Microcuts: Muse singer busts face
Muse's Matt Bellamy has injured himself on stage, forcing the band to cancel a number of shows on their current American tour.»
Articles
Andy has written the following articles:
Har Mar Gets Around And Drags in Holly Valance
Why, this strange Har Mar Superstar matey blokey has been busy. He's recruited Holly Valance for two songs on his as-yet-untitled follow up to 'You Can Feel Me'; said tracks being called 'Body Request' and 'Back The Camel Up'.»
Drinking, Fighting, Old Crooners And, Oh Yeah: A New Album...
They’ve made two damn fine albums for Fantastic Plastic and are part of the infamous Reindeer Section – a Glasgow supergroup that was Gary from Snow Patrol’s brainchild. They’ve just got back from a tour supporting the aforementioned band and were met with rapturous applause whichever large venue they conquered. Japan and Spain are already fortunate enough to have a taster of third album 'One In Four', with the UK hopefully set to follow.»
Gomez Go All Quiet On Us...
Gomez return with a new single, Silence, on May 3rd and embark on a full UK tour starting the same month on the 23rd in Manchester.»
Ben Kweller: On His Way
Singer-songwriter and former Radish frontman Ben Kweller returns on April 6th, with his sophomore solo effort, entitled 'On My Way'.»
Sissy Wish - The Six Feet Tall
Sissy Wish is Siri Walberg, a Norweigan singer-songwriter of the Kate Bush/Tori Amos variety. She attended Paul McCartney’s ‘School of Rock’ (LIPA, Liverpool) and has played in Norway with Travis. Sounds pretty interesting, yeah? No...?»
Lowdrive - Turning Circles EP
Hmmm…. I’m always a tad suspicious when I receive a demo that actually sounds quite good – ‘Is this for real?’, I automatically question. But sometimes you’ve got to let that suspicion go and just enjoy the ride...»
Captain Wilberforce - Dreams Of Educated Fleas
Okay, maybe we should just ignore this Birmingham band’s name before entering into a discussion about their music. It’s difficult to not mention it, though – it’s just crying out to be mocked…»
Jaywalk Buzz - Three Track Demo
Now it’s not really my fault, I’m sure, but I do find it hard to get excited about bands sometimes. I don’t think I’ve yet reached that age where I’m a Victor Meldrew type cynic, but sometimes, no matter how hauntingly beautiful a record undoubtedly is, I still can’t stand up and shout about it. However, I’m always open to attempts to rectify this…»
The Mars Who? Sparta Return...
Sparta, one of the groups to have emerged from the ashes of At The Drive-In, are reported to be releasing a new album this summer.»
Astrid - New Album and Tour!
Scottish Indie Popsters Astrid are back with a new album and support Snow Patrol on their tour in March.»
Bottle Rocket - 6-Track Demo
Never before has a band’s biography grabbed my attention in the way that Bottle Rocket’s has. The demo CD arrived to me sans case with a hand-written sheet of paper, first informing me that the band’s name was no longer Shallow Ice. Inspired by the very cool Wes Anderson film, Bottle Rocket was to be their new moniker. Not so bizarre so far, but alarm bells started ringing when I glanced at the band member's names… Parker The Great – Vocals/Guitar, Amaryllis – Piano and Wolfgang Thomas II on Organs and Guitar… I began to smell a rat. To cut a long story short the bio then goes on to explain how Parker and Amaryllis met on the Trans Siberian Express before finding a third member named Vladimir in a Cathedral in St Petersburg. Fascinatingly imaginative stuff, I’m sure you’ll agree, but fair play to the band – it certainly got me to sit up and take notice.»
The Bens - The Bens EP
At last, it's taken a year - The Bens EP is finally here. And you know what? It's a stormer.»
