Author: Alex Lai Page 5
The Family Rain - Hunger Sauce EP Review
Having started out their musical lives in a metal band, brothers William, Ollie and Timothy Walter jettisoned their sound (and a band member) before settling as The Family Rain. Their debut album 'Under The Volcano'...
Review posted on 5th August 2014
Embrace - O2 Academy, Leeds 14th May 2014 Live Review
As Danny McNamara will reference during the course of proceedings, Yorkshire quintet Embrace headlined two outdoor shows at Leeds Millennium Square in 2005, before seemingly disappearing after the release of their fifth album the following...
Review posted on 16th May 2014
Paolo Nutini - Caustic Love Album Review
Paolo Nutini's second album, 2009's 'Sunny Side Up', saw the Scotsman top the charts with a record that would go on to be certified platinum five times. The follow up, 'Caustic Love', has already started...
Review posted on 13th May 2014
Embrace - Embrace Album Review
After seemingly disappearing from the musical landscape after their third album, Yorkshire quintet Embrace made something of a surprise comeback with consecutive chart toppers in 2004 and 2006. Most bands with such momentum wouldn't...
Review posted on 2nd May 2014
Embrace - Refugees Album Review
The arrival of Embrace's underwhelming third album in 2001 saw them consigned, in some quarters, to the musical scrapheap. That they subsequently produced two chart-topping records proved their star had yet to burn out, which...
Review posted on 4th March 2014
Nina Nesbitt - Peroxide Album Review
In an age where pop stars seem intent on shocking and wearing as little as possible, Scottish-Swedish songstress Nina Nesbitt is something akin to a breath of fresh air. Fully clothed - shock horror...
Review posted on 24th February 2014
Johnathan Rice - Good Graces Album Review
Scottish-American singer-songwriter Johnathan Rice released his debut album 'Trouble Is Real' in 2005, following it up a couple of years later in the shape of 'Further North'. Now on to album three, he has...
Review posted on 20th January 2014
Naughty Boy - Hotel Cabana Album Review
Shahid Khan, aka Naughty Boy, may not have been the most well-known artist, but his production credits include work by Tinie Tempah, Leona Lewis and, perhaps most prominently, Emeli Sande's mega-selling 'Our Version Of Events'....
Review posted on 13th January 2014
Celine Dion - Loved Me Back To Life Album Review
There are some artists who genuinely need no introduction and, regardless of your opinion of her, Celine Dion is one of them. Responsible for one of the biggest selling songs of all time, her...
Review posted on 4th December 2013
New Model Army - Between Dog And Wolf Album Review
Having celebrated their 30th anniversary in 2010, Bradford's New Model Army are one of modern music's great survival stories. This release sees them clock up a dozen studio albums and a glance at their...
Review posted on 26th September 2013
The Feeling - Boy Cried Wolf Album Review
When The Feeling released their debut record in 2006, they fell just short of the summit of the album chart, but to give a flavour of the musical landscape at the time, chart-toppers that year...
Review posted on 23rd September 2013
Jay Z - Magna Carta. Holy Grail Album Review
After the success of 2011's collaborative effort with Kanye West, 'Watch The Throne', the artist also known as Shawn Carter now hits the dozen mark in solo releases. Initially given away as part of...
Review posted on 29th July 2013
The Blood Arm - Infinite Nights Album Review
After the release of three albums, including 2006's critically lauded 'Lie Lover Lie', The Blood Arm decided a change of scene was needed and relocated from their Los Angeles base to Berlin. Funded with...
Review posted on 2nd July 2013
Tom Odell - Long Way Down Album Review
Set for release on 24th June 2013, Tom Odell's first album is an anticipated release: he was nominated for the BBC's Sound Of 2013 award, was the BRITs' Critics' Choice and, perhaps most impressively, has...
Review posted on 4th June 2013
Thirty Seconds To Mars - Love Lust Faith + Dreams Album Review
When Thirty Seconds To Mars' second album, 2005's 'A Beautiful Lie', saw them earn mainstream success, it was inevitable that it would be seen as an actor's ego project. By the end of the...
Review posted on 28th May 2013
Nina Nesbitt - Stay Out EP Review
Born to Scottish and Swedish parents, Nina Nesbitt is an 18-year-old singer-songwriter who first picked up a guitar three years ago. Radio support has been provided by Fearne Cotton, while support slots with Ed...
Review posted on 20th May 2013
The Dunwells - Follow The Road Album Review
Formed in 2009, Leeds outfit The Dunwells derived their collective moniker from sibling members David and Joseph Dunwell. This is their second record having released their debut last year and the quintet is currently...
Review posted on 13th May 2013
Tribes - Wish To Scream Album Review
Having released their debut album 'Baby' at the beginning of 2012, Camden outfit Tribes haven't rested on their laurels bringing out a follow up. Support band aficionados may have caught them in the last...
Review posted on 7th May 2013
Walk Off The Earth - 'R.E.V.O.' Album Review
Recent years have seen the term 'internet sensation' become an overused phrase, yet it can accurately be attributed to Canadian quintet Walk Off The Earth. A video of the group performing a cover of...
