yet catchy lyrics and a sound almost reminiscent of the sixties. The guitar riffs are impressive, and the drumming strong, resulting in the kind of song that makes you want to stop and listen.

Continue reading Blame Ringo – “At The In-Between” [Single Review] →

cd, cd review, Music, Review

Jez Mead “Beard of Bees” [LP Review]

Review: Lana Harris

  What deal did Jez Mead make with the devil to get that voice? He certainly didn’t trade his finger picking abilities (his mastery of the guitar is evident in this diverse mix of tracks), but the man surely gave up something for a voice that soars across octaves, that swings from gravel to whisper to a full blown resonance that seems to take up real, tangible space in the room. Beard of Bees is Jez Mead’s fourth recorded offering to the world, and a record that uses his vocal gift (no matter how it was acquired) to deliver a striking set of songs.

Let’s begin at the end: the last song on this album

was the best. A gorgeous, chilled out track called ‘Crooked’ was a resplendent way to finish, with slow chords and soulful crooning and Jez humming low and full, a honey coated vibration that left goose bumps in its wake (and was not the only track to do so). ‘Devil’ (featuring Julia Stone as Mead’s duet partner) is similarly slow and haunting, a love song which includes such lyrical blues gems as ‘Devil wants my blood for making whisky’. Continue reading Jez Mead “Beard of Bees” [LP Review] →

cd, cd review, Music, Review

Annihilator – “Annihilator” [CD Review]

Review: Ben Hosking

  With the seemingly never-ending list of 1980’s bands reuniting over the last 10 years or so, all trying to recapture some of their former glory; it’d be easy to dismiss Canadian thrash legends Annihilator as just another in the line. However, founder member Jeff Waters and company never actually left and have been producing quality metal the entire time; unlike many of their fallen brethren.

That said, this – their 13th studio album to date – easily qualifies as their finest effort in the last 20 years or so. A self-titled album, ‘Annihilator’ is brimming with speedy, precise riffage that

effortlessly melds old-school thrash with more modern technical metal that will surely have you damaging neck muscles in the bedroom, car or public transport.
Continue reading Annihilator – “Annihilator” [CD Review] →

cd, cd review, Music, Review

The Bank Holidays Release Sophomore Album

  Pop luminaries The Bank Holidays will release their much anticipated sophomore album Sail Becomes A Kite on 17 July 2010 via Lost and Lonesome Recording Co.

Hailing from Perth, The Bank Holidays recorded Sail Becomes A Kite with Martin Roth at ABC Studios Perth, and Steve Bond (The Panics, Snowman) at Cazfair House.

Continue reading The Bank Holidays Release Sophomore Album →

cd, Music, Quick Bits

CUSTOM KINGS Album Release & Tour – June/July 2010

After numerous side projects, family obligations and working holidays, Melbourne’s much loved Custom Kings have returned to the studio to record their long awaited second album, which will be called Great Escape. Reuniting with long-time collaborator, Steven Schram (Little Birdy, Ground Components) , they booked two weeks at the famed Sing Sing Studios in Melbourne and brought to life a series of songs penned in the couple of years since the release of their acclaimed debut album At Sea. Continue reading CUSTOM KINGS Album Release & Tour – June/July 2010 →

cd, Melbourne, Sydney, tour

Reptiles “Come Get Me” EP Launch and Shows – June 2010

1 Comment
  Melbourne scuzz-punks Reptiles are set to launch their latest EP Come Get Me in Melbourne and Sydney this month.

Catch Reptiles launch at Revolver in Melbourne on Sunday 13 June (Queens Birthday Eve) and at Oxford Arts Factory side stage in Sydney on Wednesday 30 June.

Continue reading Reptiles “Come Get Me” EP Launch and Shows – June 2010 →

cd, Melbourne, Music, Sydney, tour

The Break – “Church of the Open Sky” [CD Review]

Review: Lana Harris

  Ah, the beach. Golden sands, blistering sunshine and pounding waves are all an integral part of Australian culture, so it’s perhaps surprising that we haven’t heard more surf rock acts spring up locally. Instead, the genre is much more heavily associated with American waves, Hawaiian surf shacks or perhaps the laid back vibes of San Francisco.

Well, The Break are out to change that. They’ve taken rockers who are a part of Australian culture (drummer Rob Hirst, guitarists Jim Moginie and Martin Rotsey, from Midnight Oil) added in

an American who recently moved to Hobart (ex Violent Femmes bassist Brian Ritchie) and created a surf rock record that should see Australia in general, and The Break in particular, usher in a resurgence of this laid back style of music. Continue reading The Break – “Church of the Open Sky” [CD Review] →

cd review, Music, Review

Chief Announce Debut Album

  Domino announce the arrival of the debut album from Chief, Modern Rituals, on 13th August 2010.

Two years ago the four members of Chief finished their stints at New York University and returned home to the US west coast, their suitcases stuffed full of soaring melodies, shimmering guitars, lovelorn lyrics and heart-stopping harmonies.

Continue reading Chief Announce Debut Album →

cd, Music, Quick Bits

Mike Patton – “Mondo Cane” [CD Review]

Review: Ben Hosking

  The prolific Mike Patton returns with a project unlike any that have come before it. Sung entirely in Italian, the album ‘Mondo Cane’ features a 40-piece orchestra, choir and band.

Listeners have had hints of Patton’s multi-lingual abilities in the last, such as tunes found on earlier Faith No More releases. However, ‘Mondo Cane’ sees the twisted genius using his talents to pay homage to other songwriters, including his beloved Morricone, who penned the track ‘Deep Down’.

Continue reading Mike Patton – “Mondo Cane” [CD Review] →

cd, cd review, Music, Review

Danko Jones – “Below the Belt” [LP Review]

Review: Lana Harris

  Danko Jones is a man born to wear leather, and if listening to this album doesn’t convince you, the shiny black outfit he sports on the cover of his band’s latest LP Below the Belt will. This is BIG rock, stadia rock, another-word-that-rhymes-with-rock rock – what else would be expected from a man who names his band after himself? Proving that he’s more than just a leather clad front man, Jones also plays lead guitar, is responsible for writing columns in rock magazines, hosts radio shows and has completed solo spoken word tours.

Continue reading Danko Jones – “Below the Belt” [LP Review] →

cd review, Music, Review

CD Review: Blood Red Shoes – “Fire Like This”

Review by: Victoria Nugent

  The latest offering from Brighton band Blood Red Shoes could be given the label of garage rock for a new generation. The duo’s second album, “Fire Like This”, is largely influenced by 90s grunge, and showcases some impressively gritty, heavy sounds, coupled with poppy lyrics and varied vocals. Though some may argue the tracks sound slightly generic, there’s no denying that Blood Red Shoes have their own distinct pattern that works for them.

The two piece band is made up of Steven Ansell and Laura-Mary Carter and formed in 2004 after their previous bands Lady Muck and Cat on Form split up. Taking their name

from a story about Ginger Rogers’ blood stained dancing shoes, the pair released their first album Box of Secrets in 2008, which, like Fire Like This , was co-produced with Mike Crossey. Continue reading CD Review: Blood Red Shoes – “Fire Like This” →

Artist, cd review, Music, Review