rluckett has written the following articles:
It's all dying on its arse of course. It's all fading away further and further into insignificance until it's a memory on a Radio 2 documentary. Britpop that is. The "New Rock Revolution" as the NME have delightfully christened it may be utter, utter bilge to many, but this year's rush of new bands has rendered our old»
I remember having a conversation with my friend Ellie concerning Pink about 2 years ago. She couldn't believe how much I despised her, how I loathed her dull, well oiled Pop/R'n'B dance routines and mean nothing lyrics. But her return this year has seen something of an image change. For a start, her previo»
It may have escaped your sheltered little alternative existence, but Top Of The Pops, the greatest music television programme ever, has reached the considerable milestone of 2000 episodes. The 'Pops has given us a massive selection of classic Music-on-TV moments over the past 38 years. Here are the 10 mos»
This had better be fucking worth it. I won't disclose how much I paid a man in a light brown coat outside the station for a ticket for this gig. But it was a lot of money. I decided to come this gig on a whim. In the past, I've fucking despised Coldplay and their whimsical, toe tapping sub-NAM bilge. To be frank,»
That eternal rite of passage to indiedom, Steve Lamacq's Evening Session, has been axed by wonderful BBC Radio 1. Lamacq will continue to present Lamacq Live and outside broadcasts but his Evening Session has been axed as of December. Details of the replacement show, which will fill the Eveni»
Niomi McLean-Daley. The female Mike Skinner. Vivid, powerful lyrics, set beneath of a barrage of slinky R 'n' B beats and Timbaland type effects. Lazy journalism. Yep. But by 'lazy' you can also read 'true'. Comparing her to Mike Skinner is a bit unfair. In truth, The Streets al»
The Coral. Love them or hate them, those NME endorsed scouse potheads have already had a bit of an impact this year. Top of The Pops, Top Five album and all. Here we have our first example of a ‘sub‘-Coral band. The Bandits. Yep, they're from Liverpool. Yep, they make an adventurous mix of pr»
People talk to me about the Sugababes. I'll sit in the grimy, grey pubs I sadly inhabit, and friend after friends of mine will wax lyrical for hours detailing the precise reasons why the Sugababes are SO much better than all other manufactured pop were force fed. But then I look at them. Three faceless, m»
Girls will scream at Boniface. Coolly sliding across stage, singing songs people fuck to, looking like Usher, sounding like an "Off The Wall" Michael Jackson, you've seen him, you’ve heard him, you've endured it all before. But Boniface is different. He's not different because he was a chi»
Lets establish something right away. The Rapture are incredible. They make astonishing, almost other worldly music, music that hits you when you hear it for the first time, like Joy Division, 'OK Computer' or 'Anarchy In The UK' did. It fills you with that feeling you get when you fall in lo»
Of course The Last Broadcast was one the most stirring guitar albums released in eons. Of course 'There Goes The Fear' was a beautiful chart shagging monster of a single. But now we have 'Pounding'. I could use words like euphoric, joyous, exhilarating, beautiful, affecting, stirring, heart-b»
So when do you become tired of it?? All this garage punk emo nonsense that's exciting the hairs on our neck at the mo, keeps chucking out spine tingling bands into out sheltered little 'alternative' worlds. I really should despise this record, it sounds like every other decent guitar record you’ve heard this year. But »
I'm standing in a field, attempting to endure the godforsaken dirge Proud Mary are inflicting upon me. A man in his early 30's approaches me, and pours a bottle of what I presume is his own urine over my head, whilst shouting "YOU FUCKING STUDENT WANKER!!!" in my ear, and laughing with his mates. Great. N»
Shouldn't that be 'bullies' rather than 'bullys'?? Still, the Audio Bullys care not, cos they is rock 'ard. "Real Life", the EP's main track, is pleasant enough, and has all the ragga riddim you could hope for. "This is real life" says the sample, somewhat predictably. In truth, there's noug»
These days, it’s rare that you find a record that genuinely excites, a record so angry, so filled with energy, that you feel out of breath after it finishes. These records are rare, but not extinct. For we have The Beatings. The Beatings follow The Libertines out of London, but for all those NME »
Listening to Brendan Benson reacquaints you with the simpler things in life. For Brendan is not out to change music. He has been described, rather lazily, as a 'songsmith'. But these songs are so simple, so affecting, that it's difficult to not smile as his heart rending little melodies invade your being.