Review posted on 29th April 2013
Paramore - Paramore Album Review
The release of 2007's album 'Riot!' was the catalyst for Paramore to emerge from the emo-rock scene and become arena headliners - and their popularity wasn't just down to Hayley Williams' obvious physical appeal, but...
Review posted on 8th April 2013
Stereophonics - O2 Academy, Leeds 18th March 2013 Live Review
Coinciding with the recent release of their eighth studio record, which entered the chart at number three, Stereophonics are on a tour of venues smaller than their traditional UK shows. The jaunt sold-out quickly,...
Review posted on 19th March 2013
The Plea - The Dreamers Stadium Album Review
Released on the Planet Function label, The Dreamers Stadium is the debut album from Irish quartet The Plea. They've previously received radio support from Graham Norton and Rolf Harris, and having played a round...
Review posted on 18th March 2013
The Strokes - Comedown Machine Album Review
When New York City outfit The Strokes broke through in 2001 they were pigeonholed alongside the likes of The White Stripes, The Hives and The Vines in the garage-rock explosion. What set them apart...
Review posted on 11th March 2013
Hadouken! - Every Weekend Album Review
For video games enthusiasts of a certain generation, Hadouken! have the coolest band name possible. Beyond their name inspiration, they have previously acquired media support from the likes of Zane Lowe and Mike Skinner,...
Review posted on 6th March 2013
Stereophonics - 'Graffiti On The Train' Album Review
It's been four years since Stereophonics released their limp seventh album 'Keep Calm And Carry On' and the interim period has seen former Noisettes drummer Jamie Morrison replace Javier Weyler. He'll be performing on...
Review posted on 4th March 2013
Dido - Girl Who Got Away Album Review
As far as exposure opportunities go, having the world's most talked-about rapper sample your work is hard to top. 'Stan' was the catalyst for Eminem becoming a megastar, but the effect it had for...
Review posted on 4th March 2013
Various Artists - 'Dermot O'Leary Presents The Saturday Sessions 2013' Album Review
Using a tried-and-tested formula of acoustic versions and covers, this most recent instalment of the series sees further performances for Dermot O'Leary's radio show now available to own. The artists included cover a broad...
Review posted on 28th February 2013
NEEDTOBREATHE - The Reckoning Album Review
Album number four from this South Carolina outfit was actually released in 2011, but comes to our attention as the band wrap up US tour dates and prepare for a jaunt to the UK....
Review posted on 30th October 2012
Tenacious D - Rize Of The Phoenix Album Review
About to round off a run of UK shows, Jack Black and Kyle Gass aka Tenacious D must wonder how to recapture the mojo that brought acclaim to their self-titled debut. Black's Hollywood career remains...
Review posted on 22nd October 2012
The Offspring - Days Go By Album Review
Even when reaching their commercial peak with novelty anthem 'Pretty Fly (For A White Guy)', California punk veterans The Offspring never strayed far from a particular sound - and their ninth studio record doesn't see...
Review posted on 15th October 2012
Suggested
Leisure Festival - Dreamland in Margate
On the same day that Glastonbury welcomed back Margate's adopted sons, The Libertines, Margate itself put on it's very own Leisure Festival as it...
Pretty Fierce talk to us about collaborating with Doja Cat, emetophobia, arena tours and staying "true to yourself" [EXCLUSIVE]
Sheffield's very own all girl group Pretty Fierce are still on a high after the recent release of their debut single - 'Ready For Me'.
Will Varley & Jack Valero - The Astor Theatre Deal Live Review
Three nights before the end of his current tour Will Varley returned to his home town of Deal to delight a sold out crowd in The Astor Theatre.
WYSE talks to us about her "form of synaesthesia", collaborating with Radiohead's Thom York and the prospect of touring with a band [EXCLUSIVE]
With only a few days to go before Portsmouth based songstress and producer WYSE releases her new single, 'Belladonna', we caught up with her to find...
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Bay Bryan talks to us about being a "wee queer ginger", singing with Laura Marling and being inspired by Matilda [EXCLUSIVE]
Colorado raised, Glasgow educated and Manchester based Bay Bryan is nothing if not a multi-talented, multi-faceted artist performing as both...
Keelan X talks to us about staying true to "your creative vision", collaborating with Giorgio Moroder and being "a yoga nut" [EXCLUSIVE]
Former Marigolds band member Keelan Cunningham has rediscovered his love of music with his new solo project Keelan X.
![Luke De-Sciscio talks to us about having the courage to be yourself, forgiving that which is outside of one's control and following whims [EXCLUSIVE]](https://images.contactmusic.com/images/home/homepage/luke-de-sciscio-abof-a.jpg "Luke De-Sciscio talks to us about having the courage to be yourself, forgiving that which is outside of one's control and following whims [EXCLUSIVE]")
Luke De-Sciscio talks to us about having the courage to be yourself, forgiving that which is outside of one's control and following whims [EXCLUSIVE]
Wiltshire singer-songwriter Luke De Sciscio, formally known as Folk Boy, is set to release is latest album - 'The Banquet' via AntiFragile Music on...
Annie Elise talks to us about the challenges a female producer has to face and "going through a year of grief and sickness" [EXCLUSIVE]
Electronic music pioneer and producer Annie Elise says that the release of her first EP - 'Breathe In, Breathe Out' feels "both vulnerable and...
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