Eberg - Plastic Lions
Some bands just wash over you and no matter how hard they try – they can never fully break into your consciousness. Sure, these bands get played on the radio – but do you really give a flying fuck? Well Eberg get played on the radio. Okay, they’re not quite up there with Gary Jules in the airplay chart, but a few choice spins of ‘Plastic Lions’ has certainly made me sit up and take notice.»
Eberg at London Metro, Tue 27 Jan
You may have heard Lamacq and Lowe bang on about him, but what is the Eberg fella really about? Oxford Street's Metro seems like as good a place as any to start finding out.»
R.E.M. - Animal
Another day, another REM single. This second new offering from their In Time - The Best Of compilation reminds us exactly what good songwriters they really are...»
The Bens EP Sees the Light of Day
The Bens (Lee, Folds & Kweller) previously rare Australian tour-only EP finally gets a commercial release.»
My Brother Woody - My Brother Woody
My Brother Woody. I can see you shudder already.»
'Best Of' Counting Crows - This Crimbo...
Everyone's favourite old timers, the Counting Crows, release 'best of', just in time for Christmas.»
Mew - Coming Home For Christmas (Again)
Sony are to re-release Mew's 'She Came Home For Christmas' on December 15th, on both CD and DVD formats.»
Lazy - Essentially
Lazy. The name invites trouble. But listening to this LA-based duo’s well-crafted debut, ‘Essentially’ soon puts the mind at ease. The sleeve-notes point to the band’s general laid-back ethos: ‘Laziness really is a virtue… Just call us, sometime after 11:30.’ First song, 'Sleeping In' pa»
They Might Be Giants: DVD On The Way
You're not the doc' of me now... A documentary about They Might Be Giants is to be released on DVD later this year. The band are most famous for their wacky 1990 LP, Flood, which included the hits Birdhouse In Your Soul and Instanbul (Not Constantinople) - and more recently for penning the t»
Rebus - Broadmoor Music Society EP
For a couple of years young upstarts Rebus have been playing live and loud in small venues around the south. The self-financed release of their third EP sees the band in energetic and assured mood. Lead track 'Style' is fast and frenzied and wouldn’t sound altogether out place on Radio 4’s Gotham a»
Spearmint - My Missing Days
Where to start with an album review of London’s delicious Spearmint? Well, let’s start at the beginning. Back in 1996 the band released an audacious white label 7” – audacious because it contained an unauthorised sample from a very famous band’s song. The single was enough to get them some management and the»
The Free French
Some people don’t worry about anything. They go through life content in their surroundings, have piece of mind and don’t ever let their concerns manifest themselves. Others take a more concerned approach. They think about things – and when they’ve thought about them they think about them again. Rhodri Marsden – t»
Fountains of Wayne: Success at Last
Critically acclaimed and DiS approved power-pop band, Fountains of Wayne are finally getting some recognition with their new long player, 'Welcome Interstate Managers'. The album, scheduled for a September 15th UK release, is curre»
Ben Folds Tops The Charts!
The mighty Ben Folds is back with a brand new EP, 'Speed Graphic' and it's currently sitting pretty at the top of Billboard's internet album sales chart. The EP is the first in a string of internet only releases that Ben Folds will»
Fountains Of Wayne - Fountains of Wayne
What makes a classic album? Is it the number of times it’s been played? Its influence within the music industry? Its ability to change someone’s life, in however small a way? I could go on forever at this point, but the truth is, there’s just no need. A classic album could be all or none of the above. It’s a»
hitBACK Festival This Month...
The mighty and under-appreciated indie label hitBACK Records is staging a three night festival at London's Water Rats in August. Bands lined up to play include Spearmint, The Free French, Host and the Electric Shocks. It will be Spearmint's first live UK shows since their residency at the Bo»
Hot Hot Heat - No, Not Now
Why should we bother listening to Hot Hot Heat? They've got a stupid name, the indie press spunk all over them and your annoying indie friend is raving about them. They're also Canadian - is that supposed to be cool or something? Hmmm. I'll just put the single on my record player and check it out, anyway... »