The 'Burn supported Oasis at their Shepherd’s Bush gigs in October. You can see why. Safe, unassuming, dull, unexciting - everything that Oasis have turned into, The 'Burn are. Their debut single, "Smiling Face" is as horribly mediocre as you'd fear. It all sounds like a record manu»
The new Coral single will be called 'Goodbye', it will be released on 8th July.
The Coral have now signed to Sony Records for a reported six figure sum. The tracklisting for the single is as follows:
CD1
1. 'Goodbye'
2. 'Your Good Fortune'
In my wildest nightmares, I never thought I'd like anything connected with Blink 182, the kind of evil, pointless, American band that makes me want to eat my own vomit. But here comes one of the most staggeringly good side projects in living memory. Box Car Racer. Box Car Racer is clearly »
Coldplay have confirmed that their eagerly awaited new album "A Rush Of Blood To The Head" will get a UK release on August 26th. The US release will follow a day later. The first single has been confirmed as live favourite "In My Place", but no precise release date has been decided. The album »
Phantom Planet have a drummer called Jason Schwartzman. Now, the more film-minded amongst you will recall that he was the fella from 'Rushmore'. Right, now that stupid little fact is out of the way, lets discuss one of the most genuinely charming records of the year. 'California' op»
Goldrush release their new single 'Same Picture' on the 3rd June via Truck/Virgin. It contains 3 additional tracks across a Ltd 7"inch and CD formats.
The 3 track CD release is as follows:
1. 'Same Picture'
2. 'Life Like This'
3. 'Cape Canaveral'
The ba»
Our old friends Coldplay have announced all kinds of events they will be taking part in. Firstly, they've completed their long-awaited second album, 'A Rush Of Blood To The Head', hopefully to be released around August or September. It will contain live favourites such as 'In My Pla»
Of course, The Crescent already have some form. They were the band who former La's frontman Lee Mavers 'adopted' and nurtured. But as ever with Mavers, he pulled out at the last minute, so here they are, ready to blast off, but without the scouse legend standing at the back. It's a shame tha»
"The Bigger, The Better" Sound advice indeed from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs wailing lead vocalist Karen O, courtesy of their startling debut single 'Bang' which comes as part of an equally stellar EP. Of course, I could go on about New York, Strokes and wearing dark clothes for »
Somewhere in a country mansion, looking out over his acres of plush green land, stands a dejected Richard Ashcroft. He looks out of the window, then looks down at his feet, and thinks 'shit' to himself. He realises that it would, after this, be pointless to release anymore half arsed wasteful acoustic based solo»
Friday saw the appearance of an apparently finished and mastered new Oasis album on the internet. The album, entitled 'Heathen Chemistry' has appeared in full on at least six 'fan' sites. Once Sony find out about these sites, it is likely that they will be closed down. The album is not due ou»
Garage Scuzz Punk. Not the catchiest name for a genre, I grant you, but with bands like The Bellrays at it's forefront, it seems destined to succeed. Because Garage Scuzz Punk is what The Bellrays do, and my God they do it well. Debut British single "Fire On The Moon" knocks the stuffing out »
Who the fuck is James Yorkston?? And what about his Athletes?? Who are these people?? And why do they make such brilliant records??? James Yorkston, so they tell me, is a Scottish singer-songwriter (in the loosest sense) who went to school with some of The Beta Band. Their bizarre gen»
How I long for those days! The days when Kelly and Co. used to release half decent indie-rock records!! Come back! 'Vegas Two Times' is the Black Crowes - like one that opened last year's hideous 'J.E.E.P.' album. It's alright, in a Steve Lamacq kinda way. Nowhere near as affecting as 'Tra